Next day- 11:00 pm
"The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire", Elisha sings and giggles standing on top of the table. The rest of the women laugh, obviously all of them are drunk except Mrs. Gunner and Stephanie's mother.
"All the single ladies, all the single dudes", Stephanie slurs, filling her glass with vodka and orange juice.
She clings her glass against Annalise's and they both drink together.
"Hello ladies, who missed me?" A familiar woman enters the room with a big smile on her face.
"Omg, you're here", Stephanie stumbles toward her.
"Of course, I wouldn't miss the biggest day of your life", they hug.
"Is that?" Annelise frowns looking at Mrs. Gunner.
"Yes."
"Sh*t", Elisha mutters, "well isn't this going to be a day to remember tomorrow."
---
15 hours ago....
"So you going to party tonight?" Kacy asks Elisha.
"Yeah, tomorrow is the wedding," Elisha nods.
"Who's your date though? You can't go solo", she frowns.
"I-," Elisha phone rings, she answers,"yes?"
"Hey Elisha, got a date for tomorrow?"
"No."
"Cool, I'll be your date. What color is your dress?" He asks.
"Um..burgundy."
"Good, see you tomorrow", he hangs up.
Kacy grins,"so?"
"I got a date for the wedding", Elisha smirks.
"Looked like I spoke to soon then."
They both chuckle and enter the cafe.
__
"Hey, there's a cute guy checking you out", Elisha elbows Kacy when they are on their break.
Kacy glances over to where the guy is sitting by the window, sipping on his coffee.
"He is cute though", she smiles, the guy is her age had honey blonde hair and tries to don't make it obvious that he is staring at Kacy.
"Go talk to him", Elisha pushes her towards the table, she turns and glares at her, but continues towards the guy.
"Hey I'm Kacy, can I get you anything?" Kacy flashes him her one million dollar smile.
"Sure, a slice of cake and a date with you", the guy winks.
Elisha goes back behind the counter where Evan is making coffee for a customer.
"Hey, excited for the wedding tomorrow?" He questions.
"Of course, its been so long since I attended one", she nods.
"Got any plans this weekend?"
"Nope, if Brendan is busy with his new girlfriend I'll be bored at the house."
"Will you like to hang out on Saturday evening? It's not a date", Evan says quickly.
"I know it's not", Elisha laughs,"sure I would love to, can Kacy come as well?"
"Yeah, the more the merrier", he nods.
"Cool."
Zack texts Elisha a few minutes later.
Zack: Hey miss you, a few more weeks to go and I'm back home
Elisha: Miss you too, how you going?
Zack: Good for now, tomorrow I'm leaving for the Caribbean cruise for two weeks
Elisha: Nice so when will you back? Before or after Kacy leaves?
Zack: Might be some days before, I already visited Nepal. Plus Kacy wants us to spend a day at our parents' house
Elisha: Good I miss you too much, tomorrow is the wedding
Zack: Who's your date? Evan?
Elisha: *smirks* maybe
Zack: So it is
Elisha: No comment, where are you now?
Zack: Miami, Florida. Its very hot here
Elisha: So you're 1 hour in front of me?
Zack: Yep, how's Kacy? She's not replying to any of my messages
Elisha: Busy flirting with this guy who was checking her out :D
Zack: Send me a picture of him
Elisha: *sends photo* they look cute together
Zack: Just tell her to call me after she finish work later
Elisha: I will
Kacy comes back with a grin on her face and a paper,"I got a date tomorrow night."
"Congrats, also Zack said to call him later", Elisha adds.
She groans,"thanks for informing him about what I was doing."
"Your welcome", Elisha smiles.
"Let's get back to work guys", Evan suggests.
---
Brendan is sitting in his study room typing on his laptop when Draven enters with Zane,"any news yet?" Brendan looks up.
"Yes, Damon was arrested an hour ago. He was charged with multiply treason and murder", Zane informs him.
"Good, so that means Elisha is safe?" He grins.
"Yes I think so for now. Wouldn't Jett's father want revenge though for what Damon did?" Draven frowns.
Brendan strokes his chin,"hmm, you're right but if he wanted revenge he would have kill Damon himself by now ", he points out,"just for caution, keep an eye on him for the time being."
"And Ace?" Zane adds.
"No threat to us even if he injured you Draven, he has a family now and Lisha will hate us if we do anything to him or their mother", Brendan explains.
"Ready for that wedding tomorrow?" Zane sits down on the chair in front of his desk as Draven leans against the wall.
"Of course, I can't believe Stephanie getting married before me", he laughs.
"I know right. I thought Layla and you would have tie the knot first", Zane states.
"Maybe she wasn't the right one for me", Brendan admits.
"And Annelise is?" Draven chuckles,"she seems worst than Layla in my perspective. "
"Whatever man, I like Anne", he waves him off.
"Be careful though, I don't trust her just yet", Zane warns.
"You don't trust anyone", Brendan laughs.
"I have a good reason."
***
"What time is the party?" Tony asks Elisha when she answers his Skype video call.
"It starts at 10 pm at the hotel we'll all be getting ready at tomorrow", she answers as she puts her hair into a ponytail.
"Who's your date tomorrow?"
"Its a surprise", she smirks,"not even Kacy knows."
"Interesting, anyway tonight Aaron, his roommate and his sisters are hitting a club", he informs her.
"You going as well?" Elisha asks.
"Nope, IÂ got an early meeting tomorrow morning. I can't deal with hangovers when I have meetings the next day", he shakes his head.
"Had an experience from that, huh?"
"Yes, never me again. Also, first meeting with your boss will be before Halloween just giving you a head's up", he adds.
"She's flying over?"
"Yes, I think she wants to personal check on how the company is doing and observe your progress. Maybe stay a few days before flying over to Minnesota", he explains.
"When will you come to Illinois?"
"Soon, for a weekend when you get that new apartment", Tony winks.
"200 bucks a night", Elisha smirks.
"Come on I'm your friend, I'm suppose to be crashing at your place for free", he pouts.
"Nope, I will have bills to pay and grocery to buy for your greedy as*."
"I am not greedy, how dare you", he fake gasps.
"Whatever Tony", she rolls her eyes and Kacy comes and sits next to her.
"Who's the hottie? New boyfriend?" She winks at Tony.
"Kacy this is my friend Tony, Tony my new friend's sister, my co worker and temporary housemate", Elisha introduces them to each other.
"Oh so this is your friend you spoke so much about?" Kacy nods.
"Nice to finally meet you Kacy", Tony says.
"Likewise, anyway I'm going to go over at my friend's place now", Kacy states and whispers to Elisha,"I'm going to break things off with him since I'm going on a date tomorrow night."
After she leaves, Elisha checks the time, 8: 30 pm.
"I better go pack my stuff for tomorrow, I'm suppose to be at Stephanie's house in less than an hour", she tells Tony.
"Plus shower, you smell", he teases covering his nose.
"I smell way better than you, I'll have you know."
"Nah", he laughs as she glares at him.
"Whatever", she flips him off,"you should still go out with your friends though, you don't have to drink or anything."
"I know myself, I will drink if something is bothering me."
"Like what?"
"Like how Lola changed her hair color and go back to her natural hair color for instance. Plus, how hot she's looking with it", he adds blushing slightly.
"Aw", Elisha coos,"someone has a crush."
"Its wrong, she's Aaron's younger sister that's going against the bro code. Also, I doubt she feels the same way", he shrugs.
"You can always observe how she acts around you", she points out,"if she total ignores you and play the 'hard to get' card."
"I have seen a drunk Lola before and she's openly flirty to guys except to me and her brother, even his roommate she flirts with."
"Hmm, maybe she doesn't feel the same way after all or just think its weird to have a crush on your brother's best friend", Elisha says.
"So it's okay to have a crush or flirt with your brother's roommate/ best friend, but its not okay to do it to his best friend who doesn't even be around them often?"
"Well when you put it that way then it sound wrong", Elisha frowns,"anyway got to go get ready now. Talk tomorrow before I head to the wedding", she ends the call.
***
"I'm getting married tomorrow", Stephanie grins as they are in the lobby of the hotel which her father owns.
"I know sweetie, you're so grown up", her mother hugs her.
"My little shining star", Stephanie's father approaches them, he hugs his daughter then kisses his wife.
"Dad I'm too old for that name", Stephanie says.
"Not to me, you'll always be my little shining star. Anyway I got to go now, have some last minute errands since I am taking the day off tomorrow", he says and kisses her forehead.
"When will Maria be here?" She turns to her mother. Maria is her older sister well older half sister, they have the same mother.
Maria is Stephanie's Maid of Honor.
"She'll be here tomorrow morning, her flight got delayed", Stephanie's mother explains.
"She better don't be late, she's my hair stylish and making sure things run smoothly. Alright girls let's go up to the suite we'll be staying in", she turns to her bridal shower guests.
They all got into the elevator and Stephanie pushes a button then swipes her key card.
"This is going to be epic", Annelise smiles.
"Get ready to be drunk out of your mind ladies", the elevator doors open revealing a large room with several doors.
"Pick a room, two persons per room", Stephanie explains.
"Hey, do you want to be roommates?" A dark hair woman approaches Elisha, she's one of Stephanie's cousins.
"Sure, I'm Elisha."
"Sarah, let's take this one", the woman points to a door on the right.
Elisha opens the door and admires the huge room, it have two beds on opposite sides of the room and a double door leading outside to where the balcony is.
"Wow, I have been in a suite before, but never this nice", Sarah states.
"I'm taking the bed on the right", Elisha says and place her bag on it. She opens the closet and hangs up her dress.
"Nice dress, ours are arriving tomorrow and I got to say aunty got some great taste", Sarah says.
"Oh right, you're a bridesmaid", she nods.
"Let's get this party started!"Â Elisha hears Stephanie cheers and music comes on 'Yeah' by Usher.
Sarah begins to shake her hips and chip out the room, Elisha laughs and goes out after.
One hour later
"The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire", Elisha sings and giggles standing on top of the table. The rest of the women laugh, obviously all of them are drunk except Mrs. Gunner and Stephanie's mother.
"All the single ladies, all the single dudes", Stephanie slurs, filling her glass with vodka and orange juice. She clings her glass against Annalise's and they both drink together.
"Hello ladies, who missed me?" A familiar woman enters the room with a big smile on her face.
"Omg, you're here", Stephanie stumbles toward her.
"Of course, I wouldn't miss the biggest day of your life", they hug.
"Is that?" Annelise frowns looking at Mrs. Gunner.
"Yes."
"Sh*t", Elisha mutters,"well isn't this going to be a day to remember tomorrow."
Annelise remains quiet, Layla looks different and different in a good way too; her skin is tanned and her hair is shoulder length with curly ends. She's wearing a fitted dark blue dress which ends mid thighs, showing off her legs and curvy body.
"No doubt, maybe I should give Brendan a head's up?" Annelise states.
"No, he doesn't need more stress than it is", Mrs. Gunner intervenes,"tomorrow he will see her, but he's over her so don't worry Annelise."
"Yeah, he's dating you. They broke up over a year now", Elisha adds.
"I'm not feeling so well, I think I'm going to go sleep now", Annelise says.
"Oh my, Annelise is that you?!" Layla shrieks coming over to them,"you look good girl, Elisha you're back too. "
Annelise gives her a fake smile,"I see some things don't change, you're still the noisy girl from high school I knew."
"The only thing that change is me raising a kid on my own", she chuckles, but Elisha sees a flash of hurt in her eyes.
"Really? What happened to the father?" Mrs. Gunner asks curiously.
"Oh hey Mrs. Gunner, how are you? How's Brendan?"
"Fine, now my question."
"We didn't work out, broke up back in January", she shrugs.
"Oh."
"Its cool, I got a job so I can take care of myself and my baby. You'll see her tomorrow at the wedding, she's at my parent's house", Layla explains.
"Well I am going now", Annelise excuses herself and leaves.
Elisha goes for more shots, how would Brendan react when he sees his ex girlfriend and her baby?
_________________
Happy New Year, 2021.
What do you think will happen when Brendan sees Layla?
Will he ignore her or talk to her?
How will Annelise handle this situation?