Love Me (The Elites of Cheshire shore #2)

15. Florence

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

florence

“ I ’m totally getting a mud wrap.” Lottie links her arms through the crook of my elbow, I bounce on the balls of my feet, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I’ve never been more excited for a girls’ weekend. Nanai was ready to call in sick for me when she found out Lottie was coming too; I haven’t been able to spend time with her for a while and Nanai knew how much I was missing her. The giant problem: getting time off from work isn’t easy. And two consecutive days, during a weekend is like getting the winning lottery numbers, especially for a doctor in residency. I almost cried with happiness when the hospital released my schedule for the fortnight to find out I’m off. I unwrap one of my favorite honey ginger lollipops that I eat religiously to keep my immune system strong, and pop it in my mouth, giving Lottie’s arm a squeeze.

“Want one?” I pull the lollipop from my lips with a pop. I made a fresh batch a couple of days ago, so I have tons of them stashed in my bag.

Lottie glances down at my hand and back at my face, her nose all scrunched. “Pass. I’ll take my chances with the germs.”

I shrug my shoulders. “Suit yourself. You just make sure you don’t catch anything before the Texas race.”

Lottie clicks her tongue and rolls her eyes. “Fine,” she releases a long, drawn-out breath, “give me one.”

I dig around in my purse and put out a fresh one for her. “I knew you would see it my way.”

She glares at me as she takes the lollipop but that doesn’t stop the small smile peaking at her lips. She secretly loves it. God, I’ve missed her.

“You guys coming?” Sof calls, from where she, Livvy, Devin, and Kendall are already waiting at the hotel entrance.

“Yeah, we just can’t walk as fast as you giants,” Lottie replies as we quicken our steps. She’s about the only person who is close to my height; her tiny stature is perfect for racing and makes her a weapon in her car. And it makes me feel like less of a pip-squeak when she is with me. All the other girls in our girl squad seem to tower over us as we walk up to the hotel entrance.

“I have to hand it to you, Liv, this place is stunning.” My eyes don’t know where to look first. Somehow, Livvy managed to find a hot spring spa only thirty minutes from Havenville. The giant cascading waterfall breaks away to show a small door.

“Who knew there was this bush escape so close to us?” Devin muses as she makes her way down the tree-lined, pebbled driveway.

“If I didn’t know any better, I would think this is like an undercover government agency bunker?” I pat Lottie’s hand to hide my nervous energy.

“We were lucky to get a spot. The concierge told me most of the spa is booked out this weekend for a private booking,” Sof adds, walking through the small opening to the concealed door. I can see why, this place is stunning. My muscles are already relaxing just from the calming aroma wafting through the place.

“You are completely incapable of packing light,” I grumble, lifting Lottie’s duffle bag onto our shared bed. Since the spa is nearly booked out, we are all sharing rooms. Luckily for me though, I jumped at the chance to room with Lottie and the excessive amount of luggage she’s brought. “And here I thought I was a fit human, but I’ve been humbled by Charlotte Croft’s luggage.” I wheeze and blow at the bits of loose hair that have fallen into my face, from the amount of exertion I’ve used to lift these goddamned bags.

Lottie looks between her bag and me. “It’s called being prepared,” she replies, an eyebrow arched in sardonic inquiry. My eyes bulge out of my head, surveying all her laid-out luggage. How many outfit changes is she anticipating on a two-day spa weekend?

“For the next forty-eight hours we are going to be living in our underwear and bathrobes. There is nothing to be prepared for?” I’m starting to realize I may have severely underpacked for this weekend.

“Knock knock?” Sof announces before she waltzes into our room. “You guys ready for dinner?” she asks, looking between our still packed bags and us.

“Example A: I need to get changed for dinner. I don’t want to wear a thong with Florence bedazzled across the band.” She flings my underwear I threw into my duffle bag on a whim at my chest as she grabs a change of clothes and rushes to the attached bathroom.

“Ooo, saucy.” Sof wiggles her eyebrows at me. I ball up the thong and hide it behind my back. My lips pull into a line as my cheeks heat, I don’t know why I decided to pack these stupid sexy panties instead of my normal briefs. Other than the fact they kind of made me feel like a goddess, that is—it’s not like anyone will see them.

“You didn’t see anything.” I tuck the panties under my pillow.

Sof winks at me.

“I’m ready.” Lottie exits the bathroom in a full outfit change.

“Did you curl your hair?” I narrow my eyes at her perfectly bouncy red hair. How the fuck did she get time to curl her hair, she’s been in the bathroom for a whole of five minutes?

Lottie thrusts her chest out, lips pulling into a smug smile. “What if I told you I woke up like this?”

Sof raises her hand. “I would one hundred percent believe you.” I’ve seen the way Lottie wakes up; she doesn’t even get morning breath. How is that even possible? Me on the other hand—if I don’t slather my face in creams and put my hair in a silk scrunchy, I’m liable to break out in a rash and my hair to turn into a frizzy ball. Not to mention I’ve entered a permanent partnership with my lash serum because I’m allergic to all adhesives for strip lashes.

I snort and push past the two of them. “Sometimes it’s hard to be the Paris Geller in a room full of Rory Gilmores.”

I take the seat next to Kendall at the dinner table. “Tomorrow night, let’s go into Havenville for dinner and drinks,” Devin says as Sof and Lottie take the remaining empty seats.

“I thought the whole point of girls’ weekend was to relax?” Kendall groans. I second her motion. Some relaxing time is really something I need, especially with Dr. Dick being so hard on me at the hospital.

“Clearly,” Devin picks up her glass of acidulated mineral water and takes a sip, “that is why I’ve planned it for tomorrow night after all the relaxing has occurred.”

I slide a look to Lottie; I’m totally going to need to borrow something from her now. “Extra prepared wins again.” Lottie shoots me an I told you so look. “I have about three different outfits to choose from and you only have three different colors of panties.”

“I feel like I’m missing something.” Livvy stares at us with her mouth slightly agape.

“Don’t worry,” Sof waves her off, “I’ll fill you in later.”

“I’m guessing the big table behind us is for the other group who booked the spa,” I mumble, trying to change the subject.

“That’s weird,” Livvy says, scratching her temple as she stares at her phone, while the waiters start placing our food down.

“What?” Sof asks.

“Ryder hasn’t replied to my message; he hasn’t even read it?” The corners of her lips pull down.

“He’s probably just busy with the guys, losing poker or something,” Devin attempts to soothe Livvy.

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Even though she says the words, from the tone in her voice you can tell she doesn’t believe them. She takes a sip from her hot pink–colored cocktail. “Can you message Rome,” she asks, putting her drink on the table.

“What?” I ask just as I put a forkful of tuna carpaccio in my mouth.

“Can you message Rome to see if everything is all right?” she asks again. Just like that, all eyes on the table turn to look at me. I gulp down my semi-chewed mouthful.

“Why me? What about Lottie, she can just message her brothers.” I am not ashamed how quickly I tried to throw the heat off me and onto my best friend.

“Please.” Lottie throws her head back and laughs. “If I message my brothers asking if they’re okay, they won’t even open the message. And if they do, they will reply with some shitty ‘who stole your phone’ message.”

“Fine,” Livvy releases a nervous breath, “I’ll just call him.” She lifts the phone to her ear, her eyes nervously darting around the table as the line keeps ringing. “Damn it, voice mail.” She pulls the phone away from her ear, worry crinkling her forehead. Livvy’s nervous energy floats like a wave across the table.

“It’s okay, Liv, I’ll try Rome.” I give her a calm and confident smile; one I’ve perfected for my bedside manner.

She visibly relaxes. “Thank you, Flo.”

I flip my phone over and pull up Rome’s messages.

Florence

Are you with Ryder?

Rome

Yeah, why?

Florence

Is everything okay? He isn’t answering his phone and Livvy is freaking out.

I can see that Rome has read the message, but he doesn’t reply.

That’s odd. It’s probably just his turn or something. Maybe I should message Luca?

Leaning forward, so I can see Livvy around Kendall. “Rome said he’s with Ryder,” I tell her.

Rome

Yeah, he’s fine, just a little busy atm.

I show her the new message from Rome. It’s almost like a weight is lifted off her shoulders, she settles back in her chair.

“Hey, killer, wanna share a mud wrap?” The deep baritone of Ryder’s voice makes Livvy jump.

“Oh my shit, Ryder.” Livvy gasps and practically leaps out of her chair and wraps herself around him. “You scared the crap out of me!”

“There goes girls’ weekend.” Devin pouts.

“They always have to crash it.” Kendall sighs.

“How do we know you aren’t crashing guys’ weekend?” Duke calls as he enters the small restaurant and sits at the table behind us. I hide my giggle behind my closed fist. Fuck, these guys are dramatic. But I’m also kind of pissed our girls’ weekend isn’t going to be just us.

“I think I know who the large group booking is.” Lottie stares as two of her brothers walk into the room.

“Wait, what the fuck are they wearing? Is that their faces on T-shirts?” Sof snorts before dissolving into a fit of laughter, followed by Kendall and Devin.

Oh, this I’ve got to see.

I turn in my chair and watch Rome and Luca walk into the room. I lift my hand and give Luca a small wave, expecting him to return it with a giant grin—maybe run over and pick me up out of my chair and spin me around. The usual Luca way he greets me. Instead, Luca points at me across the room, his eyes narrowed. “You have committed betrayal in the highest form.”

Oh boy, things are about to get interesting.