melons, too.”
I laughed. “He asked me what type of melon it was, and I told him.”
“What was it? Passionfruit?”
I rolled my eyes, trying not to encourage her. “Cantaloupe.”
Tisha made her voice low and leaned over to me. “You might have been talking all friendly at the buffet, but be honest… you were fantasizing about Kingston 2.0 last night, weren’t you?”
I shook my head, avoiding eye contact as I started to smile. “No.”
“I guess you didn’t have to fantasize since you had him in your room live and in person,” she hissed in my ear.
I turned to face her, prepared to deny it, but my best friend always saw through my bullshit. “What?” I gasped, looking around to make sure everyone else was still engaged in other conversations. “How did you know?”
“Because I’m not deaf and I heard the two of you snickering like you’d just been caught.” She narrowed her eyes. “And because I’m not blind and I watched him walk out of your room and down the hall to his room.”
I covered my face with my hands and groaned. “It’s not what it looked like.”
She pursed her lips. “Mm hmm.”
“I’m serious! He came by to talk because he texted me and I didn’t respond.”
“And nothing happened?”
“He kissed me.” I swallowed hard, looking down the table at him. A little flutter moved through my belly. “And I kissed him back. It was good”—I widened my eyes— “really good.”
“What happened next?”
“You knocked on the door.”
We giggled.
“What are you two giggling about?” Tyler asked from directly across from me.
My mind went blank. “Uh…”
Fortunately, Tisha was quick on her feet. “We were talking about how our cycles have synced up—”
“Never mind,” he cringed. “I’m sorry I asked.”
“Corrine!” Chloe squealed. “You’re here! Finally!”
Tisha and I looked at each other simultaneously, as if we both remembered the matchmaking scheme that was underway.
“We’re almost done but grab a plate and sit right here! I saved you a seat,” Chloe said, pointing to the chair between her and Kingston.
“I’m not hungry,” Corrine said flatly. She smiled at everyone. “Hello.”
We all said hello as we were reintroduced to her.
“My beautiful, intelligent, hard-working sister just moved to Atlanta to start with this huge firm,” Chloe began. As she rattled on about how amazing her sister was, Maria, Latisha, and I exchanged glances. “So, I want to make a toast. Here’s to new beginnings and lots of fun!”
With our glasses lifted, we clinked and celebrated all the fun we were about to have.
“Before you take a drink, I’d like to take a moment to toast my beautiful bride-to-be. She has planned everything down to the minute and I appreciate her for it,” Dominick added, earning a beaming smile from Chloe.
She kissed his cheek and then looked around the table. “Oh! And check your itinerary. Today is a free day to do whatever you want around the resort. Faye will be around snapping candid photos. We will meet in the ballroom at six o’clock for the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner. And then tomorrow…” She grinned.
I legitimately had never been happier for her.
Everyone dispersed from the terrace and headed back to our rooms.
“We aren’t done talking about this,” Tisha said under her breath as she reached her room first. “But there’s too many ears around now. But before we get dressed for the rehearsal dinner?”
I nodded. “Definitely. Meet you at the pool in fifteen.”
I went to my room and changed into the sexy white two piece and slathered on the sunblock. I didn’t plan to get in the water so the white swimsuit would be perfect for lounging. I grabbed the sheer white coverup, white oversized sunglasses, and my crossbody bag. I piled my braids in a bun so that it sat on the top of my head like a crown and strutted down to the beach like I was on the catwalk.
“Damn,” Tisha called out as I approached the lounge chair beside her.
“Damn yourself!” She wore a sexy black one-piece with so many cutouts that it might as well have been a two piece. “That swimsuit is sexy. When did you get it?”
We talked as the pool area started filling up with our friends, the immediate family of the bride and groom, and the wedding guests who made the trip. Dom hooked up his phone to a portable speaker and it instantly became a pool party. Maria’s favorite song came on and Tisha loved to dance, so they jumped up and created a dance floor. The drinks were flowing, and