Page 74 of Falling for Nicole
“Give him a kiss goodbye, and then it’s girl time.”
“I’ll see you later, Ginge.”
“You’d better.”
“Ugh, that’s enough. Come on.” Lilly drags me away from Dec, and together we walk into a huge reception area.
“This place is incredible.”
“Best hotel around for miles.”
“Are you allowed to say that?”
“Even Lucas can appreciate this place is even better than his.”
We walk down a wide hallway with artwork that probably costs more than my house hanging on the walls before it opens up into a gorgeous summer room. There are only a couple of tables, but over in the corner one is covered in food and has Liv sat at it.
The three of us enjoy our cream tea and eat one too many cakes before we head down to the outside pool. We spend the afternoon relaxing back on sleek sun loungers as we soak up the gorgeous weather and view of the bay in the distance.
“Ugh, I don’t want to move,” Lilly complains when she looks at the clock on her phone. “I want to stay here forever.” She finishes her glass of Pimm’s before getting up and pulling her cover over her head.
Both Liv and I pack up our stuff and follow behind Lilly when she heads inside. I expect her to leave so I’m surprised when she comes to a stop by the lift and hits the button to descend.
“Where are we going?”
“To get ready for tonight.”
“What are we doing?”
“If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”
“Was it Dec’s idea?”
“Yep, and I think it’s perfect.”
I groan, because it could be bloody anything knowing him. I could be about to be forced to jump out of an aeroplane or something else I’m terrified of.
The three of us spend the next couple of hours being preened and polished. I’ve never had the opportunity to do this kind of thing, so it’s amazing to sit back and let someone else worry about making my hair curl just right and have my nails done properly, not the rush job I do myself every now and then.
Lilly and Liv emerge from their last appointment looking incredible. They’re both wearing cute little dresses and their hair and make up are perfect. I, however, am still sitting in a hotel robe with only the clothes I wore here or my bikini to change back into.
“You two look amazing, but—” I don’t get to finish my sentence because Lilly produces a gift bag from behind her back.
“Happy birthday.”
“I thought all this was my present?”
“Yeah, but there’s this, too.”
I take the bags from her when she passes them to me, and pull out a cute little floral playsuit from the gift bag.
“I didn’t think you’d want a dress.”
“It’s perfect. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. Now go get it on, we’ve got plans.”
Once I’m ready, we head back to the lift and are directed to the restaurant. I expect to find a table laid up for the three of us when I walk into the room. What I’m not expecting is to find Dec, Lucas, BJ and Liam sat waiting for us.
