Free grabs her hand away from Trudy impatiently. “I’m done.”
“Not yet you’re not.” Trudy takes her hand back. “Five more minutes.”
Mama twists to face me, and I admire her lipstick and mascara.
“Mama, your makeup looks great. Riles, you did a nice job.”
A hell of a lot better than Mama’s makeup usually looks.
“Didn’t she?” Mama beams.
Riley looks like she’s wondering why she invited us here in the first place. She stands up and wipes her hands. “All set, Mama! You look gorgeous.”
Mama exhales. “Mace, you take my seat, honey. I’m going to grab a coffee and be right back.”
I sit down and take off my sandals. “Will the nail polish last until Gin’s wedding?”
“Of course,” Riley says. “If it happens not to, come in again day before or something.”
Mama pauses on her way out the door. “Oh, Mace, what are you doing for your birthday this year? Anything special?”
“Just trying to get my best girlfriend down the aisle. A happy Ginny is really all I want this year.”
“You sure about that?” Riley says to me.
“Absolutely.”
Free turns to Riley once Mama’s gone. “So are you going to keep calling Wink or what? I think you need to move on from that cheating asshole. He dumped you, remember?”
Riley glares at her. “You don’t understand.”
“Why don’t I?”
Riley’s face contorts like she’s not sure why not, and she answers with, “You’re too young.”
“Right.” Free goes back to her magazine, but she looks up again a moment later. “I understand he’s a dick who’s probably screwing some other girl right now. And that’s not enough to never speak to him again?”
Riley stands up, grabs the magazine out of Free’s hands, and marches off to the back office. A door slams.
“Maybe she’s just tired,” Trudy says. “Macey, I’ll do your makeup—I’m all done over here.”
82
I’m late leaving my house for the theater, and Mama’s already called once when my phone rings again.
“Mace?”
“Hey, what’s up, Gin?”
“I still feel bad I got nowhere with Luke yesterday. He’s like a steel trap, that one.”
“I know. Don’t worry at all. If Logan has a secret, we’ll find out eventually.”
“I hope so.” She sniffles.
“Gin? Something wrong?”
She sighs. “Dave and I fought all day, and now he’s gone. I’m thinking of calling Nickel. The baby’s started kicking, and I’m feeling so lonely. I need you to stop me like maiden of honors are supposed to do.”
