Three

Audrey and I check in and the same bellman that Audrey has been flirting with shows us to our room. Jenna's father paid for the rooms for the wedding party for the entire week we are here. He is an uber-wealthy industrialist who made his money in cosmetics and electronics.

Weird combination, I know.

Once all of our bags have been carried to our room, Audrey promptly forgets the bellman and heads to the windows to gaze out over the Blue Ridge Mountains. I turn to tip him, handing him a ten-dollar bill. I think the going rate is two-dollars per bag and Audrey, in typical fashion, brought four bags to my one for the week's stay. The bellman takes the money, giving a wistful look in Audrey's direction before turning to leave.

When the door closes, Audrey turns to me. "We're going to have so much fun this week, Hope. I can't wait to go skiing, and I'm told we should head into town for some really cool bars. Oh, and we need to go visit the Biltmore... I hear it's amazing at Christmas... and then we should..."

I tune Audrey out as I start to unpack my one measly bag. She has the ability to get excited over anything, and because she's the adventurous of the two Camden girls, she'll want to be on the go constantly.

"Honestly, Audrey... I just want to relax. I've been studying so hard. I just want to rest my brain by getting lost in a good book."

Audrey makes a pfft sound. "Ridiculous. You're going to take your nose out of a book and live life for once. You're too serious all the time. You need to let your hair down and party."

I cock an eyebrow at her. She knows better than to even suggest such a thing to me. I am a driven woman, and I don't have time for the same frivolities that Audrey seeks. She made it through college okay, but she's yet to do a thing productive with her degree. She's worked a variety of jobs, mostly retail, since graduating from school two years ago.

I, on the other hand, have had my eyes set with determination on my goal to become a social worker. It's all I've ever wanted in life. From the time I set foot on the campus of Florida State University, I went balls to the wall to get my undergrad degree in social sciences. I didn't even bother taking a breath before I dove into my Master's in social work. I hoped to have it finished in about a year.

Sometimes though, I do wish I could be like Audrey. She's so carefree and has no worries. Whereas I do nothing but worry about my future, terrified that one small misstep will cause me to lose focus on my end game. I suppose it's made me a bit boring because I don’t like to leave the safety of my little cocoon.

Audrey's not through with me. "Come on, Hope. Just for once in your life, stop living by rules. Live in the here and now."

"And what would you have me do over the next week?"

Why I ask her that, I don't know? I suppose I'm humoring her.

Audrey plops down on her bed and looks at me with all seriousness. "Well, for one... I think you need to get laid. That will go a long ways toward loosening you up."

I snicker at her idea. I'm by no means a prude, but I certainly don't hop beds the way Audrey does. In fact, I've only had sex with one man in my young life... my former boyfriend, James. We met our freshman year at FSU, and we were like two peas in a pod.

Both of us were serious, studious, and totally avoided the party scene. We started out as friends, and then started dating. It was almost a year before we even had sex, and both of us were virgins so it made for some awkward fumbling for a while. But, eventually, our intimacy leveled out and it was... nice. I mean, it wasn't earth shattering and my world wasn't rocked, but it was... nice. Safe. Reliable.

Oh, God... my sex life was like a trusty old Ford truck. I realize in a brief moment of clarity that I sometimes border on the pathetic side.

Still, since James and I broke up right after graduation, I haven't really been interested in another relationship. In fact, I've haven't really met anyone that perked my interest. Unless you count the gorgeous man I met twenty minutes ago.

Shaking my head, I give a disapproving look to Audrey. "I'm just not built that way. I don't have your willful spirit or your confidence. I wouldn’t even know how to go about getting laid."

"Well, then let's try to tap into that this week. You don't really know anyone here... a virtual stranger. You could be as wild and wanton as you want. We could hook you up with a hot ski instructor, and you could have wild sex all week. What's stopping you?"

I shrug my shoulders. What is stopping me?

I suppose it's the fact that it's just not who I am. I'm not one for casual sex. I believe in love and romance. I'm a real nerd when it comes to those things. Besides, like I said... sex with James was... nice. But I don't miss it, and I certainly don't crave it. I'm wondering if that means I'm just slightly warmer than frigid, or it could mean I really don't know anything about sex.

I hope it's the latter, because if it's the former, I'm thinking there may be no hope for me at all.

Desperately needing a change in subject, I ask Audrey, "So... what's on the agenda this week?"

Audrey leans over the bed and reaches into one of her suitcases. She pulls out a folder and flips through the pages inside. Finding what she is looking for, she pulls out a single piece of paper and scans it.

"Well... it looks like tonight, everyone is meeting for drinks in The Great Hall. Tomorrow, we're all going skiing at Wolf's Ridge. Then we have a trip set to go to the Biltmore, and then the rehearsal dinner is in three days, followed by the Bachelor and Bachelorette parties. Sounds fun, doesn't it?"

No, not really. Not for someone that just wants to curl up on a cozy sofa in front of that huge fireplace downstairs and read a nice, smutty romance novel.

"Yes... sounds like you're going to have a load of fun."

"Oh, no you don't. You mean "we" are going to have a load of fun. You know you're invited to all these events. Jenna insisted when I told her I was bringing you."

"I don't know, Audrey. I'm not good in crowds and strangers make me nervous."

"I'm not a stranger. I'll be there with you."

I chuckle to myself. Audrey would be there in person, but she would be a million miles away from me in spirit. When Audrey got in a crowd, she was the shining star. Center stage and bright spotlights always lit her up. She would forget about me and I'd be the pathetic wallflower hanging out in a dark corner by herself.

"Seriously, Audrey. You know that's not my thing. You promised when I said I would come that you would let me just relax. I'd be doing that with Mom and Dad right now on a sandy beach if I hadn't said I would come here with you."

Audrey sighs dramatically and flops over on her back. She even pouts a little. "I know... I just want my baby sister to have fun. I want you step outside the box a little."

"I know. And I love you for it. I'll compromise though. I'll go to some of the events with you, as long as you respect my need to have some quiet time, okay?"

She flashes me a brilliant smile as she leaps from the bed. Giving me a huge hug, she lays a wet kiss on my cheek. "Awesome. We're going to have so much fun together this week."