Love Lasts Forever

bachelorette

The sun is beaming down on me, and I can almost hear the gentle lap of the ocean waves against the sandy shore. I look around to take in my surroundings—a tropical paradise bursting with vibrant colors, palm trees swaying in the breeze, and my closest friends gathered around me in anticipation. This is it. It's my bachelorette party, and I cannot believe my friends brought me all the way to Hawaii!

"Are you ready for the most unforgettable weekend ever?!?" Cecily practically shrieks beside me, her eyes twinkling with excitement. She's been planning this for months, and I can't help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude.

"Seriously, I can't believe you all did this for me!" I beam back at her, trying to absorb all the love radiating from the group.

"Are you kidding? You're marrying Charlie! You totally deserve this," Natalie, who's perched on a beach towel nearby, chimes in, waving her hands around. "I mean, we're talking about a guy who comes from 'the best family in the universe,' right?"

Zoe, the youngest of the group at just sixteen, rolls her eyes dramatically. "Yeah, but will you at least take a million selfies so I can post them and make all my friends jealous?"

"Of course!" I laugh. "But remember—no weird filters! I don't want Charlie to think I have a potato face before the wedding!"

"Whatever you say, Queen Potato Face," Lilian teases, as she snaps a quick picture. "Ooh, I should send this to Charlie!"

"Oh my God, you are NOT texting Charlie a picture of me right now!" I laugh, grabbing the phone and flipping it over.

Michelle raises an eyebrow, smirking as she leans forward. "So, Harper, have you decided on a bachelorette party prank for Charlie yet? Something epic?"

I pause for a moment and contemplate. "I mean... what about sending him to a 'trust building' exercise? Wouldn't that get him all flustered?"

Cecily laughs, throwing her arm around my shoulder. "That sounds so perfectly devious, I'm in! Are you sure that's what you want though? I mean, he could be stuck in a game of charades or something."

"Oops, did I say that out loud?" I fake gasp.

Just then, a new voice pipes up from behind us. "You ladies do realize that I can hear you, right?"

Our heads snap towards the direction of the voice, and there's Y/n, Charlie's mother, standing there with an enormity of beach bags slung over her shoulder. My face flushes with excitement.

"Y/n! You made it!" I say, rushing over to give her a hug.

"Of course! I wouldn't miss an opportunity to celebrate my future daughter-in-law," she smiles warmly, setting the bags down. "I mean, if we're going to have a proper bachelorette party, we need all the essentials!"

Immediately, Zoe dives into the largest beach bag, pulling out a stash of Hawaiian leis. "Aloha, everyone! Let's get this party started!"

"More like let's get you all laid!" Lilian winks, and laughter erupts around us.

"Please, we are not here to get laid—but to lay out!" Michelle jokes back, adjusting her sunglasses with a dramatic flair.

"Okay, okay, who's ready for the first round of beach games?" Cecily announces, bouncing on her toes.

"Count me in!" Natalie's hand shoots up.

"I'll referee," I volunteer. "But just remember: If I get tackled, you'll all pay dearly!"

Cecily grins, "Let's form teams, and I promise I won't let you get tackled."

With everyone in agreement, we pair off. I end up on a team with Y/n, which feels surreal. It's my soon-to-be mother-in-law, and here we are, ready for battle on the sands of Hawaii.

As we play, the competition heats up. Laughter envelops us like the warm island sun. More people gather on the beach, drawn in by our energy. At one point, I catch a glimpse of Charlie's little sisters building a massive sandcastle not too far away.

"Look, it's in the shape of a wedding cake!" I shout, pointing towards them.

"Who's ready for some cake?" Lilian asks, reaching into her beach bag to pull out snacks. "I brought chocolate and coconut-covered treats!"

"I'm ready for anything!" I reply, my excitement bubbling over.

As the afternoon fizzles out, the sun begins to set, casting hues of orange and pink across the horizon. It's stunning, a picturesque moment that makes my heart soar.

"Ladies, come here!" Cecily calls out, gathering us all for a group photo as the backdrop is too perfect. "Say cheese!"

"Wait!" Zoe interjects, glancing around. "We need to get actual wedding props!"

"Oh! What about this?" I grab a palm frond awkwardly, holding it above my head like a veil. Everyone bursts into laughter.

Fifteen minutes later, our group photo is complete, and I can already picture how I'll display this moment at the bridal shower. I feel so blessed. The laughter, the love, the remarkable friendships—it's everything I could ever want.

As we head back toward the hotel, the sound of waves still echoing in my ears, I reflect. "You know what? Charlie's going to lose it when he hears about all this. I can't wait to tell him!"

"Don't spoil the surprise!" Michelle calls from the back.

"I won't, I promise!" I assure her, grinning to myself. "But I can't help it. It just makes me so excited to marry him!"

As the laughter continues to ring in the air, I realize how fortunate I am. It's days like this that remind me life is meant to be celebrated and shared with those you love. And as I think about it, I can't help but feel that this adventure in Hawaii with my friends is just the beginning of a beautiful journey ahead. Aloha, bachelorette party! Let's make some unforgettable memories!