Timeline - 36 Hours Prior

"Swanky" was definitely the wrong word for this spa and resort. Eko couldn't help but feel impressed, even overwhelmed, by just how over-the-top everything was. It was the exact kind of luxury she had always dreamed about for her bachelorette party.

The resort sprawled over four city blocks and towered twenty stories high. The treated glass windows glittered like emeralds in the late afternoon sun, casting a radiant glow across the polished streets. Eko had heard whispers about this place—it ranked in the top five of elite destinations in the districts, catering exclusively to the wealthiest royals. She had never found the time to visit before, but standing in front of it now, she deeply regretted not coming sooner.

The moment they stepped out of the car, Eko's eyes widened in wonder as her gaze swept over the sprawling grounds. Centran palm trees, transplanted from across the galaxy, lined the entrance, their leaves swaying gently in the breeze. Exotic flowers bloomed in bursts of color around stark white marble fountains, water cascading down in perfect harmony.

"Look at this place!" Eko sprinted toward the lobby, her sunflower print dress flaring out as shrieks of joy escaped her.

"This is incredible!" Jasmine exclaimed, hurrying to catch up, her eyes shining with excitement. She pointed ahead. "They have a casino, too!"

Mya, taking in the scene, paused beside a sign boasting about some kind of convention happening that weekend. It featured actors, merchandise, and costumed events.

This Weekend Only!
Fun! Prizes! Games! And More!
Vote for Your Favorite Celebrity Impersonator!
Ride and Pet the Illamas!
Mingle with Sloths!
Show Up in Costume, or Don't Show Up at All!

"What the—?" Mya muttered to herself, piecing together the disaster they had just walked into. Mackenzie had been hounding them about attending this event for weeks, and now here it was, right at their feet.

"Oh boy, Jesse?" Mya pointed toward the sign. "We have a problem."

Jesse's eyes followed Mya's finger, and as she read the sign, her face twisted in a way that made her look like she had just swallowed something sour. "She did this on purpose," she muttered darkly.

"Who? Jazzy?" Mya asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jesse sighed heavily. "We leave the party planning up to her, and look what we get."

Mya squinted at the flyer advertising the "coveted garment contest," trying to make sense of it. "What the heck is the coveted garment?" she wondered aloud.

"I really don't want to find out," Jesse replied, her mouth hanging open in genuine fear.

Before they could further ponder the bizarre possibilities, Jasmine's voice rang out from ahead. "Come on, guys! The casino is calling our names! Sooki is already getting the lounge ready for us!"

Jesse rolled her eyes and called back, "We're not here to gamble! We came to relax, and we need to check in first! Sooki can wait!"

But predictably, Jasmine paid no attention to Jesse's practical suggestion, already swept up in the excitement of the night.

Mya glanced around, suddenly realizing someone was missing. "Where is Eko?" she asked, scanning the hotel's check-in area. "I need this massage and a bottle of wine. God knows we've earned it."

"Haven't we, though?" Jesse muttered, her voice dripping with exhaustion. "I'm getting a massage if it's the last thing I do."

"Even if we let those two loose on the town?" Mya shot Jesse a knowing look, eyebrow raised.

Jesse let out a weary sigh. "Matthew might not want his girlfriend running rampant with Jasmine without adult supervision. Bad things happen when those two are together. Remember the brawl last month? Imagine if Matthew knew Eko decked that Fanclub girl just for having an old photo of him on her phone?"

Mya snorted. "Fine, we just get them horribly drunk, slip a little sleeping powder in their cocktails, then hog-tie them in the hotel room. How hard can keeping them in check actually be?" she winked.

"I'm good with that," Jesse agreed with a nod, her tone dead serious.

Sure, both girls understood Eko's excitement over her upcoming wedding. At first, the planning and preparations were fun—exciting, even. But as the months dragged on, the endless discussions, the obsessing over every detail, had sucked the joy right out of it. The wedding had taken on a life of its own, and Eko's laser focus on it had become almost maddening.

At this point, Jesse and Mya would have been happy to never hear the words wedding, married, honeymoon, or ceremony again.

"I promise you, if Sawyer and I ever walk this plank together, we'll just elope and tell you guys after. No dragging anyone through this level of insanity," Mya said, shaking her head.

"Same. Not that marriage is even on my radar anymore," Jesse replied, adjusting the strap of her overnight bag. "But seriously, enough is enough."

She nodded toward the door that Jasmine had dragged Eko through moments earlier. "Let's go corral the bridezilla and her enabler, and check-in."

When they finally caught up, Eko and Jasmine were already at the bar, cocktails in hand, looking far too pleased with themselves. Jasmine, in true chaotic fashion, had somehow acquired a cowboy hat, and Eko proudly sported a dazzling "Bride To Be" tiara complete with a tiny attached veil.

Both girls were giggling like mischievous school kids as they leaned, palms pressed, against the massive transparent blue water tank that stretched endlessly in front of them. Above them, a sleek pillar extended into the ceiling, its mirrored surface reflecting the vibrant aquatic life swimming just inches from their faces.

"Where in the world did you get the hat and tiara?" Jesse asked, her curiosity piqued. "You've only been gone ten minutes!"

Eko handed Mya her cocktail, catching her eye as Mya eagerly reached for it, while Jasmine casually pointed in the direction of the convention they'd passed earlier.

"Sooki," Jasmine said with a grin. "I told you she can find anything!"

"Girls, we need to check in," Jesse said, her voice edged with exhaustion. "Can we talk about this later, honestly."

Mya nodded in agreement sensing Jesse's frustration then taking a long sip from Eko's cocktail before shamelessly grabbing Jasmine's as well. "Where's Sooki, by the way?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "That girl has been working her ass off all week."

Jasmine waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, she's around. Probably setting up something wild for us at one of the clubs tonight."

Mya chuckled, downing the rest of the drink. "You guys seriously need to give her a raise. She's been juggling so much; I'd have lost it by now."

"Anyone would," Jesse muttered, giving Eko a pointed look. "This wedding is next level, literally next level."

Eko flashed a mischievous grin. "Why do you think I hired Sooki? I needed additional hands with all this stuff."

"Yeah, well, keeping up with your and Matthew's 'vision' has been like a full-time job. Swans, Eko? Where in the world do you even find swans anymore?" Jesse asked, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

Mya giggled, shaking her head. She was more than ready for this wedding to be over. The planning had taken on a life of its own, and it seemed to consume every conversation for months leading up to June. As they approached the front desk, Eko darted off toward the bar in search of yet another drink, leaving Mya, Jasmine and Jesse to handle the check-in.

Unable to summon the enthusiasm required to deal with Eko in the current mood, Jesse stood at the desk waiting to be served while Jasmine and-Mya were talking about naked men massaging them behind her.

"We have reservations under Skarsgard," Jesse said, her patience wearing thin. "Party of four."

The handsome young clerk typed away at the computer, then frowned and looked up. Jesse cringed—she could already tell something was wrong.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have a reservation under that name," the man said apologetically. "Could it be under something else?"

Jesse sighed, trying to keep her cool. "Maybe try Delacourt?" she suggested, thinking maybe Jasmine had used her last name.

The clerk shook his head after another few keystrokes. "No, ma'am. Nothing under that name either."

Jesse's jaw tightened as she turned to face Jasmine and Mya, who had paused mid-conversation, sensing the tension radiating from their friend.

"Please tell me you actually made the reservations?" Jesse asked, her tone dangerously calm.

Jasmine blinked in confusion. "What? What do you mean, I—uh, just say that again?" she started, suddenly unsure. "Is the guy saying there's no reservation?" 

"Do not tell me you didn't do it and forgot because you were too busy planning whatever was in your head!" Jesse's voice raised a notch, her frustration evident.

Jasmine's eyes widened as she fumbled for her phone. "I'm pretty sure it wasn't my job," she muttered, quickly searching through her emails. "Look let's breathe. I'm sure Sooki was has handled this."

The clerk cleared his throat politely. "Do you have a confirmation number by any chance?"

Jesse, doing her best to keep from losing it, turned to Mya. "Can you please get Eko?"

Mya, holding her now-empty drink, nodded and slipped away to find the bride.

Meanwhile, Jasmine was furiously scrolling through her emails, her fingers trembling with frustration. "I swear this wasn't my responsibility!" she mumbled, her voice growing more defensive by the second.

"Jaz?" Jesse asked, her patience stretched thin.

"Sooki's looking for it," Jasmine shot back, clearly flustered. "I don't remember booking it, okay? But I swear this wasn't on me!" She paused, then snapped at the clerk, "You checked under my name, right?"

"Yes, ma'am," the clerk confirmed with a nod.

"And under Skarsgard?" Jesse added, arms folded tightly across her chest.

"Sooki, for the love of God, find something!" Jasmine hissed into the phone, her voice rising in desperation. "Search every email, or so help me, we can't start off our weekend like this!"

***** *****

Mya found Eko at the bar, clutching a large, bright pink cocktail that looked almost radioactive. Intrigued, she snatched the drink from Eko's hand and took a curious sip, her eyes widening slightly as the sugary concoction hit her tongue.

"The Real Cotton Buzz," Eko said with a wicked grin, clearly pleased with her choice. "90% alcohol."

Mya smacked her lips together, eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "You can taste it, babe. It's like liquid adrenaline." She shook her head, handing the drink back to Eko with a slight grin.

"Everything okay?" Eko asked, her grin wide and eyes gleaming, clearly feeling the effects of the alcohol.

"I'm sure it will be," Mya smiled, though there was a trace of tension in her voice. "How you feeling?"

Eko's smile softened, a dreamy look crossing her face. "I feel amazing. So happy." She sipped more of the drink, her expression glowing with pure joy. "I'm just... I'm getting married, Mya. To the love of my life. It's still crazy to think about, you know?"

Mya nodded, watching her with affection. "You look so happy, Ek's." 

Eko took another slow sip, her smile widening as if she could barely contain the overflowing joy inside her. "I can't believe it... I'm really getting married. And not just to anyone—to Matthew. Of all the people in this world, it's him."

Mya's expression softened as she watched Eko, her heart swelling with affection for her friend. The glow on Eko's face was undeniable, radiating a happiness so pure it felt contagious. Gently, Mya reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from Eko's face, tucking it tenderly behind her ear.

"You have no idea how happy I am to be here with you, being your Maid of Honor," Mya said, her voice warm and soft. "Watching you marry the love of your life... It's like a dream come true, not just for you, but for all of us. Seeing you and Matthew like this—it's what everyone hopes for, what everyone longs for."

Eko's grin widened even more, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of alcohol-induced confidence and sincere emotion. "You can be happy too, Mya," she said, her voice slightly slurred but earnest. "It's easy—you just gotta choose it."

Mya's brows furrowed slightly, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about you and the love of your life," Eko said, her voice firm despite the tipsiness. "I want you to admit that you love him, grab him by his stupid pouty face, kiss him, and tell him you love him. You guys are being so dense and I want you to tell him that you want to make more babies with him and just be happy, even in the middle of this war."

Mya smacked her lips again, clearly deciding to ignore her best friend's tipsy, well-meaning advice. "Come on, babes," she said, steering the conversation back to reality. Without missing a beat, she grabbed Eko's hand, her patience thinning, and tugged her away from the bar. "The disaster at the front desk needs your immediate attention."

Eko barely had time to protest, her drink sloshing dangerously as Mya dragged her toward the commotion unfolding near the check-in. When they arrived, they found Jesse and Jasmine toe to toe, nearly screaming at each other.

"Well, I thought you were going to book the room," Jesse snapped, arms crossed, eyes blazing. "You've been planning the wedding and everything else!"

"I gave you the information weeks ago!" Jasmine shot back, phone clutched tightly in her hand. "You even suggested this place!"

"It doesn't mean I was going to book it, Jasmine!"

Jasmine, equally flustered, threw up her hands. "I gave you all the information! I assumed you were booking it after our conversation—remember that? Or were you too busy fighting with that asshole again to do it?"

"Don't even bring him into this," Jesse snapped, her tone sharpening. "We're not talking about him."

Mya shot Eko a look as they approached, the kind that said same old, same old. Eko, still floating on the buzz of happiness (and alcohol), blinked at the scene, her earlier giddiness dimming slightly as she tried to make sense of the unraveling argument.

"Ladies," Mya interjected with a sigh, trying to keep the peace. "What's going on?"

"They didn't book the room," Jesse said flatly, glaring at Jasmine. "Because of someone!"

And just like that, the bickering resumed in full force.

Eko, sipping on her bright pink cocktail, seemed almost entertained by the spat between her two best friends, their voices rising in exasperation as they volleyed blame back and forth. She turned her head lazily toward Mya.

"As my maid of honor, shouldn't you make sure the bridesmaids don't kill each other before my wedding?"

Mya let out a long-suffering sigh. "Honestly, I'm considering letting them strangle each other. I just want a massage."

Eko grinned, unbothered by the chaos around her. "Hmm, this is gonna be a weekend to remember." Turning her attention to the bewildered desk clerk, who was clearly unsure how to handle the escalating scene behind her, she flashed her brightest, most charming smile and leaned in slightly.

"Sorry about them," she said with a playful grin, placing her half-empty drink on the countertop. "As you can see, it's my bachelorette party, and we're... not exactly getting off to the best start. Any chance you've got a room available for us? We'll take whatever you've got."

The clerk, still flustered, nodded quickly. "Ma'am, I believe we're fully booked, but let me check just in case."

Eko winked at him, her playful tone making him blush as she readjusted her tiara and veil. Behind her, Jesse and Jasmine were still bickering, their argument now at full volume. Mya sighed beside her, rolling her eyes at the spectacle.

Without missing a beat, Eko casually pulled out her wallet from the clutch under her arm. She slid the gold Allegiant credit card across the counter with a confident smile, the name Matthew Skarsgard engraved on it catching the clerk's attention.

"He told me it was for emergencies," Eko said sweetly, glancing sideways at Mya, who stood with her mouth agape.

"Matthew is going to kill you!" Mya hissed, eyes wide with disbelief.

The clerk, momentarily frozen, picked up the card and stared at it. His eyes widened as realization dawned, and he glanced nervously back at Eko. The "deer in headlights" look on his face said it all—he knew exactly who she was. The Skarsgard name had become quite prominent lately, especially with the expansion of Allegiant and the opening of the university and orphanage.

"Mrs. Skarsgard," he stammered, his tone shifting to one of utmost politeness. "Of course, let me check again... Ah, yes. It seems we've had a last-minute cancellation on one of our luxury suites. I'm sure you'll find it more than satisfactory."

Jasmine and Jesse, having heard the words "luxury suite," popped their heads over the counter, their bickering momentarily forgotten. "That sounds really expensive," Jasmine muttered, raising an eyebrow.

The clerk's smile didn't falter. "It's reasonably priced for what you are receiving, and we are happy to offer a 25% discount as a goodwill gesture," he replied smoothly.

Eko read his name tag, then grinned. "Oh, Peter, you're just wonderful. My husband-to-be—Allegiant's Headmaster and prime principal—will be thrilled to know that his wife and friends were treated so well."

Jesse groaned, shaking her head. "Jesus Christ, Eko," she muttered under her breath. Eko knew exactly how to pull every string and wasn't afraid to use it.

Peter, beaming at the recognition, continued his pitch. "The suite has four individual bedrooms, a full bar, a hot tub, a state-of-the-art entertainment center, a bowling alley, and a breathtaking panoramic sea view. You will also have access to the hotel's private bar, in-room massage services—"

"Massage, thank god!" Mya practically jumped for joy.

"—breakfast in a private dining area next to the pool, dinner reservations at our prestigious restaurant, Amara's, with a private dining room. You'll also have a dedicated concierge at your service during your stay, and of course, a late checkout of 1 pm."

The four women exchanged wide-eyed glances. While the suite sounded incredible, they could almost hear the cha-ching of the astronomical price tag.

"Do we want to know how much?" Jasmine whispered, clearly unsure if she wanted to hear the answer.

Jesse nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Might as well rip the band-aid off."

Mya inhaled deeply, already bracing herself.

"Forty thousand," the clerk said with an air of professionalism, though he looked slightly nervous at the growing tension. "It's a two-night minimum for the suite, but it's the ultimate indulgence, especially for a bachelorette weekend." He tried to smooth it over, as if saying "bachelorette" would lessen the blow.

Jesse paled. Mya gripped the counter a little tighter. Only Eko looked entirely unfazed.

"Forty thousand a night?" Eko raised her eyebrow, like she was negotiating a sale at a flea market.

"Both nights, ma'am. So, twenty per night," the clerk replied with a polite smile, though there was no denying the staggering amount.

"Oh, so only twenty a night? That's easy!" Eko chirped, her eyes gleaming.

"EKO!" Jesse practically barked, her voice sharp as she did the mental math and internally screamed. "You are not putting that on the card!" The sheer horror of how this would unfold back at Allegiant had Jesse sweating bullets. Matthew would lose it, and so would the administration if they saw that charge pop up. Then the said administration would be roping them all in for their horrible indiscretion of Allegiant's money.

Eko, however, was still smiling mischievously, as if this entire situation was more of a game than a financial catastrophe. "So, you're saying I should use Matthew's black Amex?" She drew out the words, letting the implication linger. "The one with unlimited funds?"

Mya shot her a disbelieving look, whispering urgently, "He doesn't have unlimited funds, Eko. Even Matthew has a limit."

Eko pouted, her lips forming a teasing smile. "But he told me it's for emergencies only."

Jasmine, shaking her head and stifling laughter, chimed in, "Yeah, babe, this isn't really an emergency." Her voice turned sing-songy, clearly amused at the audacity of her friend.

Jesse, on the other hand, wasn't quite as entertained. "Well, it's better than using Allegiant's card," she muttered, though a note of terror crept into her voice at the thought of what Matthew's reaction might be.

"Are we confirming the suite, ladies?" the clerk asked, his eyes flicking to the growing line behind them.

"Here," Eko said, pulling out Matthew's black Amex, her name etched across it. She handed it to the clerk, who quickly swapped it for Allegiant's gold card without skipping a beat.

Mya shook her head, clearly uneasy. "Expect a phone call any minute now," she warned. "You're going to give him a heart attack. He might even cancel the wedding when he sees there's no money left!"

Eko scoffed, waving her off like it was the most ridiculous thing she'd ever heard. "No money left? Matthew has plenty." She then turned to Jasmine and Jesse, narrowing her eyes. "And by the way, you two owe your share of the suite since you're the ones who messed this up!"

Jasmine and Jesse's jaws dropped, both opening their mouths to argue when the clerk interrupted by handing Eko back the processed card.

"The card has been charged. This is your receipt," he said. But before he could finish, Eko's phone began to ring from her clutch, the sound almost ominous.

With a nervous gulp, she fumbled to answer it, her eyes widening as she saw Matthew's name glaring at her from the screen. The other girls exchanged wide-eyed looks of dread.

"So, uh, I'll take care of this," Eko stammered. "Someone grab the room info," and she swiftly stepped away from the desk, pressing the phone to her ear.

"Hey, babe! How's your weekend going?" she said in her most cheerful voice, pacing around the front foyer. Her gaze darted toward the bar; she could definitely use another cocktail. "Totally miss your face already."

There was a brief pause before Matthew's voice, cool and suspicious, came through. "Are you dying?"

Eko blinked, caught off guard. "No... I don't think so." She glanced down at herself, just to be sure. "Perfectly fine. A few cocktails in, though."

"You're not stranded in a hospital with no access to funds?" he asked, his tone sharp.

"Um, no?" she replied sweetly, her eyes scanning the lavish resort surroundings.

"Then why is there a forty-fucking-thousand-dollar charge on my account, Eko?!"

Before she could even muster a response, he continued, his voice growing louder, echoing through the phone.

"Before you lose your shit—" she tried, her tone innocent but pleading.

"LOSE MY SHIT?!" he roared, his words a direct mimic of hers. In the background, she could hear Toni howling with laughter, and Richie shouting something about another round of drinks.

"I DON'T WANT ANOTHER FUCKING DRINK!" Matthew barked at someone, clearly fed up.

Eko winced, taking a deep breath. "Babe, look, the girls messed up the reservation. And well... this was the only room left." She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for his reaction.

Matthew groaned again, the sound of another shot glass hitting the table evident through the phone. She could almost feel his frustration as Richie egged him on in the background. There was a brief pause, then a slow count in his breath—twelve, exactly, before he spoke again.

"Jesse said it was better on that card than Allegiant's because admin would throttle us."

"I'm about to throttle you," he snapped, his voice tight with irritation. "Jesus Christ, Eko! Forty thousand! Fuck!"

She bit her lip, stifling a laugh despite herself as she heard more commotion in the background. Richie was still coaxing him to take another drink, while Toni, barely able to contain his laughter, muttered something about needing the bourbon bottle brought over.

Eko shifted her tone, trying to sweeten the situation. "The girls said they were going to pay for their share," she offered lightly, hoping to soften his mood.

"Oh, they'll be fucking paying," Matthew shot back without missing a beat.

"Besides," Eko purred, her voice slipping into that seductive drawl she knew he couldn't resist, "I promise I'll make it up to you tonight."

A dry laugh escaped him. "We're not seeing each other tonight, Eko. You know... the whole point of a bachelor and bachelorette party," he said, exasperation thick in his tone. She could almost imagine the way he was rubbing his temples right now.

"Yeaaa," Eko stretched the word, a teasing lilt in her voice—the kind he adored and hated all at once. "But, babe... you could always pop over. One of the perks of being a crystal keeper, right? You know, like those nights you used to sneak over to Seatac. Those were fun, weren't they?"

The line went silent for a second, but Eko could practically feel him softening, the memories of those nights slowly breaking down his resistance.

"Don't even start with that, Eko," Matthew grumbled, though she could hear the smile tugging at his lips.

Eko's grin widened, knowing full well she was winning this round. "You know you miss me already," she teased, her voice dripping with playful seduction. "Besides, think of all the naughty things we could do tonight. Did I mention how many rooms the suite has? You and me, every inch of that penthouse. It also has large open balcony, and endless room service—"

"—Jesus fucking Christ, Eko," he interrupted, but the edge in his tone was fading, replaced by amusement.

"Oh, did I mention," she added, not skipping a beat, "there's also a bowling alley."

"A bowling alley?" Matthew scoffed, trying to keep his voice flat, though she could hear the crack in his composure.

"Hmm," Eko purred, the mischief in her tone unmistakable. "Ever played naked bowling?"

Matthew finally broke, a chuckle spilling out despite his best efforts. "Fuckkk meee, Eko, I have never played naked bowling." She could hear the alcohol starting to ease the edges of his earlier frustration, his amusement softening the tone of their conversation.

"We've also got our own private spa," she continued, her voice laced with temptation. "And the resort has three pools. How about a midnight swim?"

"We've already fucked in the aquatic center back home," Matthew shot back, his voice warming with memories. "Same thing, babe."

"Not in these pools we haven't," Eko teased, her grin widening as she imagined the exact moment he'd finally cave.

Matthew sighed, though there was a trace of surrender in his voice. "Goodbye, Eko." There was a lightness now, a shift from exasperation to resigned affection. "Just behave. And for god's sake, don't touch the black Amex again. Properties are pulling from that account. Use the grey card—it's got more than enough for you to drink yourself stupid."

Eko's smile brightened as she sing-songed, "This is why I love you! You're the best husband ever!"

"And for some god-known reason, I love you too," Matthew muttered, his voice softening into something that made her heart skip a beat. His earlier sternness now completely disarmed, replaced with warmth that she loved about him.

"Babe?" Eko cooed, her tone shifting, something more serious slipping through the playful banter.

"Hmm?" Matthew responded, immediately picking up on the shift, his guard coming back up slightly.

"You be careful, okay? Don't drink too much," Eko's voice softened, laced with a concern that gnawed at her. "You lost your breath the other day," she reminded him, the memory lingering like a shadow in her mind. "You haven't had your heart checked in months, and I know you've been pushing yourself—between the orphanage builds, Allegiant's expansion, and now this whole coronation thing looming at the end of the year... It's a lot, Matthew. Even for you."

There was a brief pause, the weight of her words lingering in the air between them before Matthew's voice broke through, gentler now. "Eko, I'm fine. I promise. Nothing's going to stop me from marrying you. Not now, not ever. You're bound to me for life, baby."

Eko's lips curled into a small, affectionate smile. "I know," she said, her grip on the phone tightening, her heart aching with unspoken worry. "But just... promise me you'll take care of yourself, okay? I want you here, healthy and happy for a long, long time."

A warmth crept into Matthew's tone, softening even further. "I am healthy and happy," he reassured her. "Now, stop thinking about me and just go enjoy your bachelorette weekend and try to relax. I'll see you soon."

Her grin widened, her cheeks flushing at his words. "Love you," she whispered, her voice filled with sincerity and tenderness.

"You too, babe. Always," he replied, his voice a comforting anchor before the call ended.

Eko turned around, phone in hand, to find her three best friends staring at her, their faces a mix of anticipation and amusement. With a dramatic sigh, she crossed her arms and smirked. "Well, I'm going to owe him a lifelong pass on blow jobs for this," she quipped, her eyes dancing with mischief. "And by the way, you all owe my future husband a lot of money now. And trust me, we know where you live."