Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(157)

The two-week countdown to the wedding has begun and Maggie is outwardly excited and nervous beyond her usual habit from the years I’ve known her. She’s starting to sweat over all of the little details. Amelia and I are both having to continually remind Maggie to breathe and relax. Good thing this weekend is the joint bachelor-bachelorette party weekend. With what Joe and I have planned, Maggie and Henry should be ready for the big day.

Joe arrived back in California early this morning. I have mixed emotions, but the predominant feeling is elation and relief. Four days and counting until we whisk our friends away for, well what I hope is, an enjoyable weekend before their wedding. No one other than Joe and I know where we are headed.

After some really busy and hectic days, I eagerly greet my friends as we board Joe’s private jet, or at least I think it’s Joe’s, to embark on the bachelor-bachelorette party weekend. The plane is much bigger than the last one we used for Hawaii. I guess when you’re making billions and most likely trillions, having two planes is kind of like having two or three cars. Jimmy, Allen, Jared, Nathan, Henry, Maggie, Amy, Eric, Kim, Peter, Joe, Sadie and myself along with Henry’s other two groomsmen, Lee and Richard climb aboard the massive plane.

Maggie squeals with excitement when we land in Sedona, Arizona. She, Jared and I took a road trip here a few years back and I know she’s been dying to visit again. Joe and I knew that Henry and Maggie would need some time to relax and decompress before the wedding, so we figured Sedona was the best place to go. Two limos are waiting at the airport for our arrival and we all pile in to head to our accommodations.

Joe and I booked L’Auberge de Sedona for the extended weekend. We have an early check-in for today, Friday and we don’t check out until Monday morning. Maggie and Henry, Amy and Eric, and Kim and Peter are booked in the Spa Suite Cottages as the rest of us are rooming in our own Garden Cottages.

After we all check in, we’re picked up for the first of two scheduled group adventures. Joe and I booked a private Grand Canyon tour that will show us Oak Creek Canyon, Ponderosa Pine Forest, lush meadows and then on to the awe inspiring Grand Canyon before we head to the El Tovar Lodge along the South Rim of the Canyon for lunch.


Once our bellies are full, we head back to L’Auberge for individual journeys to begin. Maggie and Henry opt to have some of the spa packages in their room that Joe and I purchased in advanced for them. I call the lobby to make sure some champagne and strawberries are delivered as well. Kim and Peter and Amy and Eric elect to do the same thing. I decide to go for a hike, wanting to get Sadie outdoors since she was cooped up a little between the plane and then while we were gone for a few hours on the tour. Jared, Nathan, Jimmy, Allen, Joe, Lee and Richard all tag along.

The seven of us plus Sadie, load into two of the three Teslas Joe and I rented and head over to The Hike House for our first stop. We schedule a two-hour hike, grab some extra gear and food and drive over to Red Rock. Red Rock is one of my favorite places since the last time I was here with Maggie and Jared. There’s an energy vortex there that is peaceful and relaxing and I plan on putting in some good intentions for the wedding to go smoothly.

Joe busts on Jimmy and Allen a few times when they whine about our pace or complain about being tired and needing a break. Lee and Richard resume their blatant hitting on me from this morning. There’s no way Jared can save me since they know that he’s with Nathan, so I figured, why not have a little fun anyway and flirt back.

“Looks like you’ve got two new admirers,” Jared teases as I gulp some water.

“I’m not minding the attention,” I admit.

“Obviously,” Nathan jabs.

Shrugging my shoulders, I retort, “What? Like a girl can’t have a little fun flirting back?”

“Not at all,” Jared assures.

“I think Joe’s feeling a little left out, though,” Nathan says, loud enough for Joe to overhear.

“Left out about what?” Joe searches.

“The flirting Emma’s doing with Lee and Richard, but not with you,” Nathan states, deliberately seeking to get a response from both of us.

Lee and Richard seem pleased. Joe just chuckles and shakes his head.

Wanting to play a little, I goad him. “Aww, Joe . . . are you feeling left out?” I slowly take a few steps towards him before I lunge to spar with him on the path.

“Knock it off you two,” scolds Nathan.

“You encouraged it,” Jared comments.

“They can go for as long as they like,” Jimmy adds. “I don’t mind the extended break.”

“I’ve never seen a man be able to keep up with you like that, Emma,” remarks Jared.

“I’m just toying with him,” I reply with a wicked grin before I move in with another move landing me on Joe’s back.

“Or is he toying with you?” Nathan questions.

“A little of both,” Joe baits.

After a few minutes, Nathan announces, “Okay. Okay. Break it up you two.”

“Like I said, you started it, babe,” Jared enforces.

“And, now I’m regretting it,” Nathan states. “Damn straight people and their weird ways of flirting.”

Releasing Joe, I swerve and set my target on Nathan.

“Ahhhh,” Nathan yells, ducking behind Jared.

Jared steps to the side, but Nathan quickly follows him to block me.