"I'm so freaking excited for tonight. Like I actually can't wait for you guys to see where we're going." Coco beamed, while the rest of the girls fixed our attention on revamping our looks for tonight's mystery excursion.
Despite the pressing number of times I'd pined for Coco to disclose even one finite detail about where we were headed, she refused to tell me in hopes I'd remain open minded to the new experience. Hence, the only thing I knew for certain was that Isabella had asked for us to wear something black and sexy.
As much as I loved Coco for her spontaneity, even I had to admit that it could be a real bother at times. Given that we were currently in a foreign country and in unfamiliar territory, I hadn't been too keen on the idea of surprises. My brain was much more invested in trying to decipher other important things— like for example, what precisely was going on between Kendall and I.
Yesterday, after our sparingly heated exchange on the boat, I'd deliberately gone out of my way to steer clear of him. Yet, somehow, I knew it was only a matter of time before we were forced to have another probable exchange. And, it wasn't that I was all that opposed to the idea of seeing him again. It was just that things had become so complicated between the two of us as of lately, and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why our temporary bouts of peace never seemed to last.
If I was being honest with myself, deep down inside, I knew that it had been an irrational mistake on my end to suggest we break up. However, my stubborn pride refused to let me even partially acknowledge my piling regret. So, for the time being, I was forced to sit back and patiently let it all play out.
"What I'm still trying to figure out is why Coco is the only one who knows about tonight's plans? Like I'm actually hurt, Isabella. I mean, I'm the one who's literally known you since we were kids." A woman by the name of Pauline countered, her eyes playfully narrowing onto Isabella's distracted form.
Over the last few days, I'd learned that Pauline was Isabella's best friend and maid of honor visiting from their hometown in Russia. The pair were nearly inseparable and the unlikely sight of them together felt like a ridiculous oxymoron of sorts. Despite being so uniquely different, I think that their juxtaposing dynamic was what ironically allowed their friendship to work.
Though Pauline was fairly small in stature, she was also quite eccentric and a startling contrast from the bride-to-be's buttery persona. Her body was enthralled in countless piercings and tattoos that left no slither of skin unscathed. Apparently, she was a renowned tattoo artist in Europe, which hadn't been to hard to guess from her striking appearance.
"Don't worry, Paula. It really wasn't intentional. Coco simply happened to be in the right place at the right time, so she overheard me confirming some of the event details over the phone. I would tell you too, but I'm already committed to tonight being a surprise. Besides, Sean hasn't told any of the boys what they're doing either." Isabella explained, as she finished tying up her hair into a neat pony tail to compliment her sequined black dress.
For the last hour, all seven of us girls had impressively managed to juggle applying our makeup with frantically assembling our outfits for tonight's events in one of the villa's shared bathrooms. The effort alone had involved a lot of borrowing and intermixing of different clothes, which ultimately turned out to be a rather fun ordeal. As we chaotically dressed ourselves, the supplemental recess time was used to pregame the island liquor the men had purchased earlier in the afternoon.
"I call bullshit on that explanation." Pauline mumbled under her breath, while adding more blush to her freckled cheeks.
"Well, if I'm being honest...I also told her because I knew she would be the last person to judge me. Which reminds me, I should probably say this to you all now—tonight is the kickoff of my Bachelorette party. So, I wanted to do something that was a bit outside of my comfort zone. Plus, I think the guys will also be there, but they'll be doing their own thing, too." Isabella clarified, finishing off her light makeup with some setting powder.
YOU ARE READING
Inheritance
Romance[Excerpt]: "Does it bother you?" He asked, after an incisive moment of silence. "Does...what bother me?" I immediately returned, unable to decipher the objective behind the closed-ended question. "The way I stare. At you." He pondered, as his dark...
