Page 219 of By His Vow

“Come in,” I say, taking a step back and opening the door wider for her and her team.

“Set up wherever. I’ll go get Lori,” I say before rushing toward the bedroom. She was awake when I left, but there’s no telling if she actually rolled out of bed.

Thankfully, the second I step into the room, my eyes lock on my tired best friend’s.

“What’s wrong?”

“The woman in charge out there brought a level of excitement I can’t deal with yet,” I confess.

Lori winces before looking over my shoulder.

“We could send them away and just do it ourselves,” she offers, just like I did to Kingston when he suggested booking a team to ensure we look and feel our best today.

I shake my head, aware that even if I begged, they wouldn’t leave. They’re under Kingston Callahan's orders. Nothing I say or do will make them budge an inch.

“It’s fine. The coffee will be here soon and maybe she’ll calm down.”

Lori raises her brow.

“The coffee will help.”

Reaching out, I catch her hand and drag her back out with me.

If I have to face the hairbrush and lipstick-wielding firing squad, then so does she.

Besties for life and all that shit.

“Ah, and you must be the bride’s maid of honor,” Marissa says excitedly, letting me know that she hasn’t come down from her high yet. Her smile as she looks between the two of us is borderline manic.

“Holy shit, what has she taken?” Lori asks without trying to move her lips.

“If it’s okay with you, we’ll start with our maid of honor?—”

“It’s Lori,” my best friend grumbles.

“Have you already showered?”

Silence falls, giving Marissa the answer she didn’t want.

“Well, what are you waiting for? The altar and your soon-to-be husband are waiting.”

Thankfully, there’s another knock on the door. One of Marissa’s much quieter sidekicks opens it for us and I almost sob in relief when coffee and breakfast are wheeled in.

“We’ll shower in just a few,” I say as we descend on the tray.

“Okay. We do need to be ready by ten thirty, though,” Marissa points out.

“We’re not getting married until eleven, it’s fine.”

Marissa orders her team around before leveling me with an unimpressed look.

“It’s just the two of us,” I point out. “We don’t need that much work.”

Marissa doesn’t say a word, but the way her brow lifts tells me all I don’t need to know about the level of hot mess I’m rocking right now.

Thankfully, the coffee and the strong painkillers I found in my toiletry bag begin to kick in and I throw my ass into the shower before Marissa strangles me with the cord of her hairdryer.

I’ve no idea if Marissa just wants to prove that we need a lot of work to be presentable, but she and her team work relentlessly over the next two hours, preening and perfecting everything.

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