“Libby Davis, you are getting a wedding dress!” I exclaimed. “Tell her Mason!” I shouted across thetable.
He held his hands up. “She can have what she wants Sav,” he said with a chuckle. “As long as she ends up being my wife, she can wear a trash bag as far as I’mconcerned.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “It won’t be a wedding without a wedding dress.” I pouted. “Just try some on, and then decide? It’s a great excuse for a girls day, and we haven’t done that in a while. What do yousay?”
“Okay, okay,” Libby said, laughing. “If youinsist.”
“I do! And I bet you find something you love,” I told herexcitedly.
“Never mind the dress!” Brody exclaimed. “What about the bachelor party? I’m thinking Vegas! Some blackjack, maybe a few strip clubs—you’re up for that, aren’t youMason?”
“Brody!” I exclaimed, throwing him a dirty look. I turned as I heard Masonlaugh.
“No Brode, I was thinking more along the lines of a few beers at the Brass Hall once Jack getshere.”
“The Brass Hall? We go there all the time!” He swung around to look at Josh. “Back me up on this man,” he implored Josh desperately. “We should go to Vegas.” Josh held his hands up, a smile tugging on his lips. “At least a night in Austin then?” Brodyasked.
“I just want a night out with the boys—no blackjack, and definitely no strip clubs!” Mason said, shaking his head athim.
“You’re such a jerk Brody! I can’t believe you suggested a strip club for Mason’s bachelor party with Libby sitting right here,” I told him indisbelief.
“Sorry Lib,” Brody said sheepishly. “I didn’tthink.”
“It’s fine. You should go to Vegas or Austin if that’s what you want to do babe,” Libby said to Mason. “Just stay away from the strip clubs,” she said, her cheeks flushingpink.
“Sweetheart, I just want a few drinks with my friends. I don’t want or need to go to a strip club.” I watched as Libby grinned at Mason before leaning in to kisshim.
“That’s settled then—no Vegas, and no strippers,” I said, giving Brody another dirty look. “I’ll start planning the bachelorette party, how about the weekend before thewedding?”
“Sounds good to me,” Libby said, smilingwidely.
“That should work for the bachelor party too,” Brody said, nodding hishead.
“Maybe I should get Josh to organize it? I’m not sure I trust you Brody Parker!” Mason joked, grabbing Brody around the neck, goading him into a playfight.
“I swear you might as well be 10 years old again!” my mom shouted, guiding them outside and onto the porch. “Out! Talk about guy things outside—we’ve got a wedding to plan.” I watched as she ushered all four of them outside, my dad included. Turning back to us as she shut the French doors, she rolled her eyes. “Boys never growup!”
I laughed as we made our way into the living room. “This is so exciting!” I gushed, flopping onto the sofa. “Now, what flowers are you having? What color schemes are we working with? How are we going to decorate the barn? Have you thought about your wedding cake? And we need to think about the rehearsal dinnertoo.”
“Whoa, slow down! We only set a date a few hours ago! I haven’t thought about any of that stuff!” Libby said with alaugh.
“You’d better get thinking Lib, eight weeks isn’t long to get everything worked out. How about we head into Marble Falls on Monday and check out the florist? We can stop by the bakery as well, get some ideas for a wedding cake?” Neither of us had class on Mondays, and we usually tried to meet up forlunch.
“Okay.” She nodded. “I can’t believe I’m gettingmarried.”
“I can,” I told her. “You and Mason are perfect for eachother.”
“He is pretty amazing.” She sighed, grinning from ear toear.
We continued planning and talking for the next hour or so. Before everyone decided to call it a night, I said an awkward goodbye to Josh and made my way upstairs. It had been a long day and even though I’d managed to get a nap earlier, I was exhausted. After getting ready for bed, I lay staring at the ceiling, unable to switch my mind off. I knew Josh would be at the cottage again the next day, and I wasn’t sure I could face another day of stolen glances and lingering touches knowing I’d just be left frustrated and confused. Rolling over, I closed my eyes, tossing and turning before I eventually fell into a deepsleep.
Waking up the next morning,I stretched my arms above my head and yawned. Despite having struggled to fall asleep, I slept really well, and so far I hadn’t felt the need to rush for the bathroom and throw up. I wasn’t going to hope the morning sickness was completely gone, because I knew the nausea could strike at any time. I reached across the bed to my nightstand and grabbed my phone, pushing the home button to illuminate the screen. I saw I had an unread message fromAlex.
Alex: Hi Savannah, it’s Alex, your knight in shining armor from the Brass Hall. How areyou?
I stared at my phone, rereading the message. With everything that had happened the day before and then with Libby and Mason’s news, I’d completely forgotten that Alex had my number. My finger hovered over the reply button, and after a few seconds of indecision, I clickedit.
Me: Hi Alex, I’m okay, thanks. How areyou?