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Glenn nodded. “Be back shortly,” he said as he walked out the front door.
I turned back to Cara. “It was probably my worst experience ever, being there with her. She was also quite demeaning.”
“So, aside from mauling your man, what else did she do?” Cara asked, trying not to laugh.
“He isn’t my man. However, she was downright cruel to me. I may joke about it, but I found her to be very insulting as she stood there in front of Jackson asking me about being married.”
“She was just being friendly, or maybe hoping for more business. She is new in town, and it’s tough being a business owner these days. Plus, I know she gets most of her business through referral. That’s how I found out about her.” Cara shrugged, a funny look coming over her face.
“You found her through a referral?” I questioned. Cara and I knew the same people. There wasn’t anyone in our circle who had gotten married in the past few years. “Who referred you?”
Cara looked at me and then pulled the menu back over in front of her, opening it up again.
“Are you not going to tell me?”
Again, she didn’t say anything.
I looked around the bar and then back at my friend. “It was Jackson, wasn’t it? They had some sort of thing together, didn’t they? That’s why you haven’t told her to go to hell and found someone new, because you didn’t want to turn your back on his referral.”
“Bailey, I can explain.”
“No need to don’t worry about it. Just next time I go with you guys, or I will make my own appointment, opposite of Jackson.”
“You know, I thought you said you were over him. The way you’re acting is proving just the opposite.”
“I am over him.” I yelled. You could feel the tension between Cara and me as we looked at one another. I was just about to say something to her when the door to the bar opened and Ryan stepped inside.
“There’s my girl,” Ryan called out as he walked in the front door, followed by Jackson and Asher, each one of them nodding in our direction. Ryan came over and wrapped his arms around Cara while the other two went over to a table and took a seat.
“Hey, Bailey. Can I get three menus, please?” Ryan asked.
“Sure.” I gathered the three menus and handed them to him, then watched as he headed back to the table where the others sat.
“Everything else went okay there today, though, right? The alterations, they will be done on time?” Cara asked, leaning forward. “…and please tell me he didn’t see the dress, did he?” she whispered.
“No, he didn’t see the dress. Honestly, other than all of that, everything went fine. I promise you, the dresses will be perfect, as will the seating arrangements and the ceremony, and I’ll do my best to put the past behind. No need to turn into Bridezilla.”
“I’m not. I just wanted to make sure. You do not know how much stress I am under,” she whispered.
“Hey, Bailey. Good to see you,” Asher said, interrupting our discussion.
I smiled. Asher and I had always gotten along. I took a minute to walk around the bar and give him a hug. As he pulled me against him, I glanced over his shoulder in time to see Jackson glance my way and then quickly avert his eyes. I caught a flash of annoyance, or jealousy in his eyes, his jaw tight. “Can we get three beers, please, Bailey,” he whispered into my ear as he let me go.
“Sure thing.” I quickly poured the three beers. “Ready for food yet?”
“We are still deciding. These guys can never make up their minds.”
“All right, you let me know.” I smiled as I placed the three beers down in front of him. He picked up the glasses and carried them over to the guys.
“So, I was wondering what you had planned for my bachelorette party?” Cara asked, grinning at me.
That was one thing I hadn’t started planning. I hadn’t even thought of it yet. I ran a few ideas through my mind, quickly deciding that we would have it right here.
“I just thought we could come here. You know, hang out, have some food and a couple of drinks, play some pool and dance.” I said, shrugging. “Maybe retire back to your place and watch some movies. Just keep it simple.”
“Well, it’s a start. You will have to talk with the other girls and figure it all out. One thing, though. I asked Ryan not to have strippers, and I want the same, okay?”
I glanced over to where the guys were sitting. Jackson sat there talking and laughing. “No strippers?” I exclaimed. “No problem." I giggled.
