Page 13

13

Madison

“I feel sorry the boys are all out in the cold, missing this.” I sighed, settling into the massage chair.

“Something tells me they wouldn’t appreciate it anyway,” Jess mused, then giggled. “Ben thinks we’re here to get washed and painted.”

“Well…” Rory lifted one of her feet from the warm water they were currently soaking in. “I guess he’s not too far off. We are getting our toes painted.”

The four of us laughed.

“Don’t get me wrong. I like outdoor snow sports, but this is much more up my alley,” Rory added.

“Honestly, it’s so much quieter without them here,” Landry mused.

I glanced down the row at my three besties, all of us wearing the fluffiest of white robes, champagne in hand, massage chairs vibrating as we all received luxury pedicures. We’d already spent thirty minutes in a bubbling hot tub with a mini waterfall and gotten manicures. Next up were facials. After that, we were getting private hour-long massages and sleek blowouts.

“Rory, how are you feeling after yesterday?” I asked, recalling how scary it was to watch her literally fall through the ice and disappear.

“After a night with Ryan and a day at the spa with you girls, it’s nothing but a memory,” she said.

“I think Ryan took it harder than you,” Landry said. “If Jamie hadn’t leaped forward and grabbed his feet, he probably would have thrown his whole body in the lake after you.”

My stomach dipped, picturing Jamie laid out, holding on to Ryan, as the ice cracked beneath him. Ryan ended up fully submerged, and Jamie’s chest was too. It all happened so fast, but the replay in my mind felt like an eternity.

“I know. I’m sorry to worry everyone, but I couldn’t let that little boy fall in,” Rory said.

“His mother was so grateful,” Jess said. “I’m glad everyone is okay.”

“Me too.” I agreed.

“Sooo, Jess,” Landry said, leaning forward a little. “How does it feel to know you’re about to be Mrs. Kruger in like a day?”

“Like I had too much champagne and I’m fantasizing,” she replied, sipping more of the golden bubbly.

“Kruger really wasn’t kidding when he said he didn’t want a long engagement,” I joked.

Jess laughed. “I definitely wasn’t expecting this,” she said. “But I’m so grateful. I spent a lot of time dreaming when I was young, but even my dreams didn’t come close to this.”

I reached across to lay my hand on hers. “You deserve it.”

Her lashes fluttered, emotion filling her face. “I never thought so, but Ben loves me anyway.” She smiled, glancing around at each of us. “And then I met all of you. I’ve never had so many friends, and I just want you to know how much you mean to me. Truly. Thank you for accepting me as I am and for being more of a family than I ever had.”

Rory whimpered and leaned over to give her a one-armed hug. “We love you, Jess.”

Jess pulled back, using the hem of the fluffy robe to pat her eyes. Setting aside her glass, she reached down beside the pedicure chair and lifted a white bag with tissue paper sticking out of the top into her lap.

“I just assumed if I ever got married, it would be alone. My parents are… well, not around. I haven’t seen my brother in so long I probably wouldn’t recognize him if I did.”

Her chin quivered, and a surge of emotion crested in my chest. Tears pressed at the backs of my eyes. Jess and I had very different lives… but I related to some of what she was saying. The loneliness specifically.

“I mean, I have Matty and Ben, but this… this is different.” Jess turned to me. “You know?”

I nodded, dabbing my eye. “I do. When most people in life have disappointed you, it’s really even more special to find people who don’t.”

She nodded quickly, another tear dripping over her cheek. “So yeah. I got you each something. A thank-you for being here, for being my bridesmaids.”

She pulled out three identical white boxes, each with a pink bow and our names written in gold across the lid. After passing them to each of us, she placed the empty bag on the floor.

“It’s not much,” she said. “Definitely not a spa day.”

“Hey, that doesn’t matter,” Rory said.

Landry shook her head. “It’s the thought that counts.”

Jess turned her brown eyes to mine. “Thank you for this,” she said, gesturing around the room. “To be honest, I feel guilty accepting such an extravagant gift when I can’t reciprocate.”

I gasped lightly. “Oh, please don’t feel that way,” I told her, reaching out to grab her hand. “Honestly, your friendship,” I said, including Rory and Landry in my words, “is far more valuable than the cost of a spa day. I’ve had money all my life, more than I know what to do with to be honest. But that money is a poor substitute for my mother. For family. I mean, sure, it’s nice because I can do things like this, but it wouldn’t mean anything if you girls weren’t here to do it with me.” I focused back on Jess. “Your friendship is reciprocation enough, okay? The memories we’re making today mean so much to me.”

Jess leaned forward and hugged me.

“Open them,” she told us.

The silky pink ribbon fell into my lap when I untied the bow and lifted the lid.

“Oh,” I said, picking up the box to run a finger along what was inside. “This is so pretty.”

“I couldn’t tie the knot without you,” Landry read from the card inside.

Jess nodded. “There’s a knot in the bracelet.”

Rory lifted the simple gold bangle with a knot tied in the center. The bracelet was open on each end, capped with a small gold ball. “I love it so much,” she said, slipping it around her wrist.

I did the same, feeling the cool metal against my skin and adjusting it so the knot was centered on my wrist. The gold glinted under the lighting above the pedicure stations, and I grasped the small circular charm right next to the knot. It had an M engraved on it.

“I chose the knot because, well, like the note said, you will be there for me when I get married… but also because I want you to know that if the gold of that bracelet is life, then I’m the knot tied in the center. That I will always be here for each of you and you three are the sisters I got to choose.”

All three of us made cooing sounds.

“Is that too cheesy?” Jess worried, wringing her hands.

“This is the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen!” the woman doing her pedicure said from near her feet. All three other ladies alongside her nodded and agreed.

I glanced up, startled. I’d forgotten the women were there.

“Makes all the wiggling around okay,” said the lady doing my foot massage.

“Oh! I’m sorry. I’ll try and sit still,” I told her, and she laughed. “But after this hug,” I added apologetically even though I wasn’t sorry at all.

I flung myself at Jess, squeezing her tight. “Sisters for life,” I whispered.

Jess smiled and then hugged Landry and Rory.

“But what about you?” I asked once I’d slid on the bracelet and settled into the seat. “You need one too.”

Jess pushed back the sleeve of her robe, revealing an identical bracelet to ours. “I got one too.”

“Hey, there’s another one,” Landry said. “Oh my God, it’s adorable!” she said, pulling another bracelet from beneath the card with the saying.

“Did you make these?” Rory exclaimed, holding up the friendship bracelet.

It was made with alternating pink and black beads and a row of white beads with black letters in the center that spelled out brIDESMAID.

“Yes.” Jess held her wrist out once more. “Mine says bride.”

I slipped the second bracelet on beside the gold one and smiled. “I love weddings.”

“Me too!” Rory giggled.

“So who do you think will be next?” Landry mused, sipping her champagne.

“Hmm.” I considered. “Max and Wes?”

“I could see that.” Rory agreed.

“I was thinking maybe Ryan and Rory,” Landry said.

“Me?” Rory exclaimed. “Why?”

“Because Ryan is practically feral about you,” Landry teased.

“Well, if that’s how we’re measuring it, then you girls will be right after me,” she quipped.

“So you’d say yes if he asked?” Landry probed, a twinkle in her eye.

“You wouldn’t?” Rory countered.

“Oh, I definitely would,” Landry mused. “But I think Jay will hold out as long as possible just to annoy my dad.”

I laughed. “Seems like something he would do.”

“What about you, Madison?” Rory called. “Would you say yes if my brother asked you to marry him?”

My heart tumbled just thinking of Jamie with a ring in his hand. For so long, I couldn’t imagine ever wanting to be in a relationship, let alone get married. But Jamie changed all that. He changed me.

“I’d say yes,” I confirmed. “But it’s going to be a while for us. After this vacation, Jamie’s going to buckle down on training to get ready for the Olympic qualifiers. They’re late this spring. He needs to focus on that. It’s his dream.”

“That’s going to take a lot of commitment and hours,” Landry said.

I nodded. “It will, but I honestly think he can do it. I’ll be there the whole way.”

Landry smiled. “I think he can do it too. Maybe our next big event won’t be a wedding at all but watching Jamie get a medal.”

“Now that sounds like an amazing time,” I said, finishing off my bubbly.

“Can I ask you something?” Rory was suddenly serious, her eyes intent on my face.

“Of course,” I said. “What is it?”

“Do you think Jamie would be upset if Ryan also went to the qualifiers?”

I jolted up, water splashing the woman at my feet. She gasped a little, grabbed a towel, and started patting her shirt.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed. “You told me to sit still, and I just can’t seem to manage.”

“It’s okay,” she murmured, still patting her shirt.

“No, it isn’t. Please accept my apology. I just got so excited. My friends and I haven’t had a day together without our loud boyfriends in so long. I forgot where I was for a moment.”

The woman chuckled. “It’s okay. We are done with the water anyway. Time for polish.” She held up the bottle I’d selected. “Pink?”

“Yes, please.” I agreed. All four of us were getting the same shade of pink. “I’ll be a statue,” I promised, settling back and making a mental note to double her tip.

Once I was still, I glanced over at the girls who were all in various stages of also having their toes polished.

“Rory, is Ryan thinking of the Olympics?” I asked.

She nodded reluctantly.

“That’s amazing!” Landry exclaimed.

“Why do you seem like it isn’t?” Jess asked her.

Rory glanced back at me. “I think Ry’s worried Jamie will feel like he’s invading his dream.”

I wrinkled my nose. “But they’re best friends.”

Rory tossed her hands in the air. “That’s what I said.”

“They don’t even swim the same stroke. They wouldn’t even be in direct competition,” Landry pointed out.

“I said that too!” Rory exclaimed.

“You seemed kinda nervous to ask me about it, though,” I pointed out.

Rory sighed. “I think Ryan’s worrying rubbed off on me.” She was sheepish. “But not enough because he told me not to say anything to you.”

“Really? Why?”

Rory shrugged. “Like I said, I think he just doesn’t want Jamie to feel like he’s overstepping. You know? Trying to steal the limelight.”

“There’s enough light for both of them,” I said.

“They drive the same car. They finish each other’s sentences and share a tiny dorm room,” Jess said.

“Plus, they’ve been swimming together all their lives,” Landry put in.

Jess nodded. “Seems like doing the Olympics together is a given.”

“Might actually make the intense training more bearable.” Landry considered.

“Jamie really isn’t the type to get territorial,” I said. “Unless it’s about me.”

Rory nodded. “I know. I told him to talk to Jamie, but he hasn’t.”

I pursed my lips. “I’ll ask Jamie to talk to him.”

Rory nodded. “Thanks.”

We chatted more about the wedding and then separated to get facials, which, by the way, was completely heavenly. Afterward, we met again in an all-white Zen waiting space with padded chaise lounge chairs where we propped up our feet to wait for our masseurs to come get us.

Landry went first, then Rory, which left Jess and me alone.

“Madison?”

I glanced in her direction. “Yeah?”

“I know I said it before, but thank you again for today. I thought getting married would be bittersweet because I don’t have a relationship with my mom… or any of my family. But I haven’t had any time to feel even an ounce of bitterness. It’s all been sweet. A lot of that is because of you. Thank you for helping me find my dress, for all of this. Mostly, just for being you.”

“Aww.” I leaped up off the chair, and we met in the middle to hug. “I’m so happy Kruger brought you into the family. You two are going to be so happy together. I just know it.”

Our masseurs appeared at the same time, and I gave her one last squeeze before I was escorted into a dimly lit room that looked like it was made of white marble. The only light was from flickering white candles that lined the perimeter of the room. In the center was a massage table covered in pristine white linen and topped with white rose petals.

Over to the side of the room was a stone vessel-style sink and a counter with supplies. Soothing music, carried on the subtle scent of rose, filled the room.

A woman in white directed me to the table. “You can disrobe and get under the covers. We’ll start with you lying facedown.” She gestured to the face cradle. “Please take your time. I’ll be back in a moment.”

When I was alone, I untied my robe and laid it across a nearby bench. I wasn’t wearing a bra but elected to keep on my underwear, which were white satin.

The bedding on the table was warm, and I slid into it and turned, pulling the blanket with me to place my face in the cradle, which was donut-shaped with a large opening so I could breathe.

Settling, my eyes drifted closed, and I breathed deep. Moments later, there was a light knock on the door and, without lifting my face, I answered, “Come in.”

I never knew if I should say that or not, but it felt weird to not answer at all.

The sound of the door opening and closing was brief. The masseur was soundless as she moved across the room. The blanket covering me was gently peeled down to reveal my shoulders and upper back, and a moment later, a warm stream of oil slid over my skin. After all the tension of finals the last couple weeks, this massage was so needed.

Two large hands settled over my back, and my eyes flew wide. What awfully big hands for a petite woman .

The oddly oversized hands were gentle and confident, and they dragged out from the center of my spine to my shoulders, the oil gliding across my skin.

My lower belly loosened, and a flush of something I’d never felt during a massage bloomed inside me. The hands moved again, gliding over my sides to skim the sides of my breasts.

She’s a large-handed pervert! I let out a strangled sound and twisted around, covering my bare breasts as I went.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing—” I started, my words falling away when I saw who was standing over me. “ Oh my God .”