Page 53 of Not that Sea-Rious
It couldn’t be helped.Walking a straight line, after that many cocktails, was an impossible task.So, there were a few casualties.Nothing too serious, though.They were always careful to put everything back to how they found it.
Thankfully, they’d had the wherewithal to pack their bags before they went out.Which meant they could crash for the night and not have to worry about their stuff in the morning.
Standing at their door, Marissa braced herself.The time had come to make the ultimate decision.Would she stay, or would she go with Beau for one last hurrah?She had the condoms in her purse.She was absolutely prepared for it if she wanted to.
“Wait!”Carolyn held her arms out, blocking everyone from progressing.
Perplexed, the group exchanged looks.
Giggling, she sloppily sauntered toward Beau.Leaning against the wall, he eyed her warily.When she tripped over her own two feet, he caught her.
“You.”She jabbed her index finger into his chest.
He glanced toward Marissa, assumingly for help.She shrugged, unsure what the bride-to-be was doing.
“You,” she repeated.“I’m inviting you to my nuptials.You better show up.”
He raised his brows and opened his mouth to respond, but she covered it.
“Tut-tut-tut.”She shook her head.“You can’t refuse.It’s against the rules of my bachelorette party.”
She had him there.
“You won’t have a fancy invitation, and I’ll have to shift people around.My cousin, she doesn’t have to be at your table,” she mumbled as she shifted her attention to Marissa.
Again, all Marissa could do was shrug as she fought back laughter.
With an exaggerated nod, which nearly knocked off the crooked veil that was hanging onto her hair by luck and a prayer, Carolyn returned her drunken focus to Beau.“So, it’s settled.You’re coming to my wedding as Marissa’s plus-one.”
Marissa bristled with wide eyes.“What?”
It was one thing to invite him independently—as a single guest—on his own.It was a completely different story tying him to Marissa.All the anxiety and second-guessing Marissa had pushed aside earlier came whooshing back like an aggressive high tide.
Turning, but still using Beau to remain standing, Carolyn made a sputtering sound with her lips.“Come on.”She waved a hand dismissively.“Like you’re going to bring anyone else.You already RSVP’d.”
That wasn’t the point.It should beMarissa’sdecision if she were going to take Beau, not Carolyn’s.Frowning, Marissa looked at Tina and Joyce for help.
They offered nothing.The bride continued speaking.“Don’t you live in Florida?”she asked Beau.
He cleared his throat.“Yes.”
“Do you have anything going on next weekend?”
“Uh.”His gaze captured Marissa’s, as though pleading with her for the correct answer.
She didn’t have it.
“No.Not really,” he stammered.
“Carolyn,” Marissa said, stepping toward her friend.
“Good.You’re coming, then.”Carolyn began to lean, and now it was Marissa’s turn to catch the bride-to-be.
“Alright.That’s enough,” Tina declared with only a slight slur to her words.
She’d drunk the least.Someone had to be the grown-up in the room.Thankfully, Tina stepped up.
She slid an arm around Carolyn and nodded in Joyce’s direction.“Get the door, please?”
