It had been a long, bumpy, crowded flight. After twelve hours spent between three airports and four flights, she was just so happy to be within striking distance of rest, that she could dance a jig.?
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Walking across the lobby, she could hear the staccato of her white on white k-swiss tapping against the expensive floor. The gentle hum of the AC was barely audible over the Muzak they piped in. The cool air felt so good against her skin. She hated the heat, (it was why she lived in Seattle) but it was Jamaica in the dead of July so what else really was there? Which lead her to her next question¡what the hell was she doing in one of the hottest Caribbean Islands at the hottest time of the year, the temperature was already 91 degrees and it was only 11 am.
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Because she had said yes to the craziness that was Cynthia Rowland¡¯s wedding. Cynthia Rowland¡the queen bitch who had tormented mercilessly when they lived at Ravencrest. She guessed Cindi was picking up where she left off, Rhemy thought with a smirk, because this was damn sure torture.
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What in the hell was she thinking? Why didn¡¯t she just say no? Because she was an idiot that was why. Maybe it wouldn¡¯t be that bad. At least she would be able to see George, Mike and Alex. Next to David, those three chicks were her bestest friends in the world.?
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They had taken a liking to each other simply because all of their first names could be shortened to male-sounding first names. Stupid yes, but it was amazing what drew adolescences together when fighting to find a sense of family and connection in a place that seemed to be designed to prevent the very thing from happening.
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Boarding school was bitch. She never did forgive her father for sending her there. Ravencrest was a terrible place and Cynthia Rowland made it worst. Truth be told, if it weren¡¯t for Alex, George and Mike, she never would have been able to make it through the craziness of that hell without them.
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Coming into her two-bedroom village, Rhemy placed her bag in the kitchenette area before she went to look around. It was lovely. The crisp white four poster bed, the dark mahogany floors, the ocean view veranda, the private pool¡everything was lovely. She had to give it Cynthia though, Round Hill was a beautiful place. Designed by Ralph Lauren, it was remote, full of lush green hills, a private beach, and large sweeping villas. Round Hill was the kind of place where once you stepped foot on the property you never had to leave it. Everything and anything anyone could want on vacation it had.
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Fighting off jet lag, Rhemy walked toward the bathroom to shower because she knew she had to meet up with Cynthia later for pre-wedding girls¡¯ fun (yeah her) and she was going to need all the calming energy should could afford. Rhemy hit the lights on the wall near the door. The bathroom was bathed in illumination, the soft glow of the lights simulating a candle effect. She found the bathroom was just as nice as the rest of the place- marble sinks and showers a bear claw tub in the center of the room. Very nice indeed.
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Turning the water on, Rhemy set the temp to just how she liked it...all hot. Instantly, the room was covered in a dense fog of steam and humidity making it feel like a tropical rain forest from days long past. She dropped each article of clothing she wore on the floor, leaving a trail of fabric from her bathroom door to the shower opening. She stepped into the shower stall; the hot water burned her feet, but she still got in anyway and added no cold. Closing her eyes, she allowed the hot water to scorch her back as she stood her weary body under the intensely pulsing jets. The water, the pulsing felt good.
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Rhemy loved showers. The pulsing water felt good. She was glad the hotel had a good shower because after this hell of a wedding weekend she was going to need it to wash away all the tension she was sure to feel over the next three days.
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Rinsing off the soap, Rhemy turned off the water, squeezed the excess out of soft brow brunette mane and got out slipping on the blush robe and slippers that were provided for her. Rhemy grabbed a towel and a tie for her hair, pulling her wet locks into a top knot.
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"Better," she sighed plopping down on the bed. Damn, but did she want to go to sleep right now. Rhemy longed to just curl into the nice 15000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets and ultra-down stay cool comforter and fall asleep. But she couldn¡¯t¡more¡¯s the pity. Unlocking her iPhone (which was plugged into a portable Bluetooth radio on the nightstand) she turned on iTunes. Very soon after sweet sounds of H.E.R. came floating from the device. "Much better,¡± she said to herself as she grabbed her moisturizer out of her toiletry bag and began to lather up
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Rhemy looked at the clock on the nightstand. Damn. She had exactly ninety minutes to get ready for the first bridal function of the weekend...the girls¡¯ night out AKA Bachelorette Party.?
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Oh, wonderful joy.
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Rhemy slipped on a black bra and matching black satin panties. Then she slips on the white ribbed racerback tank top high low dress and knee boots 4¡± boots. Finally. Spritzing her hot spots with her favorite vanilla and cherry blossom scented body spray, and she was ready to go and face what the evening had in store.
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As she walked across the cobblestone path, Rhemy rolled her eyes. A club? She absolutely hated clubs. A bunch of drunk and horny men using bad lines, and cheap beer to get ass...she bet Cindi would love every minute of the misery she was going to face here.
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Instantly, her thoughts now echoed David's sentiment when she told him she was going to Jamaica to be in the wedding of some chick who she couldn¡¯t stand and who?had caused her intense pain and torment during the time she had known her and hadn¡¯t spoken to in about 10 years, but it was a free vacation...but now realized he was right.
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She was crazy to be here.? And she absolutely hated it when he was right¡so she made a mental note to never tell him. ¡°At least I get to see my girls.¡±
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It had been about 4 years since she last saw her crew and she was excited to see them now. Rhemy expertly maneuvering through the sea of people, being sure to take note of all the sights and sounds, the patrons and activity, and the ins and outs of the world surrounding her, she took note of the loud boisterous music, the neon lights darted across the dance floor popping to the blaring beat of the music. Bodies undulated in simulated sex to and fro. Soon a hand waved furiously in front of her, and Rhemy spotted Cindi waving at her from the dance floor. Again, she sighed. David was so right. She was crazy to be here.
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Just being here, with this woman and all of her friends made Rhemynton feel awkward and out of place. It was like Cindi¡¯s very presence somehow had the ability to magically transported her back to the days of her youth. Back to the days when she was an awkward, gangly child that never got picked to participate in any reindeer games, and this chick was head mean girl?
Damn, why in god¡¯s green earth was she here. And more importantly¡why¡why did Cindi pick her to be a bridesmaid in her wedding.
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Well, you said yes, her conscience said.
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True. She needed to get together. She was no longer that girl. She was a successful woman with a successful interior design business, life was good. There was no reason to let this chick get to her. Rhemy sighed a deep cleansing sigh, damn but that was becoming a habit since she arrived. She could do this. This weekend belonged to the bride and if one of the activities the bride wanted her to participate in was being in some smoke-filled club giving herself and all of them some incurable disease from the secondhand smoke then so be it.
Stop your whining girlie. You could have said no, but you didn¡¯t. You are here. You are gonna see your girls soon so make the most of it, again her conscience spoke.
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Another sigh, well damn wasn¡¯t that becoming a habit. It was a habit that she was going to have to get used to because Rhemynton knew that for the rest of the night whenever she wanted to leave or slap Cindi and her entourage in the face, or put her fist in the face of some dude who grabbed her butt, she was going to have to mentally repeat that mantra to herself.
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?¡°Chica,¡± someone called. She turned. ¡°Rhemy!¡± three-voice screamed and rushed in to hug her.?
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Rhemy turned to see Cindi and her two friends coming in for a bear hug. It took her aback because the only person that ever called her Chica was Alex and she didn¡¯t see Alex with them at all. Not even standing in the background being the devil who initiated this whole hugging thing just to watch her squirm because Alex knew she wasn¡¯t a hugger and if she did have to hug anybody, Alex knew it definitely wouldn¡¯t be Cindi and her friends.?
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She didn¡¯t push them away and she didn¡¯t even roll her eyes she thought with a smile. How¡¯s that for personal victory. ¡°Hey, Cindi,¡± she said her tone genuine.?¡°Congratulations. However you.
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¡°I am so glad you came. When Mikayla, and Georgina told me that they couldn¡¯t make it. I thought you weren¡¯t gonna come either, I¡¯m glad you did.¡±?
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¡°Pardon me,¡± Rhemy studdered. "Mike and George aren't coming?"
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¡°Yeah, Mikayla and Georgina told me about a month ago that they were not going to be able to come,¡± Cindi said
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Two out of the three people she came to see didn¡¯t come¡and wait...what...a month ago....neither of them thought to tell her this tidbit of information. ¡°And what about Alex?¡± she asked trying to sound nonchalant¡not panicked. ?
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¡°Alexandria missed her flight and said she won¡¯t be able to get another one until Sunday. So she won't be here of course tonight or for the rehearsal dinner on Saturday, but she will get in in time for the wedding on Sunday.¡±
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And then there was one¡Those bitches. She was sure they did this to her on purpose. That damnable Alex. She could just see her sadistic self saying to the other two. ¡®Hey Chicas let¡¯s not go and let¡¯s not tell Rhemyngton we aren¡¯t going. Won¡¯t that¡¯ll be such a hoot riot.¡¯?Hoot riot her big toe¡those chicks were officially the walking dead to her.?She was going to kill them. She was going to fly back to Texas, Manhattan, and North Carolina, break into the homes, strangle these heifers in their sleep once she pleaded her case, no jury on earth would convict her. ??She pulled her phone and text. ¡®So a month ago...really? And where are you Alexandria'
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¡®Work¡¯. Alex text back
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¡®Work my fat ass¡¯. Rhemy replied
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¡®I do like your fat ass¡¯. Alex had said back. When Rhemy text back the eye roll emoji, Alex responded back with the laughing face one.?
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¡®Okay, girlie, give over.¡¯ Georgie text
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¡®Hey Rhemy-love.¡¯ Georgie text back
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¡®Don¡¯t you Rhemy-love me. How could you...all three of you leave me to face this?alone¡bachelorette night of all night?¡¯
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¡®You know Georgie is about to pop with twins.¡¯ Mikayla text.
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¡®Okay so what¡¯s your excuse¡¯ Rhemy text.
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¡®Louis and I just got back from our honeymoon, and we are still settling from the move to the Hilton Head.¡¯ Mikayla text.
¡®And Alex missed her flight.
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¡®And none of you so-called friends thought to call me, text me, or send a smoke signal to tell me this before I got on a flight and flew halfway across the world. Hell Alex, you and I could have missed our flight together...the whole weekend. A month ago...really¡¯
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All three women text back the laughing tears emoji. ¡®I¡¯ll be there on Sunday,¡¯ Alex text. ¡®You got this girl.¡¯
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¡®No, I do not got this. You all know how I feel about this girl.¡¯
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¡®Drink a bottle of Jack. You will be fine.¡¯ Mikayla said.
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¡®Oh so you want me straight cursing chicks out. And why did I think you guys were my friends again.¡¯
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Again all three women sent crying laughing emojis ¡®LOL. that would be funny.¡¯ Mikayla said.
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¡®Stay for one drink and one dance and then fain jet lag and go back to your room.¡¯ Georgie text.
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¡®Jet lag?¡¯ Rhemy said
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¡®³Û±ð²¹³ó.¡¯
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¡®From a flight from JFK?¡¯?
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Alex text back the laughing face with tears again. ¡®Well, technically you live in Seatle.¡¯ Georgina ?text,?
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¡®Yes but my connection was in JFK and I decided to spend the night there last night so that I could be all bright and bushy tail for this shindig tonight.You know the one that none of you told me you were not going to be at.¡¯
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¡®Yeah but ole Cindi doesn¡¯t know that.¡¯ Alex text.
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Rhemy thought about it for a second, looked over at Cindi and her crew who were all deck out in sashes that said bridesmaid, bridesmaid, bridesmaid, bride doing shots on the dancefloor and sighed¡again.
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¡®That might work.¡¯
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¡®Problem solved¡¯ Mikayla text was
¡®Look at you come up with ways for me to not go to jail for assault with a deadly weapon in a foreign country,¡¯
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¡®Deadly?¡¯ all three women text.
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¡®Yes, my 5¡± red bottoms are 5¡± I am looking hella cute tonight.¡¯
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¡®You of all people... got on five-inch heels?¡¯ Mikakla asked
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¡®Yes me.¡¯
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¡®But you hate heels. You call them a medieval torture device meant for the pleasure of men.¡¯ Georgina said
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¡®Well they are, but I am slaying in them.¡¯
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Alex sent back the smile emoji. ¡®Damn shame we don¡¯t get to see that in person.¡¯
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¡®yup and now you will never see it because you three are dead to me.¡¯
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¡®I¡¯m sorry hunni. I promise I will make it up to you when I see you in the morning.¡¯
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¡®We¡¯ll make it up to you,¡¯ Mikayla said
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¡®You better.¡¯
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¡®I¡¯ll see you Sunday,¡¯ Alex text.
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¡®I better.¡¯
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¡®Smooches.¡¯ Georgina sent
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Rhemy sighed and looked out at the group of women before her.??You could have just said no.
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¡°MiMi¡± Cindi called.
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God she hated the nickname. ¡°Sorry, Work,¡±??
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¡°Well put that phone away because we are going to have so much fun...¡± Cindi said. ¡°We got a booth in VIP.? It¡¯s time to get lit¡. And get this party started.¡± Cindi said and the two other women around her cheered and fist-pumped.?Did she really just say lit¡¡°Yeah, so much fun.¡± Rhemy said with no real enthusiasm.
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