The door to Renee’s hotel room burst open at that moment, and Tristan and Phin walked in, carrying her bags. They both stopped dead in their tracks.
“And vhat do we going to do with these?” Betty asked thickly, still bouncing Samantha’s breasts up and down.
Renee, who was still standing on the chair, must have been so shocked by what was happening she didn’t move it all.
Betty looked at Renee, still standing up on the chair, and Renee looked at Phin who was standing by the door with Tristan.
But Tristan looked right at Samantha. Her face flushed with embarrassment and she instantly started to giggle. Renee started giggling too, which caused Betty to throw her hands in the air in frustration.
“Vhat?” she questioned sharply.
The whole room erupted in fits of laughter, doubling over. Except Betty, who stuck hands on her hips and stormed into the restroom.
Blood rushed to Samantha’s face and neck as they came to, because there was no mistaking the look on Tristan’s face. It was inappropriate, sexy as hell, and she couldn’t breathe.
He covered his mouth with his hand, wiping over his chin, then down his throat, but his eyes never left hers. “I could really go for a burger and fries about now,” he said to Phin. “How about you?”
Phin cleared his throat a moment later and looked to the floor. “Sounds good to me, brother.” They placed Samantha’s bags by the front door, her keycard on the entryway table, and turned toward the exit. Renee stepped down from her chair, waiting for the guys to close the door behind them, then stood right in front of Samantha and looked down at her breasts. “She’s right you know. Vhat in fuck are we going to do with these?”
Chapter Twenty-five
After a few pokes, much finagling, and a few prayers, Betty finally found a solution to the dress problem. She let out an inch or so on each side, took the pieces of fabric she’d cut from the hem and sewed them in under the arm panels…where no one was the wiser, but allowed Samantha the room to breathe.
Samantha put the dress back on the hanger, thankful to be back in her t-shirt and shorts, and zipped it up in the garment bag to hand back to Betty. She opened the bathroom door to Renee’s room, anxious to find out what was next, and found her lying on the bed talking to someone on the phone. She hung the dress back on the clothes rack, trying to be quiet, then busied herself looking at all the wedding things strewn all over the chairs and tables.
There were small boxes which had various treats inside. Miniature cupcakes, chocolates, and other beautiful confections. Bottles of champagne with Renee’s and Phin’s names on the side, among all sorts of other favors.
For the first time, Samantha realized all she’d missed.
In a matter of days her best friend was getting married… She knew it was coming. Knew it would happen whether she was ready for it or not, but seeing these things thrown all over the room made her realize her life would go on, even though Renee wasn’t there. There would be parties and babies that neither of them would be around for. And that was heartbreaking.
Samantha walked along the long table, looking at all the beautiful details she knew her friend had agonized over. Some she remembered, from photos she’d sent through text over the past months, but some were totally unfamiliar, because life couldn’t be captured digitally. She stopped at the name cards lined up in a row. With burnt edges that made them look rustic and antique. Tristan’s name was on the very top.
She picked it up, running her finger along the gold script lettering, realizing she missed him already. Five days ago she’d barely given him a second thought, but somehow on this short trip, she’d gotten accustomed to talking to him whenever she wanted. To him being there, listening, always paying attention, always watching her.
She placed the card back on the table, already craving his company, but at the same time, glad he wasn’t around. Because there was no way she could hide how she felt about him, especially from Renee. She took a deep breath, hoping she’d be able to keep her feelings under wraps, and turned around to see Renee watching her.
Renee had finally hung up the phone and was rising from the bed when she spoke. “It’s funny,” she began. “It was so important for me to do all this stuff in the beginning, but now I’m sick of it. I can’t wait to be married so I can give it away and never see it again.” She laughed.
She came to a stop beside Samantha, who laced her arm through Renee’s arm and rested her head on her shoulder. It was their signature position, and one that brought her comfort now.
“I’m sorry I missed so much, Nay. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get here.” And I’m sorry I’m keeping secrets from you, but it’s better this way.
Renee shook her head. “Don’t be silly.”
Samantha straightened, having to clear her throat that was thick with emotion. “I always thought we’d do all this stuff together. I thought—” But she stopped herself, because she didn’t want to make this into a big Samantha pity party. “You did a good job. I couldn’t have done better, and that’s saying something.”
Her best friend grinned, then bit her lip and tugged her toward the door. “Come on, it’s time.”
“For what?” Samantha asked, suddenly feeling uneasy.
“To cut,” she whispered in her ear, mimicking Betty’s accent.
Samantha laughed, letting her head fall back to her shoulders, but allowing her best friend to pull her toward the door. There was no sense in arguing. Renee was going to win anyway. Just like she always did.
Chapter Twenty-six
The salon was in the hotel lobby, just past the elevators on the right hand side. There were a half dozen white salon chairs all facing full-length mirrors, and surprisingly, only one was taken. They were seated right away, given a menu of complimentary appetizers and beverages, and soon Renee was whisked away to another room for a facial, leaving Samantha on her own to look through style magazines.
She should not have been trusted with style magazines. The last time she’d picked out her own hair, she’d ended up with minuscule bangs and a perm. She rocked forward in her seat, looking through the other reading material, when a buzzing noise sounded from her purse. She instantly grinned, knowing full well who it was, and fetched her bag from the hanger on the wall.
A text.
Wild Stallion: Are you alone?
She grinned wickedly, then looked around to make sure no one was watching. Only the petite brunette sat in the corner with foils in her hair.
Mona: Sort of. I’m in the salon waiting for my haircut. Where are you?
Wild Stallion: Sitting in my room, thinking of you.
Her stomach tightened and she crossed her legs.
Mona: I don’t like being away from you. This is harder than I thought.
Wild Stallion: You’re telling me.
She burst into laughter but quickly covered her mouth.
Mona: That’s not what I meant and you know it.
Wild Stallion: Did you hear about the party?
She grinned.
Mona: Yes
Wild Stallion: I’ll see you there.
Mona: See you.
She tucked her phone back in her bag, just as Renee came back into the room wearing a green mask with slices of cucumbers on her lids. An esthetician was guiding her through the Salon, and finally plopped Renee down in the seat beside Samantha, and proceeded to attach a headrest to the back of her chair.
“I didn’t want to wait back there all alone,” Renee said. “I missed you too much.”
Samantha laughed and hung her bag back on the wall. “Good, because I was just about to pick out my own haircut, and we all know how well that turns out.”
Renee cracked a tiny grin. “Those itty bitty bangs you had in eighth grade,” she stated. “But don’t worry, I’ve already called ahead and told them exactly what to do.”
Samantha grinned. “Thank you.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes, as the esthetician reclined Renee back in her chair, positioning her feet up on a stool so she could massage them. When the esthetician began to knead, Renee visibly relaxed and almost melted.
“So,” she began sleepily. “When does Steven arrive? I was worried for a minute he might get here before you and I’d have to entertain him on my own.”