I opened my eyes slowly and stared at the white ceiling as the morning rays poured through the sheer pale green curtains.
I could hear the hum of crashing waves hitting the shoreline mixed with seagulls squawking. I sat up and yawned before climbing out of bed.
I walked out to the balcony and inhaled the morning breeze. "I could get used to this life."
"Daisy, get your ass back here!"
That was Amy's voice, and it sounded like she was fed up with Daisy and her shenanigans. It was faint, but I could hear footsteps running around downstairs.
I made my way downstairs after freshening up. Today I decided to wear a light sundress that swayed gently around my knees. My hair fell loosely down my back, moving softly with the ocean breeze.
I walked into the kitchen and filled the kettle with water before turning it on.
"Morning Sophie."
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Amy entering the kitchen, grumbling under her breath.
"Is everything okay?" I asked, turning to face her as the kettle hummed in the background.
Amy sat down at the kitchen table and sighed. "Daisy and Isabelle are going to be the death of me."
I chuckled.
"They mean well."
The kettle clicked off, the soft bubbling sound fading into silence. I poured instant coffee, sugar, and cream into a white mug before adding hot water, stirring it until everything combined.
I took a sip. "Perfect."
I walked over to the table with my coffee in hand and sat down opposite Amy.
"Cheer up, Amy. We have a fun day planned for you."
Amy exhaled.
After I finished my coffee, Amy and I walked down the wooden stairs toward the beach and spotted Daisy and Isabelle lying on their stomachs, sunbathing.
"Let's go rent a boat," I said cheerfully.
Daisy and Isabelle got up, dusted off their towels, and tossed them onto the grass that stopped right where the sand began.
We walked down the beach chatting and laughing while enjoying the morning sun. My eyes lit up when I spotted the boat rental site.
"Come on guys," I said, running in that direction.
They chased after me.
The shopkeeper, an older man with a kind smile, greeted us. "Good morning ladies."
"Good morning," I said, shaking his hand. "We are looking to rent a boat."
"Doing a little sightseeing?"
I nodded.
We followed him toward the shoreline where numerous boats were lined up in an orderly fashion, swaying slowly with the waves.
We looked at the boats one by one. When we reached the last one in the fleet, our eyes glistened with excitement.
"We will take this one!" we said in unison.
The shopkeeper laughed.
I followed him into his shop while Amy and the girls prepped the boat.
"How much will it be for the day?" I asked.
"Two hundred and fifty dollars for the day," he said, getting behind the counter near the till. "And a five hundred dollar damage deposit."
I took out Harley's black card and swiped the pinpad machine.
You are all wondering why I still have this card, and the truth is… he didn't want it back.
I tried giving it to him. I even put it in his room, and each time it would end up back in mine.
That card belongs to you. Use it as you see fit.
That was what he said when I caught him returning it.
"Here is your receipt," the shopkeeper said.
I took the receipt and placed it in my dress pocket along with the black card.
After bidding the shopkeeper goodbye, I made my way toward the boat.
Daisy and Isabelle were sitting in the back seat, engrossed in conversation while Amy was on her phone.
I walked out to the edge of the wharf.
"Guys… I've never operated a boat before."
Amy put her phone away and looked at me. "Hop in. We will figure it out along the way."
I groaned before climbing into the boat. I felt sick to my stomach when the boat rocked back and forth before stabilizing.
I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled before starting the engine.
I backed away slowly from the wharf, turned right, and drove off.
Amy smiled. "See? I knew you could do it."
I smiled back at her.
The ocean breeze picked up drastically as we drove farther and farther away from the wharf, messing up our hair.
Once we were at a safe distance from the other speedboats, I dropped the anchor slowly into the water.
"Let's go swimming!" Daisy said, jumping into the ocean and splashing us in the process.
Isabelle leaned slightly and touched the water. "I think I will pass. Too cold."
"Okay," Amy said before joining Daisy.
They swam around while I took off my sundress and placed it neatly on my seat, revealing my black lace two-piece bikini.
"Wow," Isabelle said, staring at me. "You look sexy, girl."
"Thank you," I said as my cheeks burned.
I plugged my nose and jumped into the ocean.
The cool water wrapped around my body as I resurfaced, pushing my wet hair away from my face. The ocean stretched endlessly around us, sunlight glittering across the surface like thousands of tiny diamonds.
Amy swam toward me, laughing.
"It's perfect!"
Daisy suddenly dove underwater beside us, disappearing for a moment before popping back up dramatically.
She gasped for air. "Okay… that was colder than expected."
Amy splashed water at her. "You're the one who wanted to swim."
Daisy wiped the water from her eyes and immediately splashed Amy back. "And I regret nothing."
I shook my head, trying to avoid the waves they were creating. "You two are acting like children."
Daisy turned toward me with a mischievous grin.
"Oh? And you're not?"
Before I could respond, she scooped up a handful of water and threw it at me.
"Agh!" I shouted, shielding my face as the splash hit my shoulder.
Amy burst out laughing.
"Traitor!" I said, splashing both of them in return.
Soon the three of us were laughing and splashing each other like teenagers, the sound echoing across the open water.
From the boat, Isabelle watched us with an amused expression, her arms resting on the side.
"You three realize you look ridiculous, right?" she called out.
Daisy floated on her back, spreading her arms across the water.
"You're just jealous because you're missing out."
"I'm warm and dry," Isabelle replied calmly. "I'm exactly where I want to be."
Amy swam in a slow circle around us, letting the gentle waves carry her.
"This is amazing," she said, smiling up at the sky. "I can't believe we're actually here."
The sunlight warmed my shoulders as I floated beside her.
For a moment, none of us spoke. The ocean moved gently around us while the boat rocked softly nearby.
Daisy suddenly flipped back upright.
"Group photo!" she announced.
Isabelle groaned. "You're in the water."
"And?" Daisy said.
She swam closer to the boat and reached up toward Isabelle. "Hold my phone."
Isabelle sighed dramatically but took it anyway. "You're unbelievable," she muttered.
Daisy wrapped one arm around Amy's shoulders and pulled me closer with the other.
"Alright!" she shouted. "Make sure we look good!"
Amy laughed. "We're literally floating in the ocean."
"Exactly," Daisy said proudly. "Natural beauty."
Isabelle held the phone up and snapped the picture.
"Done," she said.
Daisy grinned. "Perfect. This one is going straight to my memories folder."
Amy leaned back in the water again, letting the waves carry her gently.
"Best bachelorette trip ever," she said.
I smiled, floating beside her as the ocean breeze brushed across the surface of the water.
Amy floated beside me, staring up at the sky.
And for a moment, surrounded by sunshine, laughter, and endless blue ocean, everything felt exactly the way it should be.
"In a few days I'm going to be someone's wife," she said quietly.