Page 16 of Allison

Can this day get any worse?Allison thinks as she opens her room door. Emma, Susie Beth, Gloria, Brittany, Leslie, Sam, Abigail, and a few other women are all standing in the hallway.

“Good morning!” Emma squeals, pulling Allison into a fierce hug. “Wake up sleepy head. We’ve got things to do!”

“Hey, Emma. Why in the world are you banging on my door at the ass-crack of dawn?” Allison asks grumpily.

“I’m sorry. Didn’t you read the itinerary?” Emma replies, turning to look at Allison.

“I didn’t get an itinerary,” Allison grumbles, stepping aside to watch all the women flood into her room. “Oh, come on in, everyone. You all might as well see the show!”

“I emailed it to you days ago!” Emma exclaims. “You should have read it before you packed. I planned a hike, touring the aquarium, and a pool party. Please tell me you have the right clothes and shoes?”

“Jesus, Emma! Are you trying to weed out the weak before your wedding?” Allison questions in a completely serious tone.

“Allison! Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain,” Brittany admonishes her. Allison rolls her eyes but hurries to apologize before the rest of them get started.

“Sorry, Brit,” Allison murmurs, then turns to Emma. “Is this like a Hunger Games challenge? Only the strong will survive to be in the wedding party?”

“Oh, Allison!” Emma answers sounding exasperated. “I just wanted us to have some fun together before the big day. Come on, it’ll be fun.” Emma looks around at the disaster in Allison's room. Russell had pitched her dress in the direction of the chair when he’d removed it, but he’d missed. Her beautiful dress is a crumpled mess. Oh well, it’s just a dress. She doesn’t regret how it ended up on the floor in a heap.

“Only you would plan a whole flurry of activities for your wedding party,” Allison complains, teasing Emma good-naturedly. “Let me get changed, and I’ll meet you all down stairs for breakfast, all right?”

“I thought you were supposed to be getting dressed while you kept us waiting in the hall?” Gloria questions, suspiciously, instead of clearing out to give her some privacy. A chorus of affirmations follow from the others.

“I was dead asleep!” Allison defends. “It took me a bit to get my eyes open and find my robe.”

“Well, if you had let me help you unpack yesterday, you would have known where your robe was located,” Emma counsels in a mother-like voice, bending down to pick up the discarded dress. She turns it right side out, frowning at the material. “Good grief! You have chocolate on your dress! We need to rinse this out right away or it’s going to leave a stain, if it hasn’t already.” Emma grabs the knob to the bathroom and pushes it open.

“No!” Allison cries, pushing Emma out of the way, pulling the door closed again with a bang. “It’ll be fine.” Allison waves her hand dismissively. Even she can hear the strain in her voice. She is in a full-blown panic over Worm being discovered in her bathroom.

“Stop being ridiculous!” Emma insists, shoving the bathroom door open again before Allison can stop her. She steps inside, placing the dress in the sink and turning on the water. “I’ll just be a second.” Allison closes her eyes, waiting for it.

A gasp from the bathroom has Allison’s shoulders hunching. She braces for the whole room to know who is hiding in her bathroom.This is a nightmare!

Worm

Since he has time to kill while the women are pestering Allison, Worm decides to check his cell phone which had been in the pocket of his pants. He has several texts, the first from Sadie, his youngest sister.

Sadie:Hey, Russ I hear u r on vac wish I was with u

She had sent the text late last night. Worm’s gut tightens wondering what’s happened to bring this on. Sadie hasn’t become obsessed with her phone like most teenage girls. She’d rather be curled up with a book in hand. So, for her to text him, something is bothering her. He can guess. Either his mom has retreated into her room again, or Amber is being Amber which means she’s picking on Sadie.

Worm:Hey, Sadie girl! Sorry I didn’t see your text before now. I wish you were here too. Hope all is well. Miss you. I’ll see you soon.

He also has separate texts from Leigh and Amber.

Leigh:No need to freak out, but the girls are fighting.

Leigh:They’ve probably already texted you, but I have everything under control.

He waits to read Amber’s before replying.

Amber:I hate it here! Everyone’s on my case.

Amber:I know you won’t believe me, but I didn’t do anything to Sadie

Amber:She’s a whiny baby, and now Leigh says I’m grounded!

Amber:Mom agreed with her!

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