Page 29 of Paradise & Vodka

I shrugged. "I heard you drank too much last night."

"I don't remember." She rubbed her forehead.

"The sun and the ocean breeze will be good for you." Mom rubbed Everleigh's back.

"Let's hope so because you're getting married tomorrow." I was a little shocked by my statement, but at that moment, Iwashappy for her. I smiled, and my gaze connected with Nick’s. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and kissed my temple as though he understood how I was feeling.

A few seconds later, Douglas joined us. I noticed that Everleigh looked away from his gaze. "Everyone ready?"

We all nodded and then followed him to a van outside. My parents hung back with Nick and me instead of acting as Douglas's entourage. It gave me hope that our conversation really had helped.

"Are you doing okay?" Nick asked as we sat in the back of the van.

I nodded and grinned. "I'm great."

"Good." He squeezed my knee and lowered his voice. "I know how to wake you each morning now."

I snorted a laugh. "I'm not complaining."

"Good to know." He kissed the side of my head and brought me closer against his side.

The van took us to a port, where we boarded a decent-sized boat. Nick and I hadn't had time for breakfast—because of other things—so I pulled two bananas out of my beach bag and handed him one.

"Thanks for the fruit basket in our room," he said, and I looked up to see that he was talking to Douglas as he peeled open his fruit. "Time got away from us this morning."

My face flamed. Not because he was telling Douglas the private information but because my parents were sitting next to us.

"Sure,man," Douglas replied.

Everleigh came and sat next to us. "So, we're going to be cruising around and then stopping at a sand island where we'll get to snorkel and have lunch."

"Sounds like fun." I smiled.

"Also, I hope you're not mad that I didn't ask you to be in the wedding."

I blinked.

She continued, "We honestly didn't think you would want to be."

I felt everyone's gaze on me, waiting for my reply. I knew sisters usually made the other sister their maid of honor or at least a bridesmaid, but Everleigh and I hadn’t been speaking to each other, so I answered truthfully. "You're right."

"Maybe you two need to go have a little talk?" Mom suggested.

"Where? We're on a boat," I questioned.

"Maybe below," Dad proposed.

"Yeah, there should be another level. I think there’s a bar down there," Everleigh stated.

"Okay." I sighed and stood. I knew we needed to talk, and if we were going to spend the day together, it was better to get the conversation over with sooner rather than later. "We'll be back."

There was a set of stairs near the side of the boat where we got on, and we took them down. It was quiet and vacant except for a bartender at the bar as everyone else had remained up top. There was a bar like Everleigh had said there was.

"Should we get a drink first?" I asked.

She groaned. "I can't even look over there or I’ll puke. I just suggested the bar to have alone time."

The night before, I’d had four drinks—one a double—and I didn't get drunk, but I felt good. Either the drinks weren't that strong, or I held my liquor better given my size. "I think I'll need one for this conversation."