Page 196 of Beautifully Ruined

“It’s Cade. I’ve never seen a man so in love as him. Or a girl as in love as you are.”

“Yeah, but…” I look at her and set my wine down, not really in the mood.

I’m nervous, so I’ve been feeling queasy all day. For the past week, actually.

I swear the closer we get to the wedding the more my stomach is rioting. Nerves that something will happen and burst the bubble, that’s all. Nerves.

“But what?” she asks.

“I know Jack’s changed a lot, but that guy knows how to party, as does Enzo. He called it making sure Cade celebrates his last night as a free man properly.”

I shudder.

I get my phone from the coffee table. “I’m texting him.”

Me:behave or else.

Cade:Enzo here. He’s at the bar. Cade’s in good hands and you don’t need to worry.

Lia mutters somethingas she clearly reads the texts. “You know what, we should go out, too.”

I sigh. “A nice idea, but I think I want to stay in.”

“Nonsense.” She stomps off to her room and comes back with a red dress, throwing it at me. “Get dressed, we’re going out.”

“But…”

“But nothing. It’s your last night as a free woman.”

I laugh shaking my head. “No way, I don’t care about any of that. I can’t wait to marry Cade.”

“Come on. Let’s go out. You have this pretty dress, you left here, and there are shoes, too. We need to paint the town or just get a drink. For me?” She pleads.

And it breaks my resolve of just sitting and doing nothing. “One drink. I don’t want a hangover or to look like death on my wedding day, I don’t even have a veil to insist on never lifting.”

“We won’t go far, and we’ll get an Uber, so you don’t have to walk further than front door to car and back again.”

“I said I’ll go.”

We get ready, and sure enough, there’s a car waiting for us.

Lia even insisted on putting on makeup and to appease her, I do.

I push open the door to the bar, and I almost squeal as I turn and send eye daggers at my best friend. “You sneak!”

Gianna and Macy are there, fancy cocktails in their hands, and I’m so happy. They both look good,

Gianna is even prettier, and she’s put on weight, so she’s a healthy size.

I hug all three of them.

Lia pushes the drink in my hand when we all part and whispers, “I know you didn’t want to make a big deal, but they wanted to help celebrate your wedding. Properly. We’ll all be there tomorrow, but this is just us. Are you okay with that?”

“Of course, I am.” We clink glasses and start to drink.

It’s a good evening, and it blurs a bit around the edges as they all start talking about the wildest things they’ve done.

Lia starts, her story isn’t much. “I made out with three different guys in college and then had a threesome with them. So good.”