Page 35 of Make Me Want it Too

“Zayne and Dane. I know, we’re adorable,” says Zayne.

“Macy.” I shake his hand. “I’m Bex’s maid of honor.”

“Oh, of course I know who you are, honey.”

Dane shakes my hand next. “I love your hair. I’d die to be a natural ginger.”

“Thanks. And this is my date, um, boyfriend, Wood.”

“Oh!” Zayne looks Wood up and down while shaking his hand longer than necessary. He side-eyes me. “Oh, girl. Love that for you.”

“Who wants champagne?” Bex yells.

“Me!” Dane and Zayne shout simultaneously, raising their hands, then run over to the boat.

Margot’s already on, champagne glass in hand, chatting with Spencer. I can’t help but see her glancing toward Wood every few minutes.

Bex overflows each little plastic champagne flute, handing them to everyone as they get on the boat.

Spencer glares at the splattered champagne on the boat deck.

But as Noah holds Livvy’s hand to help her step on and Bex goes to hand Livvy her drink, Livvy freezes. “I don’t think I can do this.”

“Really?” Bex’s already pouty lips go poutier.

“Yeah, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay, I understand. I’m sorry.” Bex steps onto the dock, spilling more champagne, Jake watching, holding the rope steady so the boat doesn’t rock. Bex gives Livvy a hug and tells her she’ll see them at dinner.

Wood leans down and whispers in my ear, “This is our last chance. I’ll make something up and we can turn around now.”

Noah is comforting Livvy as they come up the dock, and I notice Bex’s slumped shoulders as she watches them, holding an almost empty champagne glass.

This is Bex’s week. Bex’s wedding. I’m her maid of honor, and I’m going to be here for her, ex-boyfriend and nausea be damned.

“No, I’m okay. Let’s go.”

Wood touches my lower back and claps Noah on the shoulder as they pass, then leads me to the sailboat. He hops on first then holds my hand as I step off the dock. His other hand grazes my waist to keep me steady.

Bex has perked back up and hands me some champagne. I take it.

That’s probably a mistake, but what the heck.

The first fifteen minutes are good. Great, even.

The next half hour is slow torture.

I listen and nod as Bex talks about the mix-up with the florist and how they can’t actually get peonies in time for the ceremony because they have to be shipped from Brazil or something and there was a storm or a boat got stuck in a storm or—I’m not sure. My head hurts.

I’m dizzy, and my stomach feels like it’s churning with each wave. I want to lie down but I think that would make things worse. Even blinking too long makes me feel like I’m going to fall over.

My glass was empty, but Bex keeps refilling it. The champagne really was a bad idea.

Thankfully, she gets distracted by Zayne and Dane at the stern of the boat asking her to take a video of them reenacting the scene from Titanic for a video they’re going to post. She’s all over it.

Wood steps closer. He’s been hovering around, chatting with everyone and enjoying the view of the water, but never going out of sight. I appreciate it, but right now, I feel like I need to lean over the edge of the boat and vomit.

He touches my arm, “You don’t look great. What’s wrong?”

---