“I really gotta go. Love you, Pinecone.”
I started to sayI love youback, but he disconnected before I could get the words out. When I reached Hair of the Wolf, everyone was already there.
Adalyn squealed when she spotted me. As I dug out her whitebride-to-besash, she trotted over in her short white dress and sky-high heels, clutching a plastic flute filled with pink champagne. Most of the girls were wearing dresses and heels tonight. I’d brought a skirt too, a pleated black one with built-in suspenders I hadn’t worn since the accident, too self-conscious about my knee.
Since Adalyn had expressly asked all her bridesmaids to dress in pink—her favorite color—I’d unearthed a pink top from my closet that Mom had bought me back when I was in middle school, right before I started purchasing my own clothes and ruled out that particular color. It exposed my midriff but fit nicely with the skirt and thigh-high suede boots. I’d tried everything on last night, and decided it looked very schoolgirl naughty. In other words, an adequate pickup outfit.
Although, as I took in all the sequins, silks, and satin glimmering around me, I wondered if my selection wasn’t overly academic.Oh well.I polished off my champagne in one gulp, then went to change in the bathroom.
When I came back out, Adalyn insisted on doing my makeup while her grandmother straightened my hair. Thirty minutes later, between my smoky eyes and waist-long, extra-glossy hair, I definitely no longer felt preppy.
We took a group shot before leaving. May tried to push her way to the middle, but Grandma Reeves shooed her off to the side and positioned Adalyn, her sister, and me between the rest of the girls.
“I can’t believe you’re getting married in a month,” I whispered between picture thirty-two and forty-five. “Nineteen and married.”
It wasn’t uncommon to get married so young in the pack, especially not once a mating bond developed, but it still felt incredibly young.
“I know.”
Where she vibrated with excitement, I trembled with emotion. To think this was only the bachelorette party. In what state would I be in for the wedding?
“Hey, no crying,” she murmured as we wrapped up the photoshoot.
I sniffled. “Hope the makeup’s waterproof.”
“Aw, Nikki.” She hugged me tight. “Almost sisters,” she whispered into my hair. “Just like we always dreamed.”
I nodded, my throat still feeling raw.
Adalyn released me and clapped. “Everyone, ready?”
A chorus ofyeses erupted as the girls filed out. Adalyn speared her arm through mine, and we headed out into the wintry chill.
Chapter 23
The night started out tamely enough, but after the food was cleared, the lights were dimmed, and the music rose to eardrum-throbbing volumes, Adalyn distributed the dare cards. We got five each. Four of mine were not too awful but then I got one that made my cheeks go as bright as Gracey’s neon tube top.
After reading the words on my card, Adalyn burst out laughing. “Ask a guy for his underwear.ThatI got to see.”
I elbowed her.
Gracey got theask a guy for a condomcard. Although only sixteen, she had even less shame than her older sister, which was basically saying she hadzeroshame.
May whined. “I gotkiss the bartender, but she’s a girl.”
“I’ll take it,” her bestie Savannah said.
“Anyone want to trade with me?” I’d been hoping to unload my underwear card, but instead, Adalyn pilfered myorder a drink in a foreign accentcard and replaced it withkiss a random guy. “Hey! I liked that one.”
She tucked it into her pack. “My lips belong to your brother.”
“You could’ve traded with May,” I muttered.
“What could she have traded with me?” May’s blonde hair swished over her shoulder, tangling with her extra-long glittery earrings.
“Mykiss a random guycard,” Adalyn said.
“Ooh. Yeah. Gimme, gimme.” She wiggled her fingers.
