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One
“I’ve got the moves. . . ”Sofi sang with the rest of the bachelorette party, a tiara perched precariously on her head.
The five girls moved in sync, wiggling their hips and laughing more than getting a word out in tune.
“Ma, ouhh, ouhh, ouhh, o-uhh,” Sofi’s voice rang out the loudest since she held the microphone as they commanded the stage at Mike’s Karaoke—the very best karaoke bar in all of Idaho. At least that’s what the sign in the grimy front window read.
Would Sofi typically be at a karaoke bar on a Friday night? No. It wasn’t really her scene. Besides, nine times out of ten she’d choose dancing over singing. But this was Rachael’s bachelorette party and what the bride wanted, the bride got. Rachael was also the reason Sofi wore a glittery plastic tiara that readBridewith a white veil hanging behind it. Rachael had plopped it on Sofi’s head, claiming it hurt her own, and Sofi didn’t have the heart to take it off.
And though one might think that the microphone was in Sofi’s hand because she had the best voice of the group, the only reason she held the mike was because she was the only one sober enough to do so. As designated driver she was now designated mike woman as well. A job she was actually kind of enjoying.
The song came to an end and Sofi relinquished her beloved microphone to a guy with stringy brown hair who neither smiled nor frowned as he ushered the girls off of the stage. Clearly groups of inebriated girls gathered to celebrate upcoming nuptials were nothing new or interesting to him.
“I just love you so much,” Rachael muttered as she leaned her head against Sofi’s shoulder and then rested more of her weight, causing Sofi to put her arm around her friend lest she fall right to the ground. The other girls all began to lean on Sofi as well—whether because they wanted to join the lovefest or they needed help walking Sofi would never know—but she alone tried to keep the group upright as they walked through the bar.
Typically Sofi would have a sober partner in crime in her roommate and friend Leia, who was also friends with Rachael, but Leia’s nephew had broken his arm earlier today and although he was home now, proudly sporting a new blue cast, he wouldn’t allow his Aunt Leia to leave, waking up every thirty minutes or so to make sure she was still there. Rachael had understood that a young child’s well-being came before her night of partying and had encouraged Leia to stay. So now Sofi was alone in her soberness, which was quite a task as she tried to keep the other partiers from doing things they’d later regret.
The girls giggled as they stumbled back to the booth they’d inhabited all evening, but Rachael popped right back up.
“Another round of shots!” she declared, somehow getting tangled in her hot pink bachelorettesash.
Annie, one of Rachael’s bridesmaids, groaned as she leaned her head against the cold table. “Nope. Can’t do it. It’s getting late, Rach.” Their other friends nodded in agreement.
Rachael sank back into the booth, a pout on her pretty face.
“I’m not ready for my party to be over,” she whined in a way that sober Rachael never would have done.
Sofi sat next to her friend, her hands propping up her tired head. She had to agree with Annie and the others. It was at least midnight and though Sofi had had many later nights in the past decade, now that she was flirting with her thirties, Sofi found herself sinking into her bed earlier and earlier. But this was Rachael’s night and as any good maid of honor should do, Sofi kept her mouth shut about her own preferences.
“I have to work in the morning,” Annie said. As an esthetician, she often had to work on weekends, when her clients were off.
“I have a date,” Laney, their resident serial dater, piped up.
“Of course you do,” Rachael muttered.
“And I have a hair appointment,” Celia added.
Rachael just glared.
“Fine. Go home. All of you. But find your own way, because Sof stays with me.”
Sofi fought against her sudden urge to groan or maybe complain the way the bride had moments before. She’d hoped that Rachael’s friends could wage the battle and Sofi could have profited from their victory, but apparently not. Sofi was staying out. Thankfully she was pretty sure the karaoke bar closed at one a.m.
Annie grumbled something unintelligible but got out her phone, hunting for her rideshare app as they all piled out from the padded benches.
Sofi watched as the three girls headed unsteadily toward the door. She wasn’t surprised she’d been left behind, as these women were more Rachael’s friends than her own. But to leave their friend’s bachelorette party early seemed, well, wrong.
By the way Rachael continued to glare at their backs, she agreed with Sofi. But as soon as they’d reached the door she turned to Sofi, a giant smile back on her face. “Shots?” Rachael asked hopefully.
“I’m driving, Rach,” Sofi said. And that was that. Sofi may have done her share of irresponsible things, but driving drunk would never be one of them.
“But it’s just one tiny glass,” Rachael tried to reason.
Sofi really didn’t want to disappoint her friend on her night but she had to draw the line.
“Rach,” Sofi said, knowing Rachael would get her point with just her tone.
“Fine.” Rachael sank back into her seat, back to pouting.
