Isabella sat in Ashley’s kitchen glaring at her friends. “Why are you doing this to us? You know we both hate anything traditional.”
Ashley laughed. “We do this because we care, and both of you need to have a night of fun with your friends.”
Isabella folded her arms across her chest and glared at Ashley from a kitchen chair which had streamers attached. She had told her friends months ago that she did not want a
bachelorette party, but they had decided to ignore her request. Agreeing with poor grace, Isabella sat between Monica and Rachel, who both looked ready to pounce if she tried to make a run for it. Every time she moved, all their eyes would turn and watch every shift in her position to ensure that she wouldn’t get up and walk out, or sprint out.
“Fine.” she sighed. “I’ll go along with this. What are the plans? Surly we aren’t going to just sit here all night.”
The three exchanged a glance before turning back to Isabella.
“We are going out,” Ashley stated matter of factly. “But we are waiting to hear from David to know what they are doing tonight.”
Isabella watched Ashley closely, and realized that it took a lot of effort for Ashley to not roll her eyes in exasperation. Suddenly, Ashley’s phone began ringing and all four girls lunged for the little silver square on the coffee table. Rachel snatched the phone and quickly put it to her ear.
“David, it’s Rachel. What’s the plan?”
There was a pause while David quickly explained their plans. Rachel smiled and tried not to laugh. “Isabella’s being the same way. But we can keep them apart until the wedding. After all, there are six of us and two of them. And their parents are helping as well. Lucas and Lucy are arriving really early tomorrow to ride to the Church with us.”
After another short pause, Rachel snapped the phone shut. “Ok, David gave me a list of bars to steer clear of. Let’s go.”
The girls all jumped up and hurried to the car. Isabella was in the back seat, squeezed between Katherine and Rachel. Apparently, they were assigned guard duty for the night. Isabella was not left alone for even a second the entire night, so she had no chance to sneak away to see Aiden.
They bar hopped all night, despite Isabella wining to go home. When they arrived at the third bar that night, she gave up and decided to have fun. As soon as they were inside, she went straight to the bar tender and ordered a round of shots for everyone.
“It’s about time you loosened up tonight!” Ashley exclaimed, coming up behind her with Katherine and taking a bar stool.
Isabella laughed. “I figured that as long as I was being held hostage, I might as well milk it for all its worth.”
“That’s the spirit!” Rachel said with a laugh, taking the stool on the other side of Isabella, while Monica took the one next to it.
The bartender suddenly placed five shot glasses in front of them. Isabella picked hers up and held it up for a toast.
“To being held hostage by your best friends on your final single night out!” she said, then tapped the counter top and downed the shot.

Aiden glared at his friends, wanting nothing more than for them to go away. He had told them numerous times that he did not, by any means, want a bachelor party. Clearly, they didn’t listen.
“Cheer up, Aiden.” David said, snapping a cell phone shut as he walked into the room. “We’re going out, you are not having any communication with Izzy until she meets you at the alter, and there is nothing you can say, or do, to convince us otherwise.”
To emphasize their point, the three guys cracked their knuckles and flexed their biceps. With a sigh, Aiden caved and agreed with poor grace to go bar hopping.
They took Frank’s hummer and arrived at a packed bar, with Aiden in the back seat between David and Bryce. They way that they acted, backs straight, their eyes darting every direction, and always within grabbing reach of Aiden, reminded him more of guard dogs than his best friends.
The group quickly entered the bar and made their way to the counter.
“What can I get for you?” the bartender asked, wiping a glass.
David glanced at the others. “Round of shots?” he asked.
Everyone nodded in agreement and the bartender quickly pulled out four shot glasses. They each reached for one and David held his up, glancing at the others.
“A toast.” he said, clearing his throat. “To Aiden. May you never forget your days of being single, and to a happy marriage with Isabella!”
The guys chuckled, then downed their shots at once.