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“It’s a big family. Hard to keep straight,” Taylor says.
Ana stands at the front getting everyone’s attention to start the game, in which we’re supposed to divide into teams and try to make the best wedding dress using tissue and toilet paper.
The older woman sitting next to me turns, looking at me expectantly. “Not going to happen,” I say, and she turns to the group of ladies on the other side.
“You don’t like games?” Taylor asks.
“I’m not really much of a joiner,” I reply, causing Taylor to laugh.
Noelle has reluctantly teamed up with Ashley and the little kids. Watching as they use her as a mannequin, they race around in circles with toilet paper making her look more like a mummy than a bride. She catches my eye, giving me a distressed expression. I’m sure to hear all about this later.
“Here’s your tissue paper,” Ana says, shoving a package into my hands and then delivering some to the group next to us.
“I could use a drink right now,” I sigh, “a real drink, not the Prosecco in the kitchen.” I set my glass down somewhere and now I can’t remember where I left it.
Taylor takes the tissue from my hands and places it on the empty couch cushion. “I know where they stashed the good stuff.” She motions for me to follow her onto the patio where the cooler sits. The misters are on full blast, but even with that, the air is suffocating. I’ll endure this over making a tissue paper wedding dress any day though.
She pops the top off the cooler and motions for me to take my pick. There are cans of beer and hard seltzer.
“This is the good stuff?” I ask, looking at Taylor. “I was thinking more like a vodka martini.”
Taylor laughs, lifting the top further. “It’s either this or a Mimosa.” She raises her eyebrows, so I grab a seltzer.
Taylor pulls the tab on hers and looks inside the house at all the women laughing with their monstrosity of mummy dresses.
“Your sister is really lucky. She’s marrying into a great family,” Taylor says. There’s a hint of jealousy in her tone that grabs my attention, and I watch her as she watches them as if she’s on the outside, and not just on the patio.
Turning to look inside the house, I see Beth laughing hysterically while she tries to walk in her tissue paper dress. The smile on her face is infectious, and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen her truly happy.
“Yeah, I guess so,” I say, holding my can of hard seltzer and heading back into the house.
Pulling out my phone, I can’t help but take a picture of Noelle wrapped up in toilet paper with a tissue paper veil. When she catches me, she shoots me an evil glare.
7
JAKE RYAN
Reasons I Drink by Alanis Morissette
“I’m sorry,” I say behind my palm, trying to contain the laughter.
“This is not funny,” Noelle demands, trying to stomp her foot but the toilet paper prevents her.
The little kids giggle and throw toilet paper in the air, and I’m glad I don’t have to clean up this mess. Shoving my phone protectively back inside my bra strap, I stop Noelle from grabbing it to erase the evidence.
“Can we leave?” she begs.
“We haven’t even had cake yet,” I say, smiling, and look over at Ashley who is trying to contain her laughter.
“I have to leave soon anyway. My dad’s coming to pick me up,” Ashley says, sounding a little upset that she can’t stay longer because she actually likes this kind of thing. Divorce is never a good thing, but when parents can’t put their kids' happiness first, it’s a shame. Eric wasn’t exactly a stellar guy to begin with, but I like him even less now.
Helping to pull the toilet paper from her body, Noelle finally breaks free, sighing as if she can finally breathe.
“What am I supposed to tell everyone?” I whisper to her.
“Tell them I have a stomachache,” Noelle offers, shrugging. “It’s the excuse you used to get out of staying longer at holiday dinners,” she winks.
“Hey, those were dire situations,” I remind her.
