Page 29 of Happily Ever After
Ade chuckles, shaking his head. "Imagine you walking down the beach with a bright orange veil. You'd look like you're on fire."
"Very fitting for a fiery personality," Lex teases.
"Umm… you're confusing me with your girlfriend," I laugh.
"Oh, there's plenty of fire in you, lucida," Ade is quick to add, his eyes heating up. And it has nothing to do with the fire beside us.
And of course, I blush. That's a heat I can happily do without.
I roll my eyes playfully. "Thanks, guys. I'll stick to my simple white dress, though."
Rhia raises an eyebrow. "Speaking of wedding traditions, did you know that in Sweden, if the groom leaves the room during the reception, all the male guests get to kiss the bride?"
Ade's eyes widen. "No way! Good thing we didn't elope to Sweden."
"Have you been brushing up on your random wedding facts, Rhi?" I ask her.
It's not like her to come out with fun trivia. That's usually Ade's and my department.
"I sure did," she says proudly. "It was a given you two would regale us with random facts. You always do."
We all burst into laughter, the sound blending with the soothing bubbling of the spa and the crackling of the fire. The banter continues, light-hearted and fun, easing away the earlier tensions.
The night feels magical, filled with the warmth and love of dear friends, the perfect prelude to our special day.
Rhia lifts her glass, her expression turning sincere. "To tomorrow, and to a beautiful start of your happily ever after."
We clink our glasses together, the sound ringing out into the night. As the fire continues to burn brightly, we bask in the glow of friendship and anticipation, knowing that tomorrow will be perfect, no matter what.
The guys retired to the guest hut half an hour ago, and us girls are sprawled out on the bedroom floor, surrounded by old wedding plans and scrapbook albums.
"We made these when we were ten. Where did you even find them?""I didn't, Mom did, in the attic. Seems like she throws nothing away."
Giggling, she flips through an old scrapbook. "Remember how much fun we had planning our dream weddings?"
"Gosh, yes! That was before you declared you'd never get married. So glad you changed your mind." I laugh, nudging her shoulder.
"I'm not married yet," she retorts.
"It won't be long. Once you've asked Lex, I bet he'll want to elope right away."
"Oh no! We're not eloping. If Lex and I are doing this against all odds, it's going to be a party to remember." Then she's quiet for a moment, seemingly lost in thoughts.
"Only with Lex, though. No other man could ever make me want to give up being a wild spinster."
"Doesn't a spinster mean no men at all?"
"Okay… wild hoe, then."
"Well, I don't miss you hooking up with a new guy every month. It was hard to keep track sometimes."
"Gosh, El. That seems like lifetimes ago."
"In a way, it is. Now we just have to work on your proposal to Lex. It's taken an unnecessary backseat."
"We'll get to that when you're back from your honeymoon. Tonight is all about you."
She goes to the kitchen and comes back with champagne and two glasses. While she opens the bottle, I reach for one of the scrapbooks and flick through it.
