Work Wife

Bridal Party

Logan and I keep the drinks flowing and the flirtatious banter alive at the pool bar until the rest of the bridal party spills through the double doors, clearly buzzed and ready to keep the good times rolling. Logan has had a hand on me in some way- my arm, my back, my leg- since we got down here. I keep swinging between two thoughts: is flirting with Chase's best friend a reckless idea, or is it exactly what I need right now? But then Logan smiles at me, his touch lingers, and I find myself leaning into it. It doesn't feel like it's just the alcohol making me enjoy him. The spark is undeniable, and I wonder how long it'll be before someone notices.

I spot Chase first, striding into the pool area, and I'm instantly grateful for my wide black sunglasses. They give me the freedom to openly ogle his shirtless body without getting caught. This is the first time I've seen Chase in swim trunks, and it's like every fantasy I've had of him has come to life. His broad chest is smooth and perfectly defined, tapering down to that V-shaped line right above his waist. My eyes linger longer than they should, and I take a big gulp of my piña colada, trying to cool the heat rising in my face.

When Chase spots us, he throws his hands up in greeting, and I force my gaze away from him, pretending to focus on the bridal party trailing behind him.

Right behind Chase is Ainslee, radiant in a white lace robe over a sleek one-piece swimsuit with Bride written in gold across the chest. Her long, dirty blonde hair is perfectly styled in soft waves, miraculously untouched by the humidity that's already turned mine into a frizzy mess.

Chase's brother Callum trails close behind. He's almost a dead ringer for Chase- same sharp jawline and dark hair but stands several inches shorter. His arm is linked with Tory's, and she's hard to miss in her own lace robe paired with a strappy bikini that leaves very little to the imagination. Her dark hair is tucked neatly under a sunhat, and her bright white smile flashes as her loud, barking laugh echoes across the pool area.

Lauren, Maddie, and Kaitlyn are huddled together near the entrance, their heads swiveling to take in the stunning pool and cabanas. Maddie, dressed in a tiny bikini that matches her playful energy, points toward one of the cabanas, setting off a round of squeals and excited chatter among the group.

At the back of the pack are Mike, Jesse, and Alex, lingering with an air of easy confidence. Their eyes, however, are unmistakably locked on the half-naked women striding ahead of them, their gazes flicking between the bridal party and the other guests by the pool.

"Here we go," I mumble to Logan as we swivel in our chairs to face the newcomers. I'm going to do my best to fit in here even though I feel so out of place. They quickly swarm and suddenly I have arms thrown around me and hands thrust out to shake. The girls are all giggly and I hear Maddie tell the group that she is the facilitator of fun. She's wearing large gold aviators that take up her entire pretty face and I see that mine is flushed in the mirrored lenses as she giggles. 

"So happy you made it alright!" Ainslee gushes as she pulls me in for a hug. "Is your room okay?" 

I nod, "It's stunning. I love that the whole back wall is a sliding door. I have an amazing view." 

"You doin' alright?" Chase asks as he swings an arm around me and I feel my shoulder touching his bare chest. "Thanks for babysitting Logan." 

"It was fun actually," I confess. "He ended up having to babysit me a bit." I look past Chase and see Kaitlyn and Maddie flirtatiously pawing at Logan and I feel a weird squeeze in my stomach. Of course, all of these single people are going to flirt with each other. This is Bachelor in Paradise for them. I think Callum has a girlfriend but I know for a fact all the girls are single because they joked about hooking up with groomsmen in the group chat. They didn't realize the weird beardy guy is now the hot entrepreneur.