Jonathan and Zoey looked at each other and burst into laughter.
Aunt Lisa procured a limbo pole from behind the DJ booth with outstretched arms. The flower crown fell off.
“I’m pretty sure this is not authorized,” Brady said, appearing next to them. Aunt Lisa pointed at the DJ, who started limbo-appropriate music.
Zoey walked toward a small line forming. “Might as well!” she exclaimed to them. A small group formed a meager line.
Dan appeared behind her in line. “I thought you were babysitting?” Zoey asked.
“He’s too drunk to get those handcuffs off. I explained the situation to the front desk, and they promised they would catch him if he came back for Grandpa. If he Gerald’s Games himself. Or he 127 Hours himself. Or…”
Zoey clamped her hand over his mouth. “I got it.”
He rubbed his hands together. “I am pumped. I crush at limbo.”
It was all fun and games at first, until Zoey trash-talked Dan and he displayed some flexibility that shocked her. The bar went lower and lower, and Zoey thanked all the camel pose Taylor programmed into Hip Hop Yoga at the studio. Ultimately, Dan won, out-bending everyone else. “Cycle Yoga Love, everyone,” Dan shouted. “Get your first class free with my code Dantheman.”
Taylor gave him a thumbs up from the table.
Zoey wanted her own promo code.
“The winner!” Aunt Lisa said, holding up Dan’s hand. She positioned Dan in front of her and offered her lips to him. Dan kissed Aunt Lisa square on the lips without hesitation, including a dip.
Zoey ran back to the group near the door, all smiles. “Okay, I am kind of glad you invited Aunt Lisa.”
“My mom and Aunt Lisa got Aunt Jackie on the phone and had a chance to talk it out,” Caroline said. “They’re better for now. All I can really ask for.”
“We also saw Derek get laid out, which was everything,” Zoey said.
Caroline nodded once. “Plus, Addison finally broke up with him. All in all, a pretty good night.”
Sophie signaled to Caroline, who picked up her dress and approached the DJ booth.
The DJ brought the microphone to his lips. “Okay, all you single ladies, come on to the dance floor for a chance to score the bouquet!” Beyoncé washed over the crowd of women as Caroline turned her back on her friends.
Zoey shrugged her shoulders and went to the dance floor as well. Caroline counted down and threw a smaller toss bouquet behind her. There was some scrambling. Zoey was not even close; Taylor popped up from the ground, holding it up with one arm outstretched.
Afterwards, Zoey enveloped Caroline. “You’re married now. How does it feel?”
Caroline shrugged. “I’m ready to put a sleeping mask on and to not wake up until Monday.” Caroline then pointed between Zoey and Jonathan. “Just please don’t break any furniture at the rental. The replacement fees are a bitch.” Caroline kissed both Zoey and Jonathan on the cheek.
Jonathan still held Zoey’s hand, swinging it back and forth. “Say our goodbyes and get back to the house?”
“That sounds like a great idea.” Zoey kissed him, and they walked toward the group of parents to thank them. Her hand was still in Jonathan’s when she saw her mother.
Her mother took her in a hug and whispered in her ear, “Please guard your heart.”
Zoey pulled back. “Of course, Mom. Don’t worry about me.” Jonathan hovered by them as Zoey said her goodbyes. Rachel signaled to him to come closer and kissed him on the cheek.
“If you hurt her again, you’ll wish you never met me,” Rachel threatened. Zoey smiled weakly at him, and he nodded once, his face serious.
Zoey and Jonathan got to the entrance to the ballroom and looked back on the disbanding wedding.
“You look nervous,” Jonathan said.
“Why would I be nervous?”
“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. I’m happy just to spend time with you.”
That, right there, made her want to rip Jonathan’s clothes off as soon as the vacation rental’s door was closed and bolted shut. Maybe even barricaded.
18
Jonathan and Zoey made a quick stop at the grocery store on the way back to the rental. They ran through the aisles, searching for the condoms, laughing as they traveled down wrong aisle after wrong aisle. After examining the different options, Zoey picked a box, and they walked through the checkout line together.
She slammed it down on the conveyor belt for an older clerk.
“Did you find everything okay today?” the clerk asked.
“Oh yeah. Found it,” Zoey said, pointing at the box of condoms.
“Do you need a bag?” he asked, holding it up. Jonathan primed his card, ready to pay.
“No,” Zoey said. “We want everyone to know we’re about to have sex!”
She looked over, and Jonathan’s head hung low, shaking back and forth.
Zoey skipped to the car as she waved the box over her head.
The car buzzed with excitement of the night to come. Jonathan held Zoey’s hand over the console, rubbing her hand with his thumb. Zoey felt at peace for the first time in a long while—well before the teaching credential program—with the box of condoms in her lap. The effortless connection with Jonathan quieted the monkey-brain thoughts.
Jonathan pulled into the driveway. The house stood dark and empty, ready for them to breathe life into it. Zoey flicked on the light, and Jonathan dropped their stuff, including Zoey’s heels and compact purse. The key clattered on the kitchen island, and they were finally, blissfully alone.
This night had a distinct, old-fashioned wedding night vibe to it, of the virgin bride and groom saving themselves for marriage under the watchful eye of the town. Zoey half-expected a horde of people to show up with pots and pans, clanging them together in a chivaree.
Zoey kicked off her wedding flip flops and unclasped the necklace she wore with her bridesmaid dress. She remembered the first time they’d had sex back when they were teenagers. That night was similar—a lazy hot summer night and the house empty except for all the raging hormones.
Zoey excused herself to de-wedding. She took a washcloth to her face, diligently taking off all the makeup and the statement lip. She scrubbed her feet awkwardly, almost tumbling over three separate times.
She took a deep breath, looked herself in the mirror, and gave herself a silent pep talk.
Zoey emerged to find Jonathan already tieless with his shirt untucked, his feet bare. The top few buttons were undone, showing lines of muscle. She felt her core grow warm with his presence, and her breath caught in her throat. She inched closer, and he looked up with a grin.
“Oh good, the lipstick is gone,” Jonathan said, lacing his fingers through Zoey’s hair at her scalp. He tugged her braid back gently, revealing her neck. He pressed his lips to her throat, trailing kisses down to her collar bone. He reached his hands around the zipper of her dress, slowly pulling it down. Every moment was delicious and slow. Zoey felt the heat build throughout as one hand cupped her backside and the other reached the end of the zipper. Her insides already clenched and no one was even naked yet.
Jonathan pulled the dress down so Zoey could step out of it. She stood in her strapless bra and barely there lace panties as he looked her up and down, letting his eyes graze her, study her every inch. “Damn, Zoey, you are so beautiful.”