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“Awesome news,” the other nurse says. “I’ll be back in about an hour to get your bloodwork.”
Lauren follows the other nurse out of the room and I look at Megan who is still staring at Aiden. Her gaze lifts to me and the only thing I can think to say after almost ten seconds of complete silence is “Let’s get this party started.”
I’ve stress eaten three cupcakes and reach for the fourth when Megan starts spreading pictures over the table beside the presents. She’s topped each of them with Batman mask stickers so everyone in the photos are wearing one.
Pretty clever actually.
I stick my finger in the icing of my cupcake and scooch over to take a peek at everything she’s setting out.
“I see you’re getting your cupcake fix,” Megan teases as she gently lays another photo on the table.
“Damn right,” I say. “I can’t tell you the last time I had a cupcake.”
“Well, you don’t have kids, so it makes sense,” Megan says.
Her words actually hurt to hear.
Looking at the four of us, you’d think I’d been their friend since childhood. But looking at the pictures in front of me, a rough estimate tells me that we haven’t been friends for more than a year or so.
But no matter how long they’ve known me, none of them know the real me. The mother of four and wife of a lawyer. The dog mom who works part time at a grocery store with Bickering Betty one and two. The best friend to a gorgeous bombshell who has my back no matter what.
The hot mess mom in the semi-perfect life.
“It’s time to open presents,” Amanda says when she walks up to Megan and me. “I think Aiden is fading fast and Lauren wants to get his blood work done before he falls asleep.”
“Sounds good,” Megan says, forcing a smile. I grab her hand and squeeze, hoping I don’t get any icing on her.
She looks so broken. So exhausted on the outside as well as the inside. Like she’s a mudslide just waiting for the next rainfall so she can let it all go and just settle wherever she lands.
I am heartbroken for her. But I’ll be damned if I won’t make the rest of this day as happy as I can for both Megan and Aiden.
I ruffle through some of the photos trying to memorize the events happening on the polaroid paper. Then, I grab a party hat and head to the bed to watch Aiden open presents and reminisce on memories that some part of me had apparently been around for.
Chapter sixteen
Biggest Asshole in Town
I’mstandinginmybedroom, fifteen minutes before we have to leave to head to the venue, and I am drop-dead-gorgeous.
The red dress I’m wearing is nothing more than a long, red, skirt with a slit up to my hip that’s connected to a red bikini top by three metal rings and gemstones. The skirt is low enough to show off the majority of my hip tattoo. My ink is really growing on me and I’m kind of obsessed with it. The slit opens wide to reveal my long, tan leg that extends down to my silver and gold stiletto heels.
A lot different from the platform heels I’m used to.
My hair has beach waves in it with one side of it pinned up to show off my silver string earrings that stretch down to my shoulders. My eyeliner was applied over top of a smoky eyeshadow palette, and my lips are coated with a bright red lip stain so it lasts for most of the event.
I can’t even believe I look this good.
“Are you ready?” Megan asks through my bedroom door.
“Yeah,” I say. “It’s unlocked.”
Megan walks in and her brows jump higher than I’ve ever seen as her jaw hits the floor. “Damn!” she shouts. “You are smokin’!”
I give her a little pose, sticking my leg out to the side and running my fingers up my thigh. “I know.”
Leeah and Amanda come running into my room to see my dress and they both have the same reaction as Megan did. It definitely makes my head swell a little bit.
All three of them look phenomenal as well. Megan in her little black dress with her hair done up and her usual heavy eye makeup. Amanda in a tight silver two piece that hugs her curves and matches the silver eyeshadow she chose. Her hair is done in curls that cascade over her shoulders.
