Page 254 of The Perfect Spiral
Finally locating the cool bottled water on the drawers, I guzzle it down gratefully, groaning at the relief it brings to my dry mouth.
“Pass it here,” Sam sits up, rubbing her eye with the heel of her hand, smearing the remnants of last night’s mascara.
I toss the bottle to her and she drains the rest. I flop back down and she mirrors me, snuggling up to me. For once, I don’t have a headache or feel nauseous. The pizza must have absorbed most of the alcohol.
“Last night was a blast, sis! From what I can remember,” she giggles, wrapping an arm around me. We hear a knock on the door. She climbs out of bed and I sit up again.
Opening the door reveals my three brothers and my mom. My brothers scoop Sam up and toss her back onto the bed. They pounce on me and we all sprawl out on the giant bed together.
Once the laughter subsides among the five of us, my mom joins us on the bed. Always in the center.
“I can’t believe my little sister is getting married today!” Cole exclaims, putting Sam in a headlock and giving her a noogie. She swats his hand away with a smack.
“Max, you need to propose to Jane soon. And Kyle, you and Andy...” His gaze lands on me, the only one left out. I can see the guilt in his eyes.
I flash him a smile to let him know I’m okay.
“My career better propose to me!” I quip, making everyone laugh. Max nods, biting his lip and smiling at my mom.
“I will... soon. But today is about Sam and Tyson.” There’s something he’s not telling us. My mom will get it out of him soon. I know she will.
An hour later, after we’ve all had breakfast in bed, we decide it’stime for the bridesmaids to get their hair and makeup done for the wedding.
Sitting in the chair for the hair and makeup team Sam hired, I gaze out the wide window at the bustling town below.
Kyle approaches me. Placing a hand on each armrest, he leans in.
“I’m going to let last night slide. I got enough grief from Andy about it. But if I ever see or hear about you doing that again with any guy, especially a stripper, I’ll lock you up on a mountain where the only humans you’ll see are me... and Andy.”
I roll my eyes at his melodrama. And they say girls are the dramatic ones. He kisses my forehead just as the other boys enter the room to hug Sam and wish her luck.
I’m sitting there getting my hair and makeup done, with Andy and Hannah beside me getting theirs done too.
All the bridesmaids are having their hair styled in old Hollywood-style curls to one side, with the other side pinned back and cascading over the shoulder.
The makeup is simple and natural, all per Sam’s request.
My brothers are getting ready in another room in this suite, donning custom-made tuxedos. All three are groomsmen, along with Knox and Tyson’s two brothers.
Zara, Amy, Rachel, Sandra, and Lena are all bridesmaids, and I’m the maid of honor. People are coming and going from the room as we get ready.
“Ohhhh, let me take a picture of you!” Andy squeals, drawing everyone’s attention. Even mine. I open my eyes to see her camera pointed at me. She rushes over, nudging the makeup artist out of the way.
I’m technically in my underwear and a silky mid-thigh white robe. She tugs the shoulder down on my right side, revealing my bra, and I laugh at her antics. What is she doing?
I suppose now is the time, seeing as all my brothers aren’t in the room.
“Okay, now give me smeyes. You look so hot right now, Alex! This is going on Instagram!” She snaps a few photos of me trying my best to smeyes without laughing too hard.
I fix myself before my brothers emerge in their tuxedos. When they do, the whole room pauses to smile at them, even me. My mom starts to cry and they all roll their eyes at her. Each of them goes to hug her and they laugh. They’re all such mama’s boys.
“My boys look so handsome in their tuxedos!” She beams at them all. Sam and I join them to hug them, too, careful not to ruin our makeup.
“You guys look so handsome,” I murmur, looking up at them. Sam agrees, clasping her hands over her mouth.
They each have a charcoal grey tuxedo on, with different colored handkerchiefs; Cole has a silk yellow one, Max has a silk purple one, and Kyle has a silk green one.
They each kiss Sam, my mom, and my forehead, and then Lauren walks in with Knox.
