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AMELIA

“Who’s ready to party?” Tia bursts into her living room, a white Bride to Be sash draped over her white lace dress that stops right above her knees.

Her rhinestone headband with a veil attached reflects off the light as she flashes us all a grin.

“Wooooo!” She raises a tequila bottle in her hand like a trophy.

After weeks of planning with Maya and having several meltdowns over setting up the games, decorations, and RSVP invites, the hotel suite we booked for Tia’s bachelorette party is all ready to go.

Amir whistles as he steps up, taking Tia’s hand and giving her a small twirl. “Look at my beautiful fiancé.”

Caleb leans back against the couch beside me, his black button-down shirt exposing his chest as his silver necklace dangles lazily against it.

My eyes linger for a beat too long. My feelings haven’t faded one bit no matter how much I hoped they would.

We haven’t had the need to prove to the media anymore now that he’s signed and I’m so ready to get to the Bahamas already just to have an excuse to hold his hand…or do anything, really.

Maya pulls out her phone, tapping the screen to order us a ride.

“Don’t get too drunk tonight. Flight’s at 8 a.m.,” Tia scolds, her eyes locked on her brother.

Caleb’s brow furrows, crinkling his skin. “Why are you looking at me?”

“Because you sleep like you’re a dead man,” she retorts dryly.

I stifle a laugh. “She’s not wrong.”

“Always on my sister’s side.” He rolls his eyes, giving my thigh a quick squeeze.

“Us girls gotta stick together.” I shrug in defense.

“Don’t worry, we won’t be late, babe,” Amir says to Tia.

“Our ride’s here!” Maya calls out beside me, dragging her luggage. “Time to ditch you men.” She heads out the door, patting Amir on the shoulder before looking up at him. “No offense.”

“Offense very much taken.” He shakes his head letting out a throaty laugh. Then turns to Tia, pressing a kiss to her lips. “See you in the morning, I love you.”

She pouts. “I love you too.”

My eyes soften as I witness how in love they are. I’ve always loved their relationship. The gentle touches, the way he cares for her, and wants to make her genuinely happy. It stirs something inside me.

It makes me want to believe in love again. Maybe putting your heart out there again isn’t so bad because sometimes, you gotta meet a few frogs before finding your prince…or so I’ve been told.

And I’ve already kissed a human form of a frog. That has to count.

Animated movies please, don’t let me down.

We check into a fancy hotel near LAX, grab our keycards, then take the elevator up to the 20 th floor. As we roll our luggage down the luxurious hallway, Maya slides the keycard into our door. “Prepare to have fun tonight, my queen,” she grins, holding it open for Tia and me.

“SURPRISE!”

Blair and Skye, Tia’s other closest friends, pop out from behind the couch just as I wave my hand over the fancy light switch.

Tia lets out a scream, clutching her heart before bursting into laughter. The king suite is all decked out in yellow, pink, and shimmering decorations. Balloons floating all the way to the ceiling, and in rose-gold letters the word brIDE hangs over the couch.

We step further inside, closing the door behind us as Tia takes it all in with wide eyes.

In the main bedroom, cream satin robes hang neatly on a rack, with a table filled with face masks, games, cute glasses, and…sex toys.

“I can’t believe you guys did this!” Tia throws her arms around Maya and me in a tight hug before spinning around, hugging the other girls. “You guys are so sneaky.”

Her eyes land on the purple dildos, pink vibrators, and a blow-up sex doll neatly arranged on the glass table beside the bed. She freezes. “Really guys?”

Maya smirks. “It wouldn’t be an iconic bachelorette party without some fake penises.”

“I second that,” Blair chimes in, pointing a finger in the air. She’s a wildcard like Maya, hilarious and always down for a good time. I’ve met her a handful of times, she seems sweet.

Tia picks up a dildo, poking it a few times before laughing. “They’re so squishy.”

I laugh. “We’re gonna have lots of fun.”

Maya loops her arm through mine. “Now, should we start with cock…tails,” she deliberately drags out the word, “or dive straight into the games?”

“Both.” Tia and Skye say in unison.

“That’s what I’m talking about.” Maya heads straight to the speaker, connects her phone, and hits play.

“S3

Dad

Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

Mom

Night honey. Mahal kita.

Love you both.

I swipe out of the group chat, and Caleb’s name is at the top of my recents, but I don’t remember texting him at all tonight. Frowning, I click on his name.

A voice memo? When did I send him that? It’s only ten seconds long. Maybe I sat on my phone or something.

An hour ago…hmm. I press play.

“My sex fantasy is that…”

Muffled noises.

NO.

“I’ve always wanted to have sex in front of a mirror or recreate a scene from my favorite movie.”

Oh god. This is not happening. Thankfully, he hasn’t seen it yet.

No biggie. No reason to get all worked up. Don’t panic.

I’ll just hold the message down to delete it, but just as my finger hovers over the screen?—

Seen. And minutes later...

Incoming call from Caleb.