After we land, and our collective security guys have cleared the perimeter, we are ushered discreetly into the waiting white hummer limo and head to the incredible Gaylord Opryland resort. When we approach the impressive structure all of us agree that it is a beautiful building. I have reserved a few amazing adjoining suites with a view of the gorgeous atrium for us girls and a third adjoining suite for all our collective security detail. It seems excessive, I know, but with Mason Kingsley out for all of our necks, Mika isn’t taking any risks. And the only way to get him to agree to this trip was beefed up security. If I am totally honest, half of the time I forget that they are even there anymore. So, I readily agreed. The anal-retentive tendencies in me have contributed to every tiny detail of this trip and I have a full fun-filled agenda. Starting with an amazing spa day I have planned for us. The hotel has amazing amenities, including a top of the line spa. I booked the entire facility out for the six of us this afternoon. It certainly wasn’t cheap, but since the six of us are towing around a small army of bodyguards, it made sense. Even though I still feel “guilt” every time I spend any of the money I inherited, I didn’t even hesitate to spend that money to make Mikaela’s bachelorette party unforgettable. The checking in process is smooth, and we get escorted to our suite within minutes. (I am still getting used to this VIP treatment!)
“Good lord, it’s easy to get lost in this place, it’s enormous,” Rae says, as she links her arm with mine as we step off the elevator.
I look down the long corridor that seems to be never-ending and nod in agreement. We follow the hotel staff and our security as they lead the way.
“Good lord, all I am missing right now is a tricycle.” Jill mumbles.
“Tired already? Do we need to get you a little scooter?” Rae teases.
“Tired? Try creeped out! Shit, I am getting some serious redrum vibes from this hallway.” Jill replies.
We all turn to her with questioning looks on our faces.
“Red what now?” Mackenzie asks.
“Have you people not seen The Shining?” she says with an exasperated look on her face.
“Oh, oh, oh,” Raeva says excitedly. “Heeeeeeeere’s Johnny!”
“Yeah Rae, all you need is an axe,” Jill says rolling her eyes. “I swear though, if I see two creepy little girls asking me to come and play, I am outta here.”
We all burst out laughing, everyone except, of course, Eddie, who is peering down the hallway for anything that might be out of the ordinary. When we arrive at our suites, two of our security detail exit our suites and let us know the rooms are all clear. We all walk in and the first thing I do is open up the dividing door to our rooms. Our luggage has beaten us up here as well and it isn’t long before we are all settled in. As requested, there is a chilled bottle of champagne waiting for us and also a chilled bottle of sparkling grape juice for our pregnant sister-in-law. I pop the cork and fill our glasses.
All the ladies have gathered around as I pour and pass them each a glass of bubbly. I raise my glass.
“I am so happy to have everyone here to celebrate Mik’s last few days as a sin
gle lady! I hope you guys are ready for some good old-fashioned fun and shenanigans! Cheers ladies!”
We clink our glasses and take a sip. The delicious liquid has barely made its way down my throat when there is a knock on the door.
“Come in,” I call out over my shoulder.
The door opens and several staff members walk in with bouquets of flowers. Six of them in fact. One for each of us. It isn’t hard to deduce who sent them. Eric has sent Mikaela some gorgeous wildflowers—her favorites. Mackenzie received stunning sunflowers from Ashton. While Ben has sent Jill an incredible arrangement of lilies. From the look on Hannah’s face, Drew hit it out of the park with the enormous arrangement of white peonies. Raeva’s smirk is almost face breaking as she looks at the beautiful and colorful mixture of freesias. And then there are the exquisite long-stemmed white roses that River sent me. I’d say I can’t believe that he remembered that roses, specifically white ones, are my very favorite flowers, but River remembers everything I have ever told him. Even the tiniest detail, down to the name of the street I grew up on. His eidetic memory is one of the sexiest things about him to me.
“How sweet is this?” Hannah says with a dreamy tone in her voice.
“Our guys know how to knock us off our feet, that’s for sure,” Raeva chimes in.
“That they do,” Mackenzie agrees.
“Okay enough of the guy gushing. We need to go get our Nashville on!” Jill adds.
The alarm I set on my I-watch goes off indicating that it is time for us to go get our spa on.
“And we will,” I tell her. “But first, we are going to get our spa on! You ladies ready for the royal treatment?”
After sweating all our toxins out in the sauna, we all get massages, facials, our nails done and pretty much every other spa treatment imaginable. The spa was amazing, and I am pretty confident that when we all head up to our suites, that we all feel incredibly relaxed and ready for tonight. Which is great, because I have a lot more planned for this evening. It is about dinner time when we get to our suites and I have arranged for dinner to be set up and served in our room. It is buffet style because the next surprise is hair and make-up. Hannah and Mackenzie are up first, while Jill, Raeva, and Mikaela start to chow down. There is quite a selection of comfort food. Everything we need to lay a good foundation in our stomachs for all the alcohol we are going to be consuming tonight. Mac and cheese, sliders, French fries, fried chicken, mashed potatoes and of course a big selection of desserts including of course Mik’s favorite—Lava cake.
“I have a few more tricks up my sleeve,” I announce as I head to the closet where I have stowed some gift boxes.
I hand each of my girls their designated boxes. I watch them open them with great anticipation and a huge smile on my face.
“Oh my god! Cowboy boots!” Mikaela says excitedly.
“Love these!” Jill concurs.
The rest of the girls express their excitement as well, and I can’t deny I am a little relieved they love them.