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“Look at you,” I said, gesturing for her to twirl. She did and posed.
“Work it, work it,” I said, and she laughed.
“Thanks so much for coming.” Hugs were exchanged and we got to gush over her ring, which Gray had custom designed. The main stone was an amethyst he’d literally found himself. Like, talk about a high bar he was setting.
Paige and Esme made their way over. Esme had volunteered to bartend, but Linley had vetoed that so she didn’t have to work and could enjoy the party. That didn’t stop her from watching the hired bartender like a hawk and making comments about what he was doing wrong.
“So, are you two next?” I asked, looking at Paige and Esme. Paige almost choked on her drink and Esme grinned.
“We’ll see,” Esme said. Paige’s face went red.
At that moment, Linley’s mom Martha got up and made a tearful speech that made everyone cry with her, and then her dad made a speech that made everyone cry more.
“You really should have put boxes of tissues around,” I said, wiping my eyes with a scratchy napkin.
“Seriously,” Linley said. Gray had pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed her eyes for her.
Charlie came over, looking very dapper in a blue suit, her hair done in a curled, vintage style. Her sneakers had her signature donuts printed on them.
“You’re not supposed to be working,” Linley chided.
“I know, I’m sorry. I just had to check on a few things,” Charlie said. “I need a drink.”
“On it,” Esme said, taking any chance to give the bartender tips.
“So, we have news,” Natalie said when Esme came back and handed a drink to Charlie.
“Wait, you two?” Paige said, motioning to me and Natalie.
“Oh, no. Charlie and I are going to be roommates,” Natalie said.
“Yay!” Charlie said, almost spilling her drink when she gave Natalie a hug.
“You don’t have to move out,” Linley said to Charlie.
“I know that. But it’s time for me to get back on my feet and get my shit together. Thank you for everything. I will never be able to repay you.” They shared a cousin moment and I found myself misty-eyed again.
I looked at Natalie and smiled.
She tapped her arm with mine. We’d replaced the friendship bracelets—that had both broken—with new ones that were made of metal and were a little more durable. They still said BEST FRIENDS on them.
“I love you, Em,” she whispered in my ear.
“I love you, Nat,” I whispered back.
