“It’s true Avery. I actually want to be you when I grow up,” I say.
That causes her to let out a snort of laughter. “Now that is tragic, I have no idea what I even want to do with my life, much to my mother’s chagrin.”
She looks away, her shoulders falling with a heavy sigh.
“Is she still hassling you?” Lily asks in a sympathetic tone.
“Not really… I don’t know. I just feel like I can’t do right for doing wrong, trying to live up to high standards is hard. She’s always so well put together. You know how she is, Lily.”
Lily nods, but I’ve not met her parents yet. All I know is her dad’s a diplomat and her mum is a socialite.
“She’s been trying to set me up on more dates.” She scrunches her nose in disgust. “And no offence to her but her taste in men and mine are very different. Just because she hit the lotto with my dad, doesn’t mean I’m destined to the same fate.”
“Well not with that cynical view, no,” Lily replies, sipping her drink.
Avery stares at the bottom of her empty glass. “Meh, I’m used to men letting me down. I refuse to keep giving them the power. I’m better on my own.”
“I’m sure you are Avery, and no you don’t need a man. But if you’re just saying that because of some shit experience with a few rotten eggs, then aren’t you giving them the power to control you inadvertently?”
She blinks at Lily, her lips parting as she tries to form a response. “Are you using some sort of reverse psychology bullshit on me?” she asks.
Lily shrugs. “I have no idea, but is it bullshit or me just pointing out the truth?”
Avery wiggles her glass and holds it out for Lily.“I think I need another one of those before I even attempt to answer that.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to bring up Mason, but if the past few weeks have taughtme anything,it’s not to get involved in whatever feud those two have going on. As long as they get along tomorrow, that’sall I can ask for. Not that I think eitherwoulddo anything to risk ruining our big day.
Lily lets go of my hand to lean over and grab the champagne from the ice bucket and tops up our glasses.
“Thank you,” Avery says and glances between the two of us.“I just don’t understand how this suddenly became about me when it’s your night Jess, you’re the one getting married tomorrow.”
Lily bites into a chocolate-covered strawberry, the chocolate cracking as she does, and I reach for one too.
“And tomorrow I’ll embrace it. But tonight is about friendship and letting go of the past and things that hold us back from being our most authentic selves.”
“It’s hard being a woman in a man’s world,” Avery says as she sinks into the pile of cushions. “It's the twenty-first century and yet we’re still fighting for basic rights, and it infuriates me.”
She’s not fucking wrong.
“Look at female friendships, for example,” she continues. “I’ve been burned more by those than I have by men, and that’s saying something.”
I shake my head. “I think jealousy has a fundamental part to play. I don’t get it, it’s not a competition and yet it feels that way so much of the time.”
Lily nods in understanding. “I hate it for Mia, I worry she’ll get sucked into the mean girl mentality.”
I shake my head. “With you and Avery as role models, no chance.”
Avery points her half-eaten strawberry at me. “And you, she looks up to you.”
My face heats. “Well, thank you, I take that as a compliment.”
“It’s true. She’s so excited for tomorrow. Thank you again for having her as one of your make-up artists.”
I smile. “Of course, it’s good work experience and she was invited anyway so it’s a win-win.”
“Well, it means everything, so thank you. I feel so blessed, you know, after everything.” Lily’s voice catches and I reach out for her hand, knowing how raw everything still is with what happened with her stepfather. “I’m okay,” she says, fanning her hand over her face to stem the threatening tears. “Being back here is nostalgic, but in a good way,” she admits.
Avery raises an eyebrow. “I bet it is, you dirty little minx.”
