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“’Cause Mitch went to so much trouble to ask me, and he wants to make tonight special and so do I.” She let out a happy little sigh. “I never thought we’d get here after the summer, so I’m just glad he forgave me.” She perused the menu and discussed what she wanted done before I could ask what Mitch needed to forgive her for.
And really, it wasn’t my business. Considering how much Cheryl overshared, maybe it was better to not ask.
“That’s not a hundred and five things,” Rachel commented, her voice lazy and relaxed. “You had everything ready last weekend, you’re just double-checking and overthinking it. Indulge in the pampering.”
The words seemed as much directed at me as Cheryl, and even if they weren’t, it was good advice.
The guys had all been at my apartment when I left. It was both weird and not, but they made me promise to take my time and to enjoy this. Archie even offered to drive me to the hair and makeup appointment, but I kind of wanted the time to myself.
Well, not that the time here was to myself. It was kind of nice to just hang out with the girls, no pressure. When a second lady settled in with a dish for me to soak my fingers in, I grinned. My hands were not my best feature. I spent too much time working with them to focus on my nails.
Rachel suggested tips, but I didn’t want anything high-maintenance. Mani/pedis were expensive and an indulgence. Still, I’d picked out a pretty red shade that would match my dress, and while they weren’t super long, I had just enough nail for them to shape.
“Rach,” Cheryl said. “When do we meet your girl?”
“Tonight,” Rachel said. “Stop asking.”
“C’mon, it’s only fair. You know everything about everyone else, and I don’t even know who you asked.”
Rachel snorted. “Just because you like taking out full-page ads on your latest and greatest doesn’t mean I do.”
“Hmmph.” Cheryl took a picture of her feet and typed on her phone. “Maybe I just want to make sure she’s good enough for you.”
A grin tugged at my lips. “And maybe you just want to make sure she has the right dress and accessories,” I teased.
“That, too,” Cheryl agreed. “Besides, you want us to like her, right?”
“She’s my date to Homecoming, Cher. Not my life partner. I don’t actually care if you like her or not. I’m the one who is important in that equation.” Not even missing a beat, Rachel stretched her leg before slipping her foot back in the water. “You don’t care if I like Mitch, right?”
Enough silence greeted that statement for me to slide a look over at Cheryl, who frowned at her phone. “I know you think he’s a jerk,” she said after a minute. “But you think most guys are.”
“I don’t just think it,” came the reply. “Most of themarejerks. Some are just jerkier than others.”
“Jerkier,” I snorted.
“Oh, you don’t want me to get started on you,” Rachel wagged a damp finger in my direction. “So sit over there and hush.”
The fact she winked took any sting out of it. And she was right, I did not want her to get started on me. Then again, she’d made no bones about her feelings where the guys were concerned. Rachel didn’thatethem, but she wasn’t a fan. That seemed to have more to do with me than them, so I left it alone.
I mimed zipping my lips, careful not to drip on myself. The lady working on my toes had clipped the nails and now shaped them. It was so weird to have anyone doing it, and at the same time, soothing.
The jingle of the bell pulled my eyes open in time to see Maria enter. She flicked a look right at me, and it was the uncertainty on her face that eased the apprehension flaring along my nerves.
“This is a neutral zone,” Rachel announced. “Any and all bitchy behavior will be responded to in kind.”
Keys in hand, Maria held her hands up. “I just want to get my nails done for tonight.”
“Then enter and be pampered.” Accompanying her invitation with a magnanimous wave, Rachel grinned. Maria glanced at me again, and I gave her a little shrug.
“It’s all roses at the moment.”
“You sure?” Even as she asked the question, the staff settled her in the chair next to mine.
“Yeah,” I told her. “I’m sure.” Maybe I shouldn’t be so easy going about it, but I had a whole lot of other problems, and Maria wasn’t one of them. We didn’t have to make it a problem.
Granted, she and Sharon were still friends, and I wouldn’t cross the street to put Sharon out if she was on fire.
Okay, harsh. I would. I just wouldn’t like it.
