Page 14 of The Love Language of the Cartel

As soon as my heels hit the paved walkway, I was greeted by Samara and the other bridesmaids, who were all buzzing with a blend of excitement and tequila.

Samara took my hand and pulled me through the front door. “You’re here!” she squealed with delight.

“In the flesh,” I said, looking around. The house was as much a picture of luxury on the inside as it was on the outside.

“Shots and introductions first,” she insisted. “And then I’ll give you a tour.”

The foyer and living room were a colorful blur as we raced into the kitchen to meet and greet everyone. It was the weekend escape I never knew I needed. I was beyond ready to free myself from my worries and my father’s unrealistic expectations that had been weighing on my shoulders for most of my life.

Samara handed me a shot glass filled to the brim with tequila. “Welcome to paradise, Demi! I’m so happy you could make it, girl! This weekend is all about love and having fun. Leave your stress at the door because that shit is not allowed up in here, okay?”

My teeth flashed white and broad as I took the shot glass. “Thanks, girl. This place is exactly what I needed, and this tequila is right on time! Thank you for including me.”

“That’s because I’m an on-time type of bitch, okay?” she teased with a chuckle.

We laughed in unison as the bride and the other bridesmaids gathered around the kitchen island.

The bride raised her glass. “To love and marriage.”

We toasted Rayne’s upcoming nuptials and the adventures that lay ahead for her as a newlywed. The five of us clinked our glasses together as the sound of joyful laughter blended with the R&B and Hip-Hop music blasting in the background. I tossed back the shot, feeling the fiery tequila blaze through my body. I planned to let my hair down in more ways than one.

After a couple more shots, Samara and I explored the house. The mansion had ten bedrooms and twelve bathrooms, as well as several dining and living rooms. There was an expansive courtyard in the center, surrounded by terraces and six private balconies, enough for each of us to have our own.

Outside, the poolside terrace was decorated with fairy lights to create a magical vibe, and the infinity pool backed up to a beautiful view. The mountains rose in the distance, looking so close, although they were an ocean away. I couldn’t wait to change into my bathing suit and relax by the pool.

As the night fell, Samara and I lounged on the luxurious sunbeds, sipping on cocktails while her cousins smoked and twerked by the pool.

“Everything about this place is perfect, Samara. I can’t thank you and your cousin enough for letting me tag along at the last minute. With all this shit going on back home, I finally feel like I can breathe.”

Samara’s smile swung free. “That’s the point! You are way too young to be this stressed. It’s not healthy, and it sure as hell ain’t cute.”

I groaned. “You’re right. But, like, my father just gets underneath my skin so bad. It’s like his superpower or something.”

“I don’t know why you let one man have so much control over you.”

“He’s not just any man, Samara. You know that.”

She sighed. “Look, let’s just get through this weekend. Rayne literally has a jam-packed itinerary.So, there won’t even be time for you to stress or worry. You’ll deal with Chicago when you land in Chicago. But as for me and this house, we getting fucked up tonight!” she sang like Beyoncé. “Deal?”

I chuckled before taking a sip of my tequila sunrise. “Deal.”

As the songs changed and the night continued to unfold outside the beautiful mansion, everyone gathered around the bride-to-be.

“Okay, ladies. Tomorrow morning, we’re starting with bridal yoga on the terrace at sunrise. We’ve got a private instructor coming just for us, and then we’ll have a chef come and cook brunch,” Rayne announced.

My eyes lit up with enthusiasm as I grinned. “Sounds like the perfect way to start the day to me. Thank you all again for including me this weekend.”

Rayne displayed her teeth in a joyful grin. “The more the merrier.”

When things finally started to wind down around two o’clock in the morning, I finally headed back to my room. I showered and changed into a comfortable oversized T-shirt and shorts before opening the window to let in the sounds of the ocean and the gentle breeze.

Still feeling partially buzzed, I climbed into bed and let the fresh, crisp sheets envelop me. As I closed my lids, the rhythmic sound of the crashing waves was soothing, like a baby to warm milk. It lulled me to sleep within minutes.

Like the sunrise, the yoga instructor came like clockwork the next morning. She had sienna brown skin, long brown hair styled into two French braids, a bright smile, and a bubbly energy that I was too hungover to appreciate. Still, her disposition remained perky and jolly, like the captain of a high school cheer squad.

“Buenos días,ladies! My name is Veronica, and I’ll be your bridal yoga instructor today. I hope you chicas are ready to kickoff the day with some energizing yoga. And my high-level energy isn’t all I brought with me. I’ve got champagne and OJ for some post-yoga mimosas!”

We cheered, thrilled by the thought of drowning our livers in more alcohol. We grabbed our rented yoga mats and headed out onto the terrace. The soft sound of the waves added the same serenity I felt when I went to bed only a few hours prior. It was the perfect setting for our intimate workout session.

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