Page 67 of Flying

“Okay, lightning round! Going to go faster now!” She’s clearlyhaving the time of her life, and continues to push the game forward: who kissed who first? Who is the better kisser? Who made the first move past kissing? Who is kinkier? Who is usually on...” her question, which I assume ended in on top, is interrupted by a loud knock on the door.

“Ohhh, they’re here, yay!”

In walks three people from the painting class she told us we’d be doing for Lee.

“Amazing, welcome, welcome, you must be Seraphine,” Nessa says to the blue-and-pink tipped haired woman.

“I am, you must be Nessa, is there a dedicated space for us?” As Nessa leads them through the double doors over to our suite, Stef giggles and blushes a little. Lee collects all of the garments from them both and moves to bring them to the king room they’re sharing. The group spends the next half hour just lounging as different people meander through finishing the different trays of food, cleaning as we go.

Seth has gone back to his book, the cousins went to nap, and Delia is wiping down counters in the kitchenette.

Lily fell asleep sitting up, her head on my thigh and her jaw slack, it’s hard to not find her both adorable and incredibly sexy right now. I reach down, scooping my arms through her armpits and pull her close. With one hand smoothing her hair back towards her messy bun, I settle her onto my lap with her head on my chest. I would hold her like this, surrounded by all our favorite people, forever.

There is a nagging voice in the back of my head; the reminder that I owe her the truth about that other bachelor party. Then she nuzzles her cheek further into my chest, listening closely to my heart beat and I thinkwhen we get home from this trip.

forty-five

Lily

Weekend of May 5th

Laughing into my champagne flute,this blob looks nothing like our ‘marital bliss’ nude models. Leave it to Nessa to set up a scandalous paint and sip class with live talent. The couple is laying on a chaise lounge chair with a sleepy neutral look on their faces.

I can’t help but have my thoughts drift.Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they did fall asleep. It has to be boring to lay there mostly naked for a few hours.

“That cannot possibly be comfortable,” I whisper hiss to Delia.

“Huh?”

“He’s only wearing one sock,” I grit out, nodding my head towards the floor.

Snorting out a raspberry sound, “You noticed the sock? I was busier paying attention to the dangling bits that look like they are stuck to his leg.”

Nessa rings a bell, Delia leans in, “Where did that come from?” Our giggle fit takes over and slowly heads turn our way.

“Ladies, please, show some maturity!” Nessa tries to affect a haughty tone, but it sounds put on so she crumbles and in her usual tone says, “Oh fuck it. Lunchtime people!”

“Come on, let’s go back to Titsville.” I loop an arm through Delia’s to stand.

“Yeah, this Penis Palace is too crowded,” she agrees and we head out through the connecting doors.

It doesn’t take long for her to grab a dish towel and sling it over her shoulder.

“Absolutely not, Deals. You keep acting like you are working, why don’t you take a legit break? You look like you could go on a murder spree.” I deftly swipe the towel from her.

Huffing a frustrated sigh, Delia walks off. Shortly after, I hear the shower start.Good, I think.Something must have happened in London, something is off. If I can feel this, can everyone? I want to tell her to talk to me, but I know she’ll talk when she’s ready.

My mind is busy running through all the ways that Delia has me worried, that I am surprised to see I still pulled all the sandwich trays and condiments out.

Male voices grumblewith full mouths, “I’m juss na’t very good,” an audible swallow before finishing, “with these kinds of things. I wouldn’t worry about yours. Seriously, River, you should come look at what I have. Calling them stick figures would be generous.”

The guys are laughing together and having a good time picking apart how little skill they both have.

“It’s like a Rorschach test,” Seth says with a laugh.

Seth. Laughing. To think I could have missed this!

My pulse runs slow and steady, my chest feels lighter than it has in a decade. I exhale and feel like something loosened and falls away. It doesn’t matter if I had a failed marriage, that my parents disowned me, or anything else. It’s all melted away like snow on the first day of spring. It’s peaceful. I just want to capture it, hold it close forever.

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