“Aw,” Lindy says, leaning far over to smooth a hand over my plastic hump of a neck brace. Maple follows suit, the two huddling around me, giving me awkward, delicate pats around the hindering device.
“I’m sorry,” Maple says. “This must be so difficult for you.”
Shaylee hasn’t moved, but she pipes up from her place at the vanity. “Yeah, having your best friend get married…”
“After getting your car smashed last night,” Lindy points out.
“Anddidn’t you just find out that the Brew House is getting torn down—” adds Maple.
I nod sadly. The Brew House is a coffee shop by morning and a beer bar by night. I’ve been head barista there for two years and just got moved up to management.
“So there goes the job you worked so hard for,” Lindy says, shaking her head.
My eyes ping-pong between Maple and Lindy as they tally up my series of misfortunes.
“And now you’re stuck wearing this…big old neck brace,” Maple says.
“It’smorethan a neck brace.” Lindy chuckles a little. “It’s a chin, head, chest, back, and ribs brace too.”
In the quiet pause, all eyes flit to Shaylee. She leans very close to the mirror, smearing a thick coat of frosty lipstick over her Cupid’s bow, back and forth. She smacks her lips together and catches eyes with us through the mirror.
“Not to mention,” Shaylee says nonchalantly, sliding the applicator back into its case. “You’ll be the only one not married now.”
I blink. “You sort of already said that.”
“No, I didn’t. I just said your bestie is getting married. I didn’t mention that the rest of us already had.”
Maple gives Shaylee a hard look. “That goes without saying.”
“Well, so does the neck brace thingy,” Shaylee says with a wave in my direction.
I sigh, wanting to shimmy my way back into the casket I crawled out of for Lindy’s wedding.
“Why don’t you guys go on ahead,” I suggest. “Tell Viv I’ll be there soon.”
The women give each other glances and then nod.
“All right.” Maple gives me the best half-hug she can manage around the bulky brace.
“See ya out there,” Lindy says while Shaylee zips up her jumbo-sized makeup case.
“Oh,” Maple chimes in a cheery tone, “I heard the guy walking you down the aisle—Chad’s cousin—ishot.”
“Yeah, but…” Shaylee stops herself from pointing out the obvious by pointingtothe obvious instead. ‘But…’ the wave of her hand says, ‘Maggie’s not looking too hot herself. Just look at her—she’s hideous.’
Lindy tugs open the door and holds it for the others. “See you out there?”
Yeah, unless I’m hiding in Shaylee’s makeup case.I fail at another attempt to nod and groan. “Yep.”
“Au revoir,” Shaylee says.
Lindy waves. “Ciao.”
As the door swings closed, I spot a group of men in tuxes eyeing the women appreciatively. One yelps out a catcall. Another whistles.
‘Oh, shut up,’I want to say, ‘they’re all married.’
“Man,”I hear one exclaim from the other side of the door. “The bridesmaids arehot.”
