Part I - 1. Magnolia
Part I Chapter 1: Magnolia Samantha raises her champagne glass in the air, excitement evident on her face. "You're getting married!" she exclaims, prompting my bridesmaids to cheer along with her. The fact that I'm getting married still feels surreal. And what's even more unbelievable is that I'm marrying William Green, the man I once thought was the biggest jerk in the world. Let's be honest, he has an ego the size of the football field he trains on every day. But can we blame him? He's a star quarterback, a super bowl legend, and has been crowned football's sexiest man for three consecutive years. Women practically fall at his feet on a daily basis. He's a serial womanizer. At first, I wanted nothing to do with him. I've had to clean up one too many of his public relations disasters over the years - alleged sex tapes, scandals involving other women, and excessive partying. So why on earth am I marrying him? Well, the man is persistent. When he sets his mind on something, he goes after it relentlessly. And over the years, he slowly but surely showed me his softer side. He cleaned up his image, stopped his womanizing ways, and revealed the man underneath all the fame and glamour. It was that man who I fell in love with, not the football legend. Who can resist a sexy football player? Despite my slight nervousness about the wedding day, I initially wanted a small and intimate affair. However, William had different plans. He wanted a grand celebration filled with celebrities and football legends. He invited so many people that I don't even know half of them. To be honest, it has turned into a bit of a circus. He assured me that he had everything under control and not to worry. Little did I know that William had a Groomzilla hiding inside him. As more businesses approached him for sponsorship, his ideas became more extravagant. If it were up to me, we would have eloped. Rhiannon shoves a glass of champagne into my hand, trying to ease my nerves. "You look a little tense. Here, have some champagne." "I wish I could drink," Isabella pouts, her hands rubbing over her pregnant belly. "This little one's doing somersaults because of all the nerves. I need him to calm down." I smile at my oldest friend, taking in her beautiful bump that wriggles under her shirt. "He's already a handful," Isabella sighs as Rhiannon hands her a glass of sparkling apple juice. Isabella and I have known each other since childhood. We grew up as next-door neighbors and became like family after my parents passed away. Isabella's mom, Luna, and she took me in since my older brother was studying abroad. She's all I have left in the world. Although I love her dearly, Isabella has a knack for finding herself in dramatic situations, especially when it involves bad boys - they're her weakness. That's how she ended up pregnant and alone. The guy she was dating abandoned her when he found out she was expecting. He kicked her out, leaving her pregnant and without a home. Fortunately, my fiancé understood the importance of family and suggested that Isabella move into our guest house. This way, she would have access to our staff, security, and most importantly, be close to us. He even flew her mother out to live with her and help with the preparations for the baby. He truly is a keeper. "It's so great that the five of us are back together again," Luna squeals, popping another bottle of champagne. "You guys catch up all the time," I remind them, lifting the glass to my lips. Luna, Rhiannon, and Samantha all live in New York. We've known each other since college. Rhiannon studied architecture, and we became roommates on our first day. Luna joined our little group when we found her crying on a park bench after discovering her sorority sister had been sleeping with her boyfriend. We took her under our wing, and she quickly became part of our duo. Luna recently started her own fashion marketing agency, thanks to her connections from her years of modeling and working for designer brands. And Samantha, the newest addition to our group, is my brother Dawson's publicist. He's a celebrity chef and quite famous. Women seem to adore him, judging by his Instagram following. But to me, he'll always be stinky Dawson. He's currently based in New York, where his first restaurant is located, but he's expanding to other cities. I'm incredibly proud of him, despite his half-naked videos online. "I'm so nervous," I confess, sharing my feelings with my friends. "William has gone a little overboard... with everything." "Understatement of the year," Rhiannon snorts. "It's cute that he's so enthusiastic about getting married," Samantha adds, always the romantic. "Enjoy the day. You won't have another one like it," Isabella says, her words sounding more like a warning than a pep talk. Maybe it's just her hormones, and she doesn't realize how it sounded. I notice Rhiannon and Luna exchanging concerned looks. "Is everything okay?" I ask, sensing something is off. Rhiannon shakes her head, as if trying to clear her thoughts. "Yes, sorry. I got distracted by a work thing." But I know she's lying. Her slight eye twitch gives her away - it's her tell. "He's such a good guy," Luna sighs, flopping herself backward on the sofa. "I want one of those. Being single is exhausting." "What about the men in New York?" I inquire. "Please... I've been working twenty hours a day. I don't have time to date." "What about that male model? Ivan, right?" Samantha interjects. Luna rolls her eyes. "Yeah, him. He's boring. Hot guys don't have to try. They just need to show off their abs and chiseled jawline, and women instantly fall for them." Luna has a point. But there are attractive guys out there with great personalities; she just needs to make time to find them. However, starting her own business leaves little room for anything else. "I can't walk into a meeting without some guy trying to mansplain architecture to me. Me, the person they hired to build their freaking home," Rhiannon adds. "You've met Charlie, right?" Samantha chimes in. Charlie is my brother Dawson's nickname. "The ego of a chef... they're the worst," Rhiannon continues. "No offense, Chlo." "None taken. My brother's ego is pretty big," I admit. "I bet that's not the only thing that's big," Luna teases Samantha. "Ew!" I cringe at Luna's comment. "Luna!" Samantha exclaims. "Don't act innocent. You know it's true," Luna teases. "He's my boss," Samantha argues. "That's the best kind of sex. On the desk with the blinds shut. Late at night, or on your knees under his desk while he's on the phone." The room falls silent at Luna's words. "What? Don't tell me none of you have done anything like that?" We all shake our heads. "I had no idea my friends were such prudes." "No, I don't want to get fired or ruin my reputation," Rhiannon adds. Luna waves her hands in the air and sings, "Whatever, guys. Let's pop some more champagne."
2. Magnolia
2 Magnolia Chapter 2: Magnolia As my bridesmaids slumbered peacefully, I cautiously uncovered myself and swung my legs out of bed, my toes sinking into the plush carpet. I held my breath, not wanting to alert them to my act of defiance. Glancing at the clock, I noted that it was just past midnight, technically making it my wedding day and allowing me to break tradition without consequences. It seemed like flawless logic in the stillness of the night. My plan was simple – sneak into William's room, have a quick encounter, and then return before anyone noticed my absence. Hastily changing into my dress from earlier, I left out the underwear for convenience. William's room was on the other side of the resort, necessitating a walk through the lobby to reach his tower. Moving silently through the suite, I grabbed the spare key to his room and tiptoed down the hallway, praying that the door wouldn't betray my presence. With a victorious pump of my fist, I celebrated as the door handle turned without a sound. Carefully and swiftly, I made my way to the elevators, determined to avoid detection by the girls who would surely be furious if they knew what I was up to. Eventually, I arrived at William's penthouse. Sliding the keycard into the door, I breathed a sigh of relief as the green light flashed. The room was shrouded in darkness, indicating that he was likely asleep. However, as I ventured further inside, the sound of a woman's moan shattered my heart's calm rhythm. My pulse quickened as I tried to process what I was hearing. Was William watching pornography? The ice in his voice sent shivers down my spine as he uttered words that cut through me like a knife. Unable to comprehend the sight before me, I stood frozen, unable to move or make sense of the betrayal unfolding in front of my eyes. "That's it, Mama. Ride me," William whispered, his voice laced with desire. My best friend, Isabella, giggled, her face glistening with sweat as she straddled him on the sofa. The pain registered within me, threatening to overwhelm my senses. William gazed at her, his hand gripping her neck possessively as he leaned in for a kiss. A wave of nausea washed over me, but my feet remained rooted to the spot. William's attention shifted to Isabella's pregnant belly, and he expressed his anticipation to meet his child. Confusion washed over me as I stumbled backward, my hand pressed against the hallway wall for support. "He can't wait to meet his daddy, too," Isabella purred, her voice dripping with venom. "I'm glad you're living with us. It means I can spend as much time as I can with him," William replied, his smile hiding a darker truth. Isabella's expression soured. "I don't understand why you're still marrying her," she spat, her tone mirroring the disdain she had shown earlier. "I love Magnolia," William's voice turned steel, a stark contrast to the lies that had been unraveled. "Yet, you've been fooling around with me for the past year," Isabella accused, her words like daggers aimed at my heart. The revelation struck me, and I closed my eyes as the pain consumed me. "You're the one who pursued me, remember?" William defended himself. "You didn't put up much of a fight," Isabella snarled, her anger palpable. "You told me you were fine with whatever I could give you," William shot back. "But I'm carrying your baby. I should be the one marrying you, not her," Isabella's venomous words pierced through the air. Overwhelmed, I pressed myself against the hallway wall, desperately hoping to disappear from this nightmare. William's voice grew louder as he shut down Isabella's protests, reminding her of the consequences she would face if their affair were exposed. I couldn't bear to listen any longer. With trembling legs, I forced myself to move, one step at a time, until I finally left the hotel room. The sound of the elevator bell brought me back to the present, and I realized the magnitude of the betrayal that had unfolded before my eyes. "How could they?" I whispered in disbelief. "How fucking could they?" My mind raced, trying to comprehend the unthinkable. Isabella, my sister-like friend, had been sleeping with my fiancé for an entire year. And worst of all, she was carrying his child. The pain became unbearable, and I collapsed to the floor, tears streaming down my face. A male voice called out my name, and I felt my brother's hands shaking my body. Reality crashed down upon me, and I heard the loud banging of someone at the door. "What's going on?" a female voice questioned. "I found her like this outside," my brother explained. "We should leave," an unfamiliar voice interjected. "Yeah, you should. This is family business," the female voice responded. More hands reached out to me, shaking me, but I could only curl up into a ball, overcome by anguish. "We should call William," the female voice suggested. "No!" I screamed, sitting up abruptly. "No." The word came out as a wounded wail, and fresh tears flowed as the walls closed in around me. Charlie, my brother, lifted me into his arms and carried me into my suite. "What's going on?" Rhiannon, another friend, asked. "I don't know. I found her outside like this," Charlie informed her. "She doesn't want us to get William," Samantha, another friend, added. Next thing I knew, Rhiannon embraced me on the couch, providing solace and comfort. The room filled with more concerned faces as Luna joined us. "What did he do?" Rhiannon whispered in my ear. "What the…" Luna trailed off as she entered the room. Samantha and Charlie filled her in on the horrifying truth. The anger in the room was palpable. "You saw something, didn't you?" Rhiannon asked, her eyes filled with understanding. Looking up at her, I nodded, unable to find the words to express my pain. "Oh, babe," she murmured, holding me tighter. "Do you want to leave?" she asked, and I nodded again. "Do you want to cancel the wedding?" Internally, I screamed 'yes,' but the words refused to escape my lips. Thankfully, Rhiannon understood without further explanation. "Okay. Stay here. We'll pack everything right now." She untangled herself from me and took charge. "Right, team? William has messed up big time." Outrage and determination filled the room. "I'll fucking kill him with my bare hands," Charlie growled. "You'll have your chance, but for now, Magnolia wants to escape. Operation Runaway Bride needs to happen, and it needs to happen now," Rhiannon commanded. Time became a blur as my friends swiftly packed up my belongings, including my clothes, shoes, bags, and jewelry. Charlie organized a private jet, and soon we were on our way. As we soared through the sky, I finally felt safe, far away from the treachery that had shattered my world. Sipping my vodka, I gathered the courage to address my friends. Tears welled in my eyes as I expressed my gratitude for their unwavering support. They had packed up my life without hesitation, whisking me away from the heartbreak I had endured. Overwhelmed with emotion, I squeezed Luna's hand, thanking her for her loyalty. "I snuck out of our room to see William," I began, my voice trembling. The group turned their attention to me, their eyes filled with concern and anger. "But... he wasn't alone." "That bastard," Charlie cursed. "Hope his dick falls off," Luna added, her anger palpable. Rhiannon, already aware of the truth, asked, "Who was he with?" "Isabella," I whispered, the pain resurfacing as I spoke her name. Silence fell over the plane, heavy with disbelief. "No..." Samantha broke the silence, "she wouldn't." "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen them having sex on his sofa with my own eyes," I revealed, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and sorrow. "That fucker," Charlie seethed, hurling his glass against the wall, shattering it into diamonds. Samantha quickly reassured the stewardess, explaining the situation as she cleaned up the mess. As the reality sank in, I mustered the strength to share another devastating truth. "The baby is his." Disbelief filled the cabin, followed by a deafening silence. "Now I understand why you didn't tell us sooner," Rhiannon said softly, moving closer to offer comfort. I curled up in her arms, seeking solace in her embrace. "That's messed up," Luna cursed, her anger echoing the sentiments of everyone onboard. "It's been going on for about a year," I revealed, the weight of the betrayal heavy in my words. Curses and expressions of disbelief erupted around me. "And he moved her into your home," Luna stated angrily. "Fucking bastard," Charlie seethed. "He's going to face the consequences when you don't show up," Samantha remarked, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. "This is the ultimate 'fuck you'," Rhiannon nudged me gently. "I know," I replied, my voice heavy with determination. "Wait a minute..." Luna stood up abruptly, her mind racing. "Leaving him at the altar won't damage him. People will feel sorry for him. They'll paint you as the villain, Magnolia." Luna's marketing expertise shone through her anger. "She's right," Samantha agreed. "No one knows about Isabella. They'll think you're a bitch, or he'll twist it and claim you cheated on him." "Would a recording of their conversation help my case?" "You've got to be kidding me," Luna smiled. "I don't know why, but in my shock, I hit record on my phone and captured everything," I revealed, a hint of irony in my voice. Years of dealing with football scandals had unknowingly prepared me for my own scandal. "Samantha, you have to send that recording to the press," Charlie commanded. "Are you sure?" Samantha asked, aware of the irreversible consequences. "You're right. He'll turn this around on me. Do it!" I handed her my phone, watching as she sprang into action.
3. Edison
3 Edison "This place is like paradise," I exclaim, relishing the warm sun on my skin. It sends shivers down my spine in the best way possible. "We're supposed to be working," my twin brother, Clarence, reminds me. "You never said anything about work when you invited us on this all-expenses-paid holiday," Bryant, my best friend, groans beside him. "We're supposed to be undercover, remember?" I remind my brother, grinning. He rolls his eyes and reclines on his sun lounge, shielding his eyes with designer sunglasses while a tense tick twitches across his jaw. "I don't know how you two think this undercover mission is going to work. Everyone knows who you are – the 'playboy twins of New York,'" Bryant chuckles, taking a sip of his beer. Damn, I hate that nickname the press has given us. Sure, we date, but not every woman seen by our side is sleeping with us. It's all for business, to sell our luxury brand and lifestyle. We have to pretend we live the life we're selling. "Fuck off," I shoot back at Bryant, making it clear how much I despise the nickname. "If you're going to be a dick all week, you can hop on the next plane home." Bryant chuckles and ignores my threat. I pull down my own sunglasses, hoping they'll provide enough disguise, and we all settle into our sun lounges by the pool. Clarence and I survey the resort, searching for areas where we can improve. We ensure the staff is following their training and check that the guests are having a fantastic time. Years ago, Clarence and I started The Stone Group, a company that owns luxury boutique hotels catering to the wealthy elite. People pay top dollar to experience a stylish and anonymous vacation with us, so we must deliver on that promise. Bryant, despite being a pain at times, was the one who funded our first hotel in Bali. We met him in college – your typical East Coast trust fund kid. But he had something different about him – smarts and a knack for numbers and business. One drunken night at the bar, we shared our idea with him, and he loved it. He offered to finance it, and the next day, we were on his private jet to Bali, scouting locations. The rest is history. "Please tell me you're seeing what I'm seeing," Bryant slaps me on the chest. Clarence and I turn our attention to what has captured his interest, falling silent. Three stunning women enter the pool area, dressed in various stages of resort wear. They hold cocktails and giggle as they move towards us. Perhaps they've already had one too many drinks before coming to the pool. They stick together like a pack, throwing their bags on chairs right beside ours. They don't break their conversations as they each grab a sun lounge and move them closer to one another. I notice other men around the pool equally captivated by these new arrivals. "Who's up for a swim?" the tall raven-haired woman asks, removing her sarong to reveal a tiny white bikini. "Fuck me," my brother curses beside me as she heads towards the pool but suddenly stops. Her bright jade green eyes scan our direction, catching our attention. The other girls halt their undressing and join her gaze. "Well, hello there, boys," she says, placing a hand on her hip and cocking an arched brow towards us. "Are you enjoying the view?" "Most certainly are," Bryant calls back. The raven-haired beauty narrows her eyes at him and smirks. She turns on her heel and struts towards the pool, her hips swaying hypnotically. The other two girls follow suit, joining her in the pool. "Chlo," the brunette calls out, diverting my attention from the pool. She waves to a beautiful blonde walking along the pool's edge with a towel in one arm and her cell phone in the other. The blonde briefly looks up from her screen, smiles at them, and then returns to her phone. "Get off the phone," the raven-haired girl shouts at her friend. "You know nothing good can come of it," she warns. Ignoring her friend's request, the blonde continues typing furiously on her phone. She's so engrossed that she doesn't notice the step in front of her. Before I know it, I'm lunging forward, stretching as far as I can to catch her before she crashes onto the concrete. I manage to grab her just in time, but her phone slips from her grasp and shatters against the pool surround. "Are you okay?" I ask, wrapping my arms tightly around her. She looks up at me, momentarily stunned, before quickly pulling away and brushing imaginary dust off herself. "Oh... um... thanks," she stammers, sounding panicked. Did I scare her? "Shit." She crouches down to pick up her shattered phone, closing her eyes. Tears well up, threatening to spill over. "I told you no good would come from that phone," the raven-haired girl chuckles from the pool. Seems a bit harsh for her friend to say in that moment. The blonde retrieves her broken phone and throws it back into her bag. It takes her a few moments to realize I'm still standing nearby. "Sorry, I'm not myself at the moment. Thank you. Thanks for saving me," she says, giving me a small smile. "I don't mind a beautiful woman falling into my arms," I joke, but her smile disappears as she looks up at me. "Men," she mutters under her breath, moving away from me. Was my pickup line that bad? She tosses her bag with the others and quickly strips off her sundress, joining the others in the pool. "That was an epic strikeout," Bryant laughs, and I flip him off. "As hot as they are, we're here to work," my brother reminds me. * * * "Shit!" I curse, looking down at the red wine stain splattered across my white shirt, seeping into my lap. "I'm so sorry, sir," the waitress apologizes, tears welling up in her eyes. "It's fine," I grit my teeth. "Accidents happen." And this was definitely an accident – a guest bumped into the waitress, causing the glass to spill on me. "I'll go back to my room and change," I tell her, making my way out of the restaurant. Of course, Bryant can't stop laughing. That fucker. I roll my eyes as I step onto the deserted path leading to my beach bungalow. As soon as I turn the corner, I collide with the blonde woman from the pool, engrossed in her phone once again. "Shit. Sorry," I reach out and grab her arms, preventing her from falling over. "No... it's all..." She looks up and realizes who ran into her. "You again." Her tone changes dramatically. "We've got to stop meeting like this," I say, offering another lame joke. She doesn't smile, but her gaze lingers on my bare chest as I flex subtly. I work out regularly and feel confident in my appearance – shirt or no shirt. "Why do you have your shirt off?" she glares at me, crossing her arms defensively. "Waitress spilled red wine on me," I flick the ruined shirt into the air, exposing the stains. "Did you use a bad pickup line on her too?" Her tone carries a hint of bite. What? Why is she attacking me? "No, a guest bumped into her while she was handing me my drink," I explain, feeling no obligation to provide further details. "If you'll excuse me..." I move past her, "...have a good night." I head towards my villa, noticing that she has "man-hater" written all over her. I don't have time for women like that. "Hey," she calls out, stopping me in my tracks. Ignoring her, I continue walking closer to my villa. I don't play games with women. Either they're interested or they're not. I don't do the whole "treat them mean to keep them keen" routine. Footsteps echo behind me on the stone path. "Wait. I'm sorry." I'm just steps away from reaching the door handle when her hand touches my forearm, halting me. "I'm not usually such a bitch," she blurts out, her words tumbling out quickly. I smile. "You have every right to be upset." "Please ignore me," she waves her hand dismissively. "You're hard to ignore," I reply, unintentionally sounding flirty. "What's wrong with you, flirting with a hot mess like me?" Her narrowed eyes focus on me. "I...no...I don't usually flirt with women going through a life crisis, but for some reason, I can't stop with you." We lock eyes for a moment. "Are you single?" she asks abruptly. "Yes. I don't have time for--" Before I can finish, she kisses me. What the hell is happening? Her lips press against mine, and every nerve in my body goes into overdrive. Her fingers grip my hair, sending jolts of pleasure through me. She pulls me towards her villa, her hands exploring my body with an urgency that matches her own need. I'm so confused. It feels incredible, but something doesn't feel right. Slowly, I extract myself from her grasp. I deserve a medal for stopping this. "As much as I want to continue..." I trail off, looking down at her. Her lips are plump and ready for more. Her cheeks turn a rosy shade as her ocean-blue eyes dilate with desire. "What if I told you I want no-strings-attached sex? Right here, right now." My eyes widen. This is every man's fantasy. "I think you're in a vulnerable place right now," I say, trying to be considerate. "I want to feel desired, even if it's only for a few minutes." "It would be more than a few minutes," I reply cockily. "My friends have been telling me that the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else." She raises a valid point. "Right now, I'm willing to do anything to move on from him." Should I be offended by this statement? It's hard to think straight when my libido is roaring. "How about this..." I propose, preparing myself for the disappointment my dick will feel. "Why don't you and your friends join us for dinner tonight? We can have fun and party together. And if, by the end of the night, you still feel like you need to get under someone, then I'm your man." She ponders my offer for a moment. "You're a good guy, aren't you?" "I suppose," I reply. No, my dick screams at me. "Fine," she huffs. "I think I can handle that." She gives me a small smile, waiting for my response. "Great. I need to change now, but we'll be at the Tropicana Bar. Join us there." "Okay," she smiles. You did the right thing tonight, I remind myself. It wouldn't have been right to take advantage of a vulnerable woman. Turning away, I head back to my villa and quickly text the guys, informing them that we'll have four extra guests for dinner.
4. Magnolia
4 Magnolia I can't fathom what came over me. Who am I? I never go around propositioning men, especially after unloading all my emotional baggage on them. Magnolia, you're such a mess. That cheating scumbag has me all tangled up inside, and I'm sick of it. I want off this rollercoaster of denial with William Green. In his texts, he's vowed to do everything in his power to ruin me after humiliating him on our wedding day. He actually suggested that I should have just sucked it up and married him, only to discreetly divorce him a year later. What kind of delusional planet does he live on where that's acceptable? He's gotten my best friend pregnant. But true to his word, William is tearing me apart in the media with his lies, while turning the blame of his infidelity onto me. In some ways, I saw it coming. To make matters worse, all these women have crawled out of the woodwork, selling their stories about their "special" nights with William while we were engaged. With every new revelation, I question who the man I loved truly was. Was everything between us just a façade? A game? He's been telling reporters that we had an open relationship, that we both dated other people while engaged, and for some reason, I backed out of that agreement. He even had one of his teammates vouch for our supposed hookups. And then he retaliated by sleeping with Isabella. I can't handle this anymore. I want nothing to do with this drama. This isn't the life I signed up for. I never wanted to become a tabloid spectacle, a punchline for late-night talk show hosts. Honestly, all I want to do is run away and hide, which is why I ended up on this beautiful tropical island. On the same evening I caught them in bed together, I canceled our honeymoon and booked a different destination. I invited my girlfriends to join me. Screw you, William Green. And of course, Isabella, or "she who will not be named," hasn't shown an ounce of remorse for her role in this whole mess. No, she's right there beside William, supporting his outlandish stories about our relationship while sending me offensive messages behind the scenes. I'm done. More than done. I want nothing to do with her. Luna, her mother, reached out to apologize on her daughter's behalf. She doesn't condone Isabella's actions, but she feels obligated to support her grandson. I understand that. I know it's not fair for an innocent child to suffer because of his parents' mistakes, but I want no part in their lives. I've resigned from my position with William's football team. They agreed it was for the best. Of course, they won't let go of their star quarterback who wins them Super Bowls. Let's face it, I'm replaceable. As part of our agreement, they've given me a generous severance package—a year's salary—in exchange for my silence about the club. I'm okay with that. At least the money will provide a fresh start for me in New York. I know I can stay with Charlie until I get back on my feet. Forget about them, I say. Tonight, it's time to have some fun. Get dressed up. Flirt. Drink. Stop wallowing in sadness because I'm the only one mourning the loss of my relationship. Enough is enough. Grabbing my phone, I text the girls that we're meeting the hot guys from the pool for dinner in twenty minutes. Shortly after, my phone buzzes with an explosion of messages in our group chat. Exactly twenty minutes later, the girls arrive. As Luna walks through the door, she gives me a disapproving look. "You can't wear that." "What? I think it's cute." The girls shake their heads at my choice of dress. "You look like you're meeting the damn Queen," Luna scrunches her nose and furrows her brows. "I look classy." "You want to look like an expensive hooker?" Luna shoves a different dress in my face that she brought along. "You need to find your groove again," Samantha tells me, ironically. "I've already propositioned him. He's a sure thing." I share the story of my encounter with Edison earlier through our group chat. "This is for you," Rhiannon hands me a dress. "Forget about everything that's happened, even if it's just for one night." One night to forget how miserable my life has become. Maybe I can do that. "You look stunning!" Luna squeals, making me twirl around for them and even curtsy. "I feel very... exposed." Tugging at the dress, desperately trying to make it longer, but realizing it's so short that even a slight bend would reveal my behind. Luna has lent me a gorgeous black sheer dress with gold stars embroidered all over it, a designer brand. It has a deep V-neckline that makes it impossible to wear a bra—which is fine for Luna and her non-existent breasts, but mine are desperately trying to avoid a wardrobe malfunction. Thankfully, there's tape to keep everything in place. The stars are strategically placed over my nipples. Rolling my eyes, I look down at myself. Luna assures me that no one can tell I'm not wearing a bra. But I can. Us well-endowed ladies don't go braless. Ever. Luna adds some cute boy shorts underneath and declares that I'm ready. Damn! I'm practically naked. My bikini has more fabric than this entire outfit. "You look amazing," Samantha exclaims. "Work it, girl," Rhiannon encourages as I pretend to walk the runway, exaggerating my hip movements. "You look sexy yet classy," Luna declares. "This is sooo not me," I mutter while looking at the stranger in the mirror. "Then it's perfect." Luna rests her chin on my shoulder. "One night only, Magnolia Jones. Let loose and have some fun."
5. Edison
5 Edison Bryant eyes me with confusion as I stumble back into our room. "What do you mean you didn't sleep with her?" "We fell asleep on the beach." "You fell asleep on the damn beach? This ain't some cheesy romance movie." "I don't have to sleep with every woman I meet." Both Bryant and my brother give me dirty but bewildered looks. "Well, not this time, at least." Why are they giving me such a hard time about this? "Her friends were down to fuck," Bryant tells me. "Well, good for you," I reply, sounding annoyed. "Hey, don't take it out on me that you didn't get laid," he jokes. I brush him off, moving to the side as Clarence intervenes. "We're just surprised nothing happened. You two seemed to hit it off last night at dinner." "We did." How do I explain that it was refreshing to have a conversation with an intelligent woman without sounding weak? "You like her," my twin observes, picking up on my vibes. "Yeah. I kinda do." "This is a first." He looks at me, this time more stunned than anything. "She's got a lot of baggage," I state, and Clarence frowns. "Did none of the girls tell you why they're here?" Clarence shakes his head. Wow! Those girls are like a vault, keeping their friend's secret. Gotta give them credit. "This was supposed to be her honeymoon," I reveal. Clarence's eyes widen. "She caught him with her best friend, who apparently he knocked up." "That's a whole lot of baggage." My brother slaps me on the back as he walks past. "I know, right? She's vulnerable. Thinks a rebound fling will help her get over him." "But you don't wanna be that rebound?" I nod in agreement. "That story sounds familiar," Bryant interrupts. "Like something I just read in the news." "Doubt it," I say, rolling my eyes at him. Bryant pulls out his phone and starts typing furiously, then stops to read. "Holy shit, man..." He turns the phone toward me. "...this is your girl." Staring back at me on his screen is Magnolia. What the hell! "It says she was engaged to William Green and left him at the altar after catching her bridesmaid in bed with him." I snatch the phone from his hand, reading and absorbing all the reported information. "That girl's got way too much baggage," my brother warns. "She was engaged to William Green, dude. How can you compete with a Super Bowl legend?" "There's no competition. He's the asshole who cheated on her and got her friend pregnant." "Be careful," my brother warns again. "Would you both calm down? Nothing's happening between us. I think she's attractive. She's got a great figure, but there's too much baggage for anything to happen." A throat clears behind me, and I spin around to find Magnolia, Luna, and Rhiannon standing in the foyer. Oh shit! Did she hear that? Damn it! She did. I watch her face fall. She turns on her heels and walks right out of the hotel room. "Dick," Luna mutters under her breath as I chase after her. "Magnolia...wait." She repeatedly presses the elevator button, urging it to hurry. "Magnolia." She abruptly turns around, her beautiful blue eyes glassy, and instantly, I feel like shit. "I'm sorry for what you overheard." "No. It's fine. You owe me nothing. We're strangers stuck on this island together." The elevator dings, and she rushes inside, the doors beginning to close. Screw it. I stop them with my hand, surprising her. I quickly jump in, the doors closing right behind me. Now we're stuck in this confined space. "The guys were giving me a hard time this morning, and I...just—" "Please, Edison. You don't have to explain anything to me." "You were engaged to William Green?" My question catches her off guard, and she gasps audibly. "How...I—" "I vaguely told them why you're here on your girls' trip, and Bryant said the story sounded familiar. He Googled it and found you. The tabloids are filled with the story, unfortunately." The elevator doors open, and Magnolia bolts out into the sunshine. "Wait," I call after her. She spins around and stares me down. "No." Her voice is firm, unyielding. "Leave me alone. Like you said, nothing's happening between us. We're just acquaintances. Have a good trip, but don't bother me again." With that, she storms off into the jungle. Maybe it's for the best, I think as I trudge back up to the penthouse where the group is still gathered. "Guess it didn't go so well?" Bryant smirks at me. "You're an asshole!" "I'm just gonna..." I glance around, seeing the four of them looking cozy. "...go to my room." "It's probably for the best that nothing happened. Chlo's going through a lot," Luna says. I simply nod and disappear into my room.
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