Page 19 of Alice & Meg, Girls Trip

Nikki tipped her head to the side. “I mean, yeah, I can see that.”

“See, Nikki can admit that she and Cyn are alike.”

“Okay, sure. Meg and I are married to club presidents, and we each have purple hair,” I conceded.

“And you’re both funny as hell and keep everyone on their toes. Though Greta seems to be the new generation of that for the Devil’s Knights. I wonder who you’re going to pass the crazy torch to.”

“At this point, I think it’s going to be Adley,” Wendy laughed.

“Or maybe it might be Eden. Maybe the apple won’t fall far from the tree,” I added. While at times Eden was as cool as a cucumber like Wrecker, there were also times she out crazied me.

“Fifteen minutes!” Greta’s loud voice rang out from across the campsite.

“Good lord,” I laughed, watching Paige practically sprint to the golf cart. “She really wants to get to the tiki bar. Let’s get a move on it, ladies.”

I grabbed my swimsuit and headed into the bathroom, eager to change and join the fun. The door clicked shut behind me, muffling the playful banter from the others. I unbuttoned my shorts, letting them fall to the floor, and tugged my tank top over my head. I paused for a moment, standing there in just my underwear, catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The reflection staring back at me was familiar, yet the excitement in my eyes made me look younger, more carefree.

I reached for my one-piece swimsuit, the one covered in Highland cow print. It was a quirky choice, but I loved it. The fabric felt cool against my skin as I stepped into it, pulling it up over my hips and adjusting the straps over my shoulders. The suit hugged me comfortably, and I smoothed it down, the cow print bringing a smile to my face. The playful design reminded me of home, of the Highland cows I loved so much.

As I finished adjusting the suit, my mind wandered to what Nikki, Karmen, and Wendy had said earlier. They’d teased me about being like Meg—our humor, our purple hair, the way we kept everyone on their toes. At first, I had brushed it off, but now, standing alone in the bathroom, their words echoed in my mind.

Were we really that much alike? I hadn’t thought so. Sure, we both had that same drive to make people laugh, to lighten the mood, but Meg had a confidence, a boldness that was all her own. I admired that about her. She had this way of owning any room she walked into, of making everyone feel welcome and included, even when she was busting their chops.

But then again, maybe that wasn’t so different from me. I liked to think I had a similar effect on people, that I could bring a little light into the lives of those around me. And if that made me like Meg, well, I was okay with that. Being compared to someone you genuinely liked and respected wasn’t a bad thing.

I turned to the mirror, taking a moment to really look at myself. My purple hair framed my face, and I couldn’t help but grin. This vacation had only just begun, but I already felt lighter and more in tune with myself. I was surrounded by friends, by laughter, by memories in the making. And I was having a great time.

I pulled an oversized shirt over my head and grabbed my clothes off the floor.

With a final glance in the mirror, I gave myself a nod of approval. The tiki bar awaited, and I wasn’t about to miss out on the fun. I grabbed my towel, swung the bathroom door open, and rejoined the group.

“Alright, ladies,” I called out with a wide grin, “let’s go see what kind of trouble we can get into at that tiki bar.”

Chapter Six

Just Floating, Honey

Meg

“Isn’t it crazy how it can get this damn hot during the day, and not even a couple of hours from now, we’ll be wrapped up in blankets around the campfire?” Karmen mused.

The pool had been our sanctuary for the past three hours, a perfect retreat from the sweltering summer heat. We’d managed to snag three tables in the shade, and the pool’s deep end had been blissfully quiet. Most of the campers seemed to have migrated to the lake on the other side of the campground or the other inground pool with the swim-up tiki bar, leaving this pool nearly empty except for a few families in the shallow end. The deep end was our domain, a place to float and relax in peace.

Greta had been a bit disappointed we weren’t at the swim-up bar, but we had all taken turns running to the bar when we needed a refill.

“You just described Wisconsin to a T, Karmen,” I chuckled, responding to her comment. “It’s one of the things I love. Being hot is not my favorite thing, so with it cooling off most nights, I manage to survive until my favorite season—fall.”

Karmen sat on the edge of the pool, her feet dangling in the water. I leaned forward, my hand swirling in the cool, refreshing pool. The temperature was perfect, just right for a lazy summer afternoon. Greta was passed out on a half-deflated floatie on the other side of the pool, her relaxed form a picture of contentment. Raven sat next to her with her feet in the water, scrolling through her phone.

Lennox and Paige had driven back to the campsite about an hour ago, promising to return and pick us up when we were done baking in the sun. For now, it was just the core of us, enjoyingthe last bits of sunshine before we headed back to get ready for dinner.

“Why am I the only one still in the pool?” Alice called from her bright purple floating in the middle of the deep end; her voice tinged with mock indignation.

“Because we’re all waterlogged and a little sunburnt,” Reva replied from one of the tables under an umbrella. She, Cyn, Nikki, and Wendy had all moved to the tables, where they sat talking and enjoying the day.

Alice grinned and mused, “I need to talk Wrecker into putting in a pool. At least one of those stock tank pools.”

“You do that, and my butt will be over at your place every day,” Raven called back, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

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