Work Wife

Ranch

When Logan and I make it to the beach, we find some of our group lingering near the horseback riding stand where they cart us off to the ranch. Ainslee is present with Kaitlyn, Tory, and Maddie but only Logan and Jesse are here from the bachelor's side. Having Logan as a distraction is helping me not worry about the female dynamics of the group and how I don't have anyone there to latch onto. 

"Good morning!" Ainslee beams as we stride over to her and I immediately notice Kaitlyn, Tory and Maddie wearing the same light pink tank tops with "Bride Tribe" written in gold across their chests paired with black shorts. I freeze and look at Ainslee, "I thought we were supposed to wear those for the spa day."

"No, last night we decided we wanted photos with them on the horses too, remember?" Ainslee answers with a tight-lipped smile.

"Oh shit, she left the club early babe," Tory tells Ainslee, and then they both look back at me, "We were supposed to notify the group chat. I spaced it."

"Shit, I did too," Maddie says with a grimace. They don't know I have no intention of snapping group pics on horseback, but I need to look eager to remedy the situation.

"I can run up and change?" I offer as Ainslee checks the time on her phone.

"No, it's fine. Everyone is supposed to be here in the next five minutes and it's a bit of a trek back up to the hotel," she replies but her annoyance is still lingering. I had no idea of the outfit change, so her annoyance should be aimed at their lack of communication. Not at me. 

We hear laughter behind us and turn to see Chase, Callum, and Alex walking over to us. They all have Bloody Mary's in their hands and Maddie throws her hands up, "No love for the rest of us, mate?"

"I don't think they can leave the resort with those," Logan mutters.

Alex just shrugs, "They can come take it out of my hand then," he says before taking a long swig of his drink.

They all have on short shorts that kind of look like swimming trucks and are wearing bright neon tank tops. I have no idea if it was coordinated or not.

"Missed the memo, Stel?" Chase says with a wide grin like he thinks it's actually pretty funny.

"Must have gone to my spam," I joke back as I look down at my shirt. He leans in next to my ear and says, "But you also hate the matchy-matchy thing, don't you." He gives me his smirk with his signature dimple like he knows I think the matching tees are ridiculous, but no one else hears what he said to me. He walks away, leaving the secret between us and I'm smiling as I shake my head. Chase continues to Ainslee and plants a kiss on her cheek.

"Just waiting for Lauren and Mike then?" Kaitlyn asks after doing a head count and Maddie swings her hip into Kaitlyn as she says, "They left the club together. Maybe they slept in late if you know what I mean."

"Unless Mike asked her to be his girlfriend, there is no way they hooked up," Ainslee confidently tells the group.

"But we are in Mexico, there are no rules here," Maddie playfully retorts before licking Kaitlyn's cheek. Kaitlyn then launches herself at Maddie and starts pretending to make out with her.

"This is what I like to see," Alex says as he pulls his phone out to take a photo of the two women all over each other. Maddie laughs while Tory looks irritated.

A man donning a cowboy hat from the horseback riding team interrupts the chaos and asks us if we are the Camden party. We all hoot and holler in agreement and then I take a step forward when he asks for Señora Harlow. I'm the one who booked the reservation so I stride over to him, but I tug on Logan's hand to join me since he speaks Spanish.