Page 64 of Resisting You
I did my best to laugh, but it sounded hollow and echoed like my chest was a cavern. "We can always take the bottles and dump them in the lake," I offered, sarcastically.
Only, they didn't take it as the joke I'd intended. Morgan's eyes went wide. "Oh my God, that would be hilarious."
"We should do that, right?" Trichelle chimed in. "Like, how fun would it be to fill an entire canoe with shitty champagne and take it out on the lake? We'd break fucking Tiktok with that shit."
"It's not like Maple Grove has anything more exciting to offer," I muttered, hoping they'd take the hint and get a hotel in a town nearby... but not too close. "You know, Concord isn't so far and they at least have bars that stay open past eleven."
"Eleven?" Gavin grunted. "How the fuck are we going to plan a bachelor party here if they're only open until eleven?"
"Bachelor party?" Rosa asked, blinking at me.
"Yeah, I don't think so, guys?—"
"We can always have it at the hotel," Daniel said. "Get some strippers, some shrooms. Fuck the local yocal bars. We know how to party!"
Rosa was stiff as a board and finally my friends seemed to notice.
"Oh, don't worry, Rosie," Trichelle said, leaning across to take her hand.
"Rosa," she corrected.
"Right. We'll throw you a bachelorette party while they're out being boys. We'll show them they're not the only ones who know how to have fun!" With a squeal, she tossed her hands in the air, shaking her tits.
Daniel and Gavin laughed. Beside me, Morgan merely sneered. "We'll take good care of you, Rosa."
Over my dead fucking body.
"Why don't we have a joint bachelor and bachelorette party?" I offered quickly instead.
I knew my friends and there was no way we were getting out of this. But at least this way, Rosa and I could be together and I could make sure Trichelle and Morgan didn't sabotage us.
I tried to squeeze Rosa's hand once more, but she slid away from me and stood up. "I need to go walk Birdie," she said.
“Oh my God!” Trichelle's face twisted. "You walk your bird?"
"Birdie's the name of our dog," I said.
"Ohhh," Trichelle said, but there was a blank expression that seemed like she still didn't quite get it. "You should have your assistant do that."
"I don't have an assistant," Rosa said. "Besides. I like walking Birdie."
Something didn't sit right with me in the narrowed crinkle of her eyes. Or the abrupt way she grabbed her purse and whipped it around to sling it over her shoulder.
"I'll come, too..." I offered.
"No. I got it. You stay with yourfriends."
She didn't let me object before she was briskly heading for the front door.
"Have fun picking up shit!" Morgan called after her. Then as soon as she was gone, Morgan leaned into me, pressing her breasts to my bicep.
"Come on, Noah," Morgan whispered, bringing her lips dangerously close to my ear. "Tell us the truth. There isno wayyou'rereallymarrying that girl, is there?"
I slid out from beneath her touch and stood to my feet. "Can't you read the fucking room, Morgan? Not only am I celebrating my love with Rosa. But we'realreadymarried. And fucking blissfully so." I grabbed a wad of cash and tossed it down on the table. "See you guys later."
With that, I rushed after my bride.
Chapter 23
