She shrugs and glances at her sister. “It could be fun, but it’s your party. What do you think?”
Herparty. I see how it is. My fingers dig into my palms, nails leaving crescent moons in the flesh as I watch Gina hold court like some smug queen bee. They’ve hijacked my weekend—my carefully planned bachelorette celebration—and now they’re flaunting it.
I had to book the venue myself, order my own tacky penis-shaped decorations, and arrange my own sad little cake, all because my so-called bridesmaids couldn’t be bothered. Now here I am, trapped in Gina’s Pinterest-perfect celebration with everyone who couldn’t attend mine.
“Oh, I’d love to hear a few truths from some people. Assuming they’re capable of not telling a lie,” Gina says, locking eyes with me. “Let’s do it.”
“I’ll start,” I say. “Harper, truth or dare?”
Narrowing her eyes, she glances at Ford. “Dare.”
“Oh, now you want to get adventurous,” Asher mumbles.
“She was always strictly a truth girl before,” I add. “Trying to show off and prove something?”
She rolls her eyes at me. “Are you going to give me a dare or just make comments no one cares about?”
Licking my lips, I lean back. What can I choose to make her look foolish? “I dare you to… imitate a chicken for one minute.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.” No one looks good acting like a chicken. Whatever Ford sees in her will disappear in seconds. It’s perfect. She’ll lose her ally.
Harper shrugs and stands, tossing her hair over one shoulder. Cracking her neck with an audible pop, she stretches her arms over her head as if preparing for a workout and smiles as she bends her toned arms at the elbows to form wings. She flaps them with exaggerated movements and clucks loudly, strutting around in a wide circle. Her jeans stretch as she bends her knees in a perfect chicken waddle, pecking her head forward in quick, jerky motions, eyes bright with laughter.
“Bock-bock-bock.”
Everyone erupts in laughter, their faces flushed with delight as tears fill their eyes. My stomach twists into a hard knot as I scan the room. They’re not laughingatHarper, they’re laughingwithher. This isn’t going according to plan at all, and she even looks like she’s enjoying herself. Completely unfazed by my attempt to humiliate her.
Ford stands, tucks his large hands under his armpits, and juts his head forward. “Cock-a-doodle-do!” he bellows, his deep voice carrying through the room.
One by one, they join in, everyone flapping theatrically. I stay frozen in my spot, my jaw clenched so tight my muscles ache, while Asher shifts uncomfortably in his seat beside me. The urge to scream builds in my chest and is almost impossible to hold in.
“What the hell is going on?”
“Guess you can’t make her look bad like you thought you could,” Asher mutters.
“And our sulking and glaring at them really tells people—including your fiancée—that you’re totally over her,” I snap back.
Gina laughs, shaking her head. “I don’t think I can take any more Truth or Dare. Let’s make this a real bachelor party.”
Hopping up, Holly giggles and grabs the box of dirty Pictionary. “I have just the thing!”
“Oh, gross, I don’t want to play anything dirty with my sisters,” Eric protests.
“Guess you’ll have to sit this one out, then,” Ford replies. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Harper bumps her shoulder into him, blushing as they check out the game. “Maybe Eric should sit this one out. I don’t think he’s old enough for this.”
“He is still a virgin, isn’t he?” Gina asks.
“Lost it at eighteen, thank you very much. Freshman year in college was really good to me.”
Gasping, Harper covers her mouth while Gina nods, impressed. “Not bad, little brother. Still the oldest of the three of us, but that’s okay. You can be a late bloomer. We still love you.”
“Gina!” Harper hisses, hitting her with a pillow. “That’s enough.”
“Let’s do this,” Eric declares. “You’re going down.”
