Page 117 of On the Line
“Okay so this app is awesome because not only can you look up excursions and other such things to do in the area, but you can also book directly in the app. It’s honestly a no-brainer for anyone planning a bachelorette party. Amelia and I actually reached out to them about partnership, explaining what we needed it for and how we already have a huge social media following.”
For a fledgling operation, she and Amelia had each amassed over fifty thousand Instagram followers in a few short months, and the blog traffic was steady.
Rarely did she and Amelia have to reach out to brands; typically the brands approached them. In this instance, however, both agreed making the first move was worth it to give Berkley the best possible weekend.
“It looks awesome,” Berkley said as she scrolled through the app’s landing page, which was highlights of the sights and sounds of Nashville. “I don’t want to do anything that requires physical labor, though,” she says, her finger hovering over an ad for one of those pub-on-wheels things. “I’m here to relax, not work out.”
“Fair enough,” Lexie said. “What exactly do you want to do then?”
“Drink,” Berkley said simply. “And it’s a bachelorette weekend, so shouldn’t we find one of those Magic Mike-type shows, too?”
Lexie scrolled until she found what she was looking for. “Here, this is perfect. Music City Gents Male Revue. It’s a choreographed burlesque show featuring hunky southern men,” Lexie said, wiggling her eyebrows. “And we can book you your very own lap dance, too!”
“Did someone say lap dance?” Amelia asked as she padded out into the kitchen, Mackenzie and Jessica not far behind her.
“We’re going to a show tonight, ladies,” Berkley said. “And your girl is getting a lap dance from a cowboy.”
Lexie laughed along with the rest of them, thinking how nice it was to see Berkley letting go and enjoying herself. Her best friend had a tendency to be uptight about a lot of things, and ever since the day Lexie met her, she had been working her ass off toward something. First, it was getting her undergraduate degree and getting into a good law school, then it was getting her law degree, passing the bar, and finding a job at a really good firm. Now it was getting her business degree—or whatever she was doing; Lexie truthfully didn’t know exactly—and preparing to start her own agency.
But Berkley was about to marry the love of her life. And that wasn’t something she had to work her ass off for. She already had Brent and would forever, wedding or no wedding. All Lexie wanted was for her to sit back, relax, and let loose, and she told her so.
“I fully plan on it,” Berkley said seriously. “I’ll even shut my phone off if it’ll make you feel better.”
“That’s not the worst idea you’ve ever had, actually, but not necessary. I want you to be able to document your memories of this weekend. And send those cheesy little love notes to Brent when none of us are looking.”
“My texts arenotcheesy,” Berkley said indignantly. “Besides, haven’t you ever sent suggestive texts to a boyfriend?”
Lexie had, but only to Mitch, and it was never anything she wouldn’t say to his face. Berkley must’ve realized her mistake, because she said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring him up.”
“It’s okay,” Lexie said, waving her off. And she found herself actually meaning it. Mitch wasn’t going anywhere. Not anytime soon, and if she was completely honest with herself, hopefully not ever.
The time for Mitch to prove himself to her had passed. In fact, she hadn’t needed those reassurances from him in the first place. That tether between them was still there, still pulling her into his orbit, and if all of the months and miles that had separated them hadn’t lessened that pull, Lexie had to admit nothing would. But before she jumped back in with him, if that was even still on the table, she wanted to make sure her head was on straight and that she wasreadyto give him everything.
She had tried to give him everything before and thought she’d succeeded. But that dinner with her parents…God, it was like being a teenager again and inviting her first real boyfriend over for dinner. The subtle digs at her character, at how the guy better be prepared to take care of her because she couldn’t do it herself.
It was exhausting, a war she had been waging with them for her entire life. And having Mitch by her side? It should’ve fortified her, given her the strength to fight back. Instead, she had curled in on herself and then lashed out at him when he stood up for her.
She was embarrassed.
That’s what it all boiled down to.
Mitch deserved someone to love him openly, without reservations or conditions. Not only was she terrified to give that much of herself—all of herself—to him again, but she didn’t even know if she still could.
So yeah…she needed time.
At that moment, the door to the condo clicked open, revealing Kimber and driving thoughts of Mitch and her future straight from her head.
Berkley was on her feet in an instant, not having seen Kimber in nearly two years. Lexie, who had just seen her in the fall, hung back while the rest of the group greeted her.
“So that’s the infamous Kimber,” Mackenzie said, standing next to Lexie as the other three women exchanged hugs and compliments with Kimber.
“Sure is,” Lexie said, turning to smirk at Brent’s sister. “The party has officially arrived.”
The sun was still a fiery ball in the sky, though slowly beginning its descent toward the horizon, when the girls left the condo and ventured out onto Broadway.
Surprisingly, Nashville was one city Lexie had never lived in growing up or visited while traveling for work, and stepping foot onto the infamous epicenter of country music was a bit of a shock to the senses.
Everything was lit up in neon, and twangy, guitar-heavy music blasted onto the sidewalk from every open door they walked past.
