Page 10 of Love Resurrected
“Please don’t die.”
I laugh. “I’ll do my best, but it may happen someday.”
“Just not any day soon.” She wipes at her eyes.
“Gorgeous, you about ready?” I hear Ethan yell in the background, and I smile at the warmth in his voice. He loves my Sadie so fucking much. “Hey, Ten.” He waves to the screen and I wave back. “You want us to pick you up on our way?”
“No, thanks though. I’ve got a bunch of stuff in my car already, and I need to stay late after to finalize stuff.”
“I’ll unload it for you when we get there, how’s that?”
“Aren’t you just the sweetest? You sure you don’t have a brother, E?” I tease.
He puffs out his chest. “The world can’t handle more than one Stone man.”
I laugh.
“True enough.” Sadie leans in and kisses him on the cheek. He grabs her around her ever-expanding waist and dips her slightly, kissing her neck and growling. She screeches and giggles. I’m genuinely thrilled for my best friend and it makes my heart soar to see her so happy.
* * *
Ethan unloads my car for me as I finish up with the vendors. Sadie takes a box he brought in and starts arranging bid paddles on the tables.
“Do you need anything else before I head out?” he asks me.
“No, you’ve been awesome, Ethan. Thank you.” I give him a hug, which he returns, then steps away, his hands still on my upper arms.
“My plan is to have Brad here tonight, but he’s really digging his heels in about this. The girls plan to ambush him, but you didn’t hear that from me. Anyway, maybe just be patient with him when he shows?”
I’d told Ethan about my run-in with Brad last night, so he knew I’d encountered both Brad’s Jekyll and Hyde.
“I will do my best.” I smile. Ethan gives me a kiss on the cheek, then heads over to say goodbye to Sadie.
People will begin arriving in about an hour. I don’tthinkI’m nervous. I’ve got everything planned, down to the smallest detail. Brad Matthews is my only wild card. If he shows, everything should go smoothly. If he doesn’t, I’ll have to scramble last-minute for something to fill the time slot.
Sadie and I finish putting the final items on the tables. I make sure the girls in reception have everything they need, then we slip into a back room to change our clothes. My outfit is low key: a slim-fitting turquoise-and-white maxi skirt with a hibiscus print along the bottom, white cami, and low sandals. My hair is curled and pulled back on one side, with a real hibiscus tucked behind my ear,
Sadie has changed into a white strapless knee-length dress with an empire waist, and wedge heeled sandals. Unless you looked at her from the side, you wouldn’t even know she was pregnant. She looks radiant and beautiful.
Remi and Lexie arrive soon after that.
“Oh, thank god,” Remi says. “Finally, someone I can do shots with.” She pulls a small bottle of tequila out of a bag, along with a Dixie cup to use as a shot glass, saltshaker, and a small container of lime wedges. “My three little Bs are at Grammy and Gramps for the night, and Momma needs a drink.” She does a shot order, then lines one up for me.
I love this woman!
We do two shots, following each with awhoopand a high five. Then I get a good look at the newcomers. Lexie looks adorable in an off-the-shoulder flower-print tea-length maternity dress, and low-heeled sandals. Her hair is pinned up with flowers tucked around a bun. She pulls Sadie to the side to tell her about something baby related.
Remi is stunning in a tight white-and-yellow flower print dress with a sweetheart neckline and halter straps. Her hair is curled and pulled up on one side with a flower, similar to mine, and she has on a pair of nude strappy sandals with a kitten heel.
“Wow, you ain’t messing around,” I tell her with a wolf whistle.
“I’m not,” she says. “I went to the salon with my sister-in-law earlier, I’ve been waxed and primped and trimmed to the nth degree. This dress is pulling everything together, in one tight little package. I plan to grab my husband when he gets here, find a spot for a quickie, dance until my feet fall off, drink until I can’t think straight, and go home and fuck his brains out. It’s been weeks. The kids all had the flu, one after the other, then Chance was on night shift. I’m going crazy.”
“I just got a new vibrator that simulates a tongue and mouth,” I tell her. “It’s mind-blowing.”
“You really need a man,” Sadie says to me.
“Oh, but I don’t. My vibes are all rechargeable, they don’t even need batteries any longer. I have a weighted blanket to keep me cozy. I need for nothing.”
