Page 41 of Moonlight & Matrimony (Oak Ridge #2)

Mags snorts when she sees our reactions, clearly delighted by the lack of enthusiasm. “Or,” she continues, a little more slyly, “We can stay in. Put on our pajamas, do some face masks, eat a ton of charcuterie, drink rosé, and gossip until we forget where we are. Your call.”

Paige responds without hesitation, “The second one. I love you Mags, and I know you’re probably itching for some Nashville nightlife, but I’m a tired ass mama right now. I’d love a quiet night in with my girls. That sounds like heaven.”

Mags’s face softens. “Don’t even think about feeling guilty,” she insists, her voice gentling. “I had a feeling you’d want to stay in, which is why I had my dad book us a suite. This trip is as much for all of you as it is for me. I’m just happy to see my girls again.”

Paige’s body visibly relaxes. “Ok. I’m just gonna call Cade and check on Sofia.”

“I’ve literally stopped counting how many times you’ve called Cade today,” I joke, looking over at Paige as she pulls her phone out of her bag. She dials Cade for the eleventh time today, and I can’t help but chuckle as she sighs when it goes to voicemail again.

“God, he’s probably just screening my calls at this point,” she mutters, shaking her head.

Sure enough, just as Paige pockets her phone with a frustrated sigh, the ping of a group text chimes on all of our devices. We all glance at our screens at the same time, and Mags bursts out laughing when she reads the message aloud.

Cade: Somebody tell my wife that Sofia is fine and she can relax.

Cade: I love you, Sunshine… but please stop calling me.

“Babe, if you don’t stop harassing your husband, I’m gonna have to take your phone away,” Mags says.

Paige: How dare you turn my girls against me!

Cade: Have fun, baby. I’ll see you Sunday.

Paige: I’ll see Sofia on Sunday, but you might be regretting your actions, Cowboy.

Mags: We’ve got her. Kiss that sweet baby for me.

Cade: Miles isn’t my type. ??

Miles: I’m everybody’s type.

Mags: In your dreams, Barlow.

“Soooo, Mags…” I draw out her name for added suspense, but before I can ask about her relationship with Miles, we’re already pulling up to the hotel. I tuck that knowledge away, reminding myself to bring it up later when we’re suitably buzzed.

Mags handles check in while the rest of us load up one of the big luggage carts.

With four women who all have a tendency to over pack, the cart is barely sufficient to hold all our bags.

Cara and I each take one side of the cart, guiding it into the elevator as Mags presses the button for the penthouse suite, courtesy of Maggie’s dad.

“Holy shit. Is your dad single?” Cara jokes.

“Don’t make me tell Dean what you said, asshole.”

As we step into the suite, we're greeted by a breathtaking view of the expansive room. The marble floors and plush rugs lead us into a spacious living area with a cozy sectional sofa. The suite also features a private balcony overlooking the city, and the main bedroom is a dream, complete with a king-sized bed, a sitting area with floor to ceiling windows, and a spa-like en-suite bathroom with a soaker tub and walk-in shower. I’ve never had a room call me poor in so many languages before.

I lean back against the plush pillows of the massive bed, my face tingling pleasantly under the rosewater revitalizing mask.

The soft light from the bedside lamps casts a warm glow around the room.

Mags, Cara, and Paige are scattered around me on the massive bed, each with a glass of wine in hand and a huge room service charcuterie board in the center.

I take a sip of my wine, savoring the taste.

“Did you guys hear about Jen’s new ‘business venture’?

Apparently, she got tired of being a pharmaceutical rep, and decided to pretend to be an organic farmer online with her new boyfriend.

Turns out it was all just a front for his backyard marijuana farm.

” Jen briefly dated Cade while he was knee deep in denial over his relationship with Paige.

And by brief, I mean there was one blind date that imploded spectacularly.

Cara laughs. “Is that what she’s telling people? More like she pissed off too many doctors and burned so many bridges that nobody would work with her anymore.”

Paige snorts. “I wish I could say I feel bad for her, but you reap what you sow. Speaking of Oak Ridge gossip, how’s my big brother?” she asks with a knowing glint in her eye.

Mags and Cara swiftly turn their gazes on me, waiting on bated breath for an answer. “He’s… good,” I say, gulping down more of the cool liquid as I attempt to hide a smile.

“Is that all you’re going to give us?” Mags questions. “You fake marry a man who looks like that and suddenly you're not up to talking about your sex life? I’d bet my left tit he’s a fucking beast in the sheets.”

Paige makes an exaggerated gagging noise at the mention of her brother’s unconfirmed sexual prowess.

I could give them exactly what they’re fishing for, but I sidestep the question instead.

“I didn’t say anything about a sex life,” I point out, hoping to let the conversation go, but Maggie’s nothing if not persistent.

“You didn’t have to, babe. We can see it all over your face any time someone even says his name. You’ve got that good dick glow.”

I laugh. “What the fuck is the ‘good dick’ glow?”

“You know, when you’re so well-fucked, your entire aura changes,” she explains.

“Girl, I think you’ve had too much wine,” Cara says.

“Or I haven’t had enough,” I add with a laugh.

Grinning, I take another sip of my wine.

“It’s a fun distraction. A really, really filthy distraction.

But right now, this—” I gesture around the room, “—is exactly where I want to be. Good dick notwithstanding. Besides, he’s better on the bar top than he is in the sheets. ”

Paige’s eyebrows shoot up as Cara chokes on her wine. “Oh my god. Did you fuck my brother on my husband’s bar? That feels like a crime against the best friend code. Straight to jail.”

Maggie raises her hand up for a high five and I meet her in the middle. The conversation drifts to less complicated topics as the night wears on. Between the laughter and the gossip, I feel a wave of contentment. No matter what awaits me back in Oak Ridge, I’m exactly where I want to be right now.