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I sip my cocktail. The alcohol in my veins makes me feel light and airy and I like it. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to let loose.
“Sounds like someone got burned,” Nina says.
I nod. “Haven’t we all?”
“What happened?”
I shake my head. I don’t want to talk about it. But Stacey jumps in for me. What a great friend.
“She was head over heels in love with the high school quarterback. It was the perfect love story—not cliché at all—between the quarterback and the cheerleader…until he decided to leave.”
“Ouch,” Nina says. “Pity he didn’t have a hot best friend whose shoulder you could cry on.” She winks at me.
“Oh, God,” I say and nearly choke on my cocktail. “Don’t get me started on his best friend. He was the worst of them all—he didn’t hide for one second that he hated me. He was a class-A son of a bitch.” I think back to Brett, Noah’s best friend, and I convulse at the thought. “I don’t know how Noah and I made it through with Brett being such an asshole.”
“Brett?” Nina asks, giving me a sharp look before glancing at Stacey. “Isn’t that—”
“It’s not the same guy,” I say.
“Could be, you know,” Nina says with a shrug.
“Do you know how common the name is?” I ask. “Besides, Marc is a nice guy. He would never be friends with an asshole like Brett.”
Nina wants to say something, but Stacey cuts in.
“What about you, Nina? How’s Adam doing?”
“Yeah, he’s fine. He can’t make it to the wedding, though. He has to work all the way through. His stupid boss won’t give him leave.”
“That sucks. So you’re dateless?”
Nina nods. Secretly, I’m relieved. I was starting to feel left out with everyone dating and gushing over their boyfriends. At least, I won’t be the only woman without a date.
“Tom will be a perfect gentleman, I promise,” Stacey says.
The groomsmen all have to join up with the bridesmaids when we walk into the chapel, and again after the first dance. I’m with this Brett guy since he’s the best man and I’m maid of honor. Nina will be with Tom then, I’m guessing, and Kelsey will team up with the other guy who’s flying in later.
The conversation turns to the groom. Stacey gushes over her husband-to-be and it’s so sweet to see how happy she is, and how invested she is in their life together. I feel a pang when I think about what she has and that I’m not there yet. But it will come; I just have to keep telling myself that.
“What does your mom think of Marc’s parents?” Kelsey asks.
“I don’t care what she thinks,” Stacey scoffs. “It’s my choice.”
“That bad, huh?” Nina adds.
Stacey sighs, and I get where she’s coming from. Her parents are well-known socialites, moving in the richest circles in LA. They come from old money, and the Jackson name is one that’s been uttered for generations.
Marc made his own money by being a pro player. His parents are humble people from Nebraska. They’re not here yet, but I know Stacey’s parents met them at a dinner party that Marc hosted so that the wedding week wouldn’t be too awkward.
I think it had the opposite effect. The Jacksons don’t think the Atkins are worth their time, and if anything is going to be awkward, it will be a second meeting between the two couples.
“It’s not their day; it’s yours,” I say.
“Tell that to my mom.”
“I will if I have to,” I say with a smile.
Stacey groans and downs what’s left of her cocktail. “Don’t tell her that. We’ll…figure it out. She’s not marrying them, anyway. I’m marrying Marc. And I like his parents. They don’t have all these crazy expectations of me—they just want to know that Marc is happy.”
