I wrap my arms around Macy and hug her tightly. “I’m so happy for you. I can’t wait to meet him.”
“Really?” she asks. She truly sounds shocked by my comment.
“Of course, I want to meet him, silly.”
“I feel bad, Alexa. I know you keep saying you aren’t looking for a guy, but I also know the luck you’d had these last two years, and with Grace getting married in a few weeks, I also wanted to be careful about your feelings.”
I felt fine until this very moment. I hadn’t felt jealous of Grace.
Well, maybe a little.
I hadn’t felt bad for myself, at least.
I guess, maybe a little.
“I’m fine,” I tell her. “I plan on making one hell of a cat lady someday. As soon as I’m living on my own without two roommates who aren’t allergic to cats, I am getting ten cats.”
Now, I feel even worse.
I don’t like cats.
I want to be happy and in love too.
“Ladies, let’s get the keys so the weekend can begin,” Grace says, fanning a handful of brochures in the air.
* * *
Macy mentioned something about our room being a suit, and while the meaning of suite doesn’t quite match up to what I was expecting, there are two beds and a pullout couch. At least no one needs to share sleeping space. The view is beautiful, though. The water is teal; the waves are monstrous, and the sand is almost white. There aren’t many people on the beach as I expected, but the pool looks packed. “Last one to the pool bar is a single rotten egg,” Grace shouts, tearing her suitcase open.
A single rotten egg. I might as well just take my time then.
3
Two rounds of drinks, and Grace is plastered in the pool. Macy is even getting loud which I don’t see often. “There’s something different about you,” Grace tells Macy. “You’ve been on the phone a lot today, and your cheeks have been red each time you’ve gotten off the phone. I know you, Macy Tyme. You’ve met someone, and if you don’t tell me all about it right now, I’m going to pout.”
Grace tosses her head back in defeat. “No, no, no, it’s nothing,” she says. “This weekend is about you, missy.”
“But wouldn’t it be fun if we were both happy and in love this weekend? We are both happy and in love, aren’t we? You are holding out.”
“Oh my gosh, you’re not supposed to care about my love life this weekend, please, let’s just focus on you,” Macy insists.
“I will be twenty times happier if you tell me what’s going on,” Grace continues.
I’m watching this banter, feeling like a riptide is pulling me in the exact opposite direction. If only pools had riptides.
“Okay, fine. His name is Keller Rain—” The story begins the same way it did when she was telling me.
I’m trying to smile. I’m trying to look happy for my two best friends who are in love and smitten with life, but there’s also this sinking feeling in the bottom of my stomach.
“No way. He said that to you?” Grace counters whatever Macy told her.
“Yes, it was the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me,” she swoons.
Grace has her hands on her chest and she’s smiling from ear to ear. “Tell me more. I need all the details.”
“Hey guys,” I speak up. “My stomach is bugging me. I’m just going to run to the room real quick. I might have accidentally had some of the water.”
“Oh no,” Macy yells over. “I have Pepto and Tums in my vanity case if you need it. If you aren’t back within a half hour we’ll come look for you, okay?”