CHARLEE

“Okay, I’ll be the first one to admit that the Blue Man Group wasn’t nearly as lame as I thought it would be,” I say.

“It was awesome!” Devyn says.

“No...Thunder Down Under would’ve been awesome,” Rainey counters, referring to Vegas’s all-male review featuring their finest oiled-up Aussies. “The blue guys were entertaining though.”

“Thunder Down Under!” I shout, using my best Margot Robbie impression.

Devyn scrunches her nose. “I don’t know...I can’t imagine male strippers being sexy. All those dangly parts swinging around seems like it would just be awkward.”

Rainey’s lip twitches as she pulls Devyn into a side hug. “Oh, my sweet, innocent grasshopper. One of these days we’ll dirty you up.”

Devyn blushes. “I’m not that innocent. Riley and I do lots of dirty things.”

I laugh. “Oh yeah? Like what?”

Her blush deepens. “I can’t talk about that!”

“Who are we going to tell?” I challenge. “It’s just between us girls.”

“But it’s private,” Devyn insists.

Now Rainey laughs. “I think we should play Bachelorette 20 Questions.”

“What’s that?” our bachelorette asks.

“It’s a game where we get to ask twenty questions that you have to answer, no matter how embarrassing,” Rainey explains. “You can pass on five of them but if you do, you have to take a shot. Considering you already have a heavy buzz, I’d think twice about skipping any. You wouldn’t let me decorate you with plastic penises, so you should at least give us this.”

Devyn furrows her brows. “I don’t know...”

“Oh c’mon, it’ll be fun,” I promise.

She blows out a breath. “I’m sure I’ll regret this, but fine. Ask away.”

Rainey rubs her hands together with an evil grin. “Okay, I’ll take it easy on you for the first one. How old were you when you lost your virginity?”

Devyn glares at her. “You already know the answer to that.”

Rainey laughs. “Yeah, but Charlee doesn’t.”

Devyn huffs. “Twenty-two.”

I choke on the sip I was taking. “Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously,” Devyn answers. “Why is that such a big deal? How old were you?”

“Sixteen,” I say.

“Seventeen,” Rainey answers at the same time.

“There’s nothing wrong with waiting,” I assure her, “but just out of curiosity, why did you wait so long? I’m sure it wasn’t for lack of opportunity.”

She smiles. “I wanted it to be with someone special and that someone was Riley. I love the fact that he was my first and even though there was a break in between, he’ll be my last.”

I place my open palm against my chest. “Okay, that’s actually really sweet.”

Rainey sips her club soda. “No detours to Mushville right now. Let’s get back on track. Charlee, you want to take the reins?”

“Sure.” I tap my lips in thought. “How many people have you slept with?”

“Two,” Devyn replies. “I dated a man named Jackson for a couple years. What’s your number, Charlee?”

I hold my hands up. “I’m not the one on the chopping block here, remember?”

She rolls her eyes. “Well, consider it me trying to get to know my new friend better.”

“Fine,” I concede. “More than two.”

She frowns. “That’s cheating!”

I shrug. “It was still an answer.”

Rainey laughs. “Next question. What’s your favorite position?”

Now Devyn’s entire face and neck are red. This girl is so damn cute with how easily flustered she gets. “If I answer that, you have to share, too.”

“Doggy,” Rainey replies flippantly. “Now you.”

“Really?” Devyn asks incredulously.

Rainey grins. “It’s a good angle.”

“Not doggy-style.” Devyn quips, as if she’s pulled one over on us.

I raise my eyebrows. “So it’s going to be like that, huh? Here’s one for you: Have you ever had anal?”

“No way! Exit only!” Devyn’s eyes widen comically when Rainey and I remain silent. “Wait a minute...you guys have?”

“It’s fun every once in a while,” Rainey offers with a shrug.

“Charlee?” Devyn squeaks.

I nod toward Rainey. “What she said.”

Devyn slams her hand on the table. “Lorraine, why didn’t I know about this before now?”

Rainey laughs. “Oh honey, I love you, but it’s not like anal is something that would ever get brought up between us before now. And besides, it’s a recent development. Brody’s the only man I’ve let shove it up my ass.”

I make a barfing gesture. “I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Devyn laughs. “Ha! Not so fun now, is it, Charlotte?”

“Hey, Devyn, have I mentioned how badly I want to ride your brother off into the sunset?”

“First of all...ick,” she says. “But secondly, I think you two would actually make a really cute couple.”

Rainey laughs. “Yeah, if Brody didn’t kill him first.”

Okay, I know the point of this game was to embarrass Devyn, but now that we’re on the subject, I’m going to take advantage of it. I’ll admit; I was pretty pissed a few months ago when Drew so casually threw me away after the hottest kiss of my life. But when I had a chance to cool down and really pay attention to how solid his friendship with my brother is, I get it. I still think they’re both being stupid, but I understand why he’s being so cautious.

I clear my throat. “Do you really think Brody would be that pissed? I mean, surely he’s gotten over it by now.”

Rainey gives me an are you stupid? look. “Uh...were you there when he caught you two making out?”

“What?” Devyn slams her hand down even more forcefully, almost making my glass topple over. “When did this happen? And why didn’t I know about that either?”

“Oops,” Rainey says apologetically.

The waitress is back with our refills so I wait until she leaves before replying. “At your engagement party. Drew and I got to talking and talking led to kissing and kissing led to a little rubbing which is right around the time when Brody walked in on the whole thing.”

Devyn gasps. “Holy crap! So Brody freaked out, huh?”

“Big time,” I mutter.

“What did Drew say?” Devyn leans forward, really interested in my reply.

“In a nutshell, that it was a mistake and that it would never happen again.” I try masking my frustration but I don’t think I’m doing a great job.

“Ouch.” Devyn grimaces.

“Pretty much,” I agree. “It is shitty though because we obviously have chemistry and I really do like spending time with him. He makes me laugh and he’s a genuinely good guy. Those aren’t so easy to find these days.”

Devyn smiles fondly. “He’s the best.”

Rainey makes a sour face and presses a hand over her sternum. “Oh, dear God, that was nasty.”

Devyn’s eyes fly to Rainey’s. “You okay?”

“Yep.” Rainey downs the rest of her drink in one gulp. “I just threw up in my mouth a little.”

I wince. “Yuck. Is the nausea back again?”

“Yeah.” She nods. “I should probably switch to ginger ale.”

I narrow my eyes on her glass of club soda—the same thing she’s been ordering all day. I’m not saying Rainey’s a lush or anything, but I’ve seen her with a glass of wine or a beer on quite a few occasions. Plus, who the hell goes to Vegas and doesn’t drink? Unless...

I gasp as it hits me. “Holy shit! You’re preggers!”

Rainey’s jaw falls slack at the same time Devyn’s eyes widen.

“Uh...” the pregnant lady stammers. “What makes you say that?”

“Uh...because I’m not a dumbass,” I retort. “The crackers, the nausea, the ginger ale, the not drinking alcohol while you’re in Vegas. C’mon, Rainey, give me a little credit.” I raise my eyes to Devyn. “That’s what this morning was about, right? The something that came up?”

Devyn eyes her friend nervously. “Uh...”

Rainey rolls her eyes. “Don’t worry, Dev, I’ve got this. Yes, Charlee, I’m pregnant. But I just found out this morning. I realized my period was late right before I laid down to take a nap. I called Devyn and she offered to run to the drug store to buy a test. I’m only a few days late so normally I wouldn’t think anything of it, but besides the puking and never-ending exhaustion, my boobs have been really sore and I’m pretty sure they’re bigger considering how tight my bra feels. I’m an OB nurse, for Christ’s sake. I’m surprised I didn’t put it together before now.”

I clap my hands in excitement. “Oh my God, I’m going to be an auntie! Does Brody know?”

“Not yet. I didn’t want to take his attention from Riley this weekend. I was planning on telling him when we get home.”

“Fuck that noise,” I scoff. “You need to tell him now, Rainey. He’s going to be so excited! Have you guys been trying? Wait...are you excited? This is a good thing, right?”

She smiles. “It’s a very good thing. We wanted to start a family sometime in the next few years, but no, we weren’t trying. I’m on the pill...or I was before today, anyway. When that little plus sign showed up, I racked my brain trying to figure out how this happened because I take my pill at the same time every day. Religiously. But then it clicked. Do you remember how sick I was last month?”

I nod in reply.

“I wound up taking a round of Amoxicillin and antibiotics have a nasty habit of lessening the effectiveness of birth control. Honestly, we knew there was a risk, but didn’t bother buying condoms...and well, now we have a baby on the way.”

I feel my eyes filling with happy tears. I know how badly she’s been wanting a child and considering how head-over-heels in love my brother is with her, I know that whatever she wants, he’d want. He’s going to be so fucking stoked and I don’t think she should wait another second to tell him.

“Rainey, find out where they are right now and go to him,” I insist.

She looks at Devyn. “This is Devyn’s bachelorette weekend. I don’t want to ruin it.”

“Honey, I’ve been telling you all day to say something to him. This is way more important.” Devyn’s grin stretches across her face. “Besides, this may be the booze talking, but all this talk about baby making is making me want to practice making another one with Rye. Like, now.” She blushes. “And maybe while we’re at it, see what all the fuss is about with the butt stuff.”

Rainey and I both belt out a shocked laugh. Ah, good ol’ reliable alcohol.

Looking to lower your inhibitions? Drink me! Satisfaction guaranteed.

Rainey pulls out her phone and starts moving her thumbs along the screen. She waits for a moment until it vibrates with an incoming message. “They’re at the hotel next to ours. He said he can be back in our room in twenty minutes, which is perfect because that’s about how long it would take me to get there.”

Devyn’s on her phone too. “Riley and Drew are heading back with him. Charlee, what do you think about Riley and I making ourselves scarce?” She winks. “It would give you a chance to spend some alone time with my brother while Brody is otherwise occupied.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Are you trying to play matchmaker, Devyn?”

“Maybe,” she shrugs. “Or maybe you just gamble for a few hours and then go back to your rooms for the night. It’s your call.”

I down the rest of my vodka tonic. Why the hell not? If there’s anything worth exploring with Drew, what better way to find out than a night out in Vegas?

“All right, go get freaky with your fiancé. I’ll see what I can do about the Drew situation.”

“Awesome!” She smiles. “I’m texting him right now telling him to meet you here.”

“I guess I’ll just order another drink and wait then.”

Devyn and Rainey are already standing up and grabbing their purses. Before she leaves, Devyn leans over to give me a little hug. “Good luck.”

I’m not sure luck will help me find a loophole in this whole Bro Code thing Drew seems to live by, but I guess I’m about to find out.