Page 25 of The Way We Score

“Oh, me too!” Dylan waves, and I squint an eye at her.

“Remember you have to walk down an aisle tomorrow.” I lightly note.

“Not until the afternoon—Good thinking, Dylan!” Rachel holds her glass up for a cheers.

“The golden hour is so beautiful at Miss G’s. It was either late afternoon or early morning, and I know this crew.”

Allie’s right there like the true New Orleans lady she is. “You’re definitely having another. It’s your bachelorette!”

“Just as long as I don’t barf all the way through theceremony.” Dylan puts a hand over her eyes as Allie gives her a heavy pour.

Then she skips over to where I’m sitting on a barstool beside Raven.

After spending all day taking care of Mom’s chickens, gathering the eggs, making sure they had food and gravel and water, she practically shoved me out the door.

“It’s a short walk. You don’t need to drive,” she ordered. “Have fun with your friends.”

“I’ll have fun, but I can also drive.” I tried to go back, but she held me outside.

“If you drive you’ll have to be responsible.” Mom shook her head. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to come home early. Or even at all!”

My eyes narrowed. “Why do I feel like the only adult in the room?”

“I don’t know, but stop it. Be young and have fun.”

She closed the door on me, and my shoulders dropped. I shook my head and turned, walking the short distance that brought me here to my friends and the warmth of a small, close-friends bachelorette party.

Dylan wears a sash that readsMrs. Logan Murphyin gold glitter. A tiara is on her head, and Allie pins a button on her that saysSame Dick Forever.

She was not allowed to cook, so we all chipped in for pizza. Rachel brought a cooler of beer, but a few sips of purple drink has me reaching for a bottle of water from the refrigerator behind the bar.

“Are you really a storm chaser, Rave?” Rachel leans over the bar, batting her green eyes at the newest addition to our group.

Rachel’s blonde hair is in crinkled waves down her back, and she’s in black leggings and a long-sleeved, mint-green sweater. I’m just as casual, although I’m wearing jeans and a short-sleeved red tee. My hair is loose down my back, and I’d just washed my face before Mom shoved me out the door.

“I mean, not like inTwisters.” Raven’s pink lips twist. “Although, that looks like so much fun.”

“Depends on how you define fun.” Allie leans into my ear, and I shrug.

“I’ve never been much of a daredevil.”

“I’m trying to get a job on the Gulf Coast,” Raven continues. “I’d love to be somewhere around here, where the weather gets really intense. Atlanta’s so basic, weather-wise.”

My lips press into a frown, and I’m not sure what to say.

“Logan might be able to help you.” Dylan’s voice is thoughtful. “He really only does sports radio, but he might know somebody at the TV station.”

“Really?” Raven grabs her hand. “I would love that so much! Can you imagine if I was here with all of you?”

“It would be a lot of fun, but now I’m nervous.” Dylan makes a cringey smile. “I don’t want to get your hopes up if he doesn’t know anybody.”

“I mean, it doesn’t hurt to ask.” Raven shrugs. “It’s the thought that counts.”

“Well, there are no hurricanes tonight—unless it’s Hurricane Dylan!” Allie gets us back on track, cranking up the dance music. “Are you allowed to tell us where you’re going for your honeymoon or is it a secret?”

“It’s a secret—even from me!” Dylan hops off her chair, brown eyes dancing. “I only know it’s somewhere in Mexico where I can pick hot peppers straight off the vine, and the chef is going to teach me some new recipes.”

“Cooking on your honeymoon?” Allie’s nose wrinkles. “That doesn’t sound like fun. I swear, I don’t understand all these people posting videos of them cooking on vacation. If I see one more post about homemade ravioli?—”

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