Or so they thought.
The three of us have been together through thick and thin, and when I called Shelby and Hannah to let them know it was officially over, they demanded to take me on a divorce-party girls weekend. Little did we know that we were planning it on one of the busiest weekends in Vegas. Though, I don’t know if it would’ve changed our plans. This really was the only weekend I could feel comfortable shutting down the bakery, Hannah could make sure her husband and mother-in-law could watch her two children, and Shelby wasn’t off playing or practicing somewhere.
But even though the crowds have been insane and the city is clearly being overtaken by football fans along with the normal partygoers, this has been a weekend to remember. We’ve gambled, seen a show—one where I got pulled up on stage by half-naked men giving me a new appreciation for a song I’ve known for years—and drank every night. We’ve laid in the sun each day and talked, something the three of us haven’t done in years. It’s been the perfect weekend, and I must say, a divorce party for the ages.
Even though I felt guilty leaving my bakery for three days, I know I needed this trip. The years of separation, mediation, fights, and stress have nearly broken me. But that’s now all in the past. Now I can truly start moving on, becoming the version of Gabrielle Devereaux I want to be. Free of putting my dreams on hold. Actually enjoyingmylife forme. Doing whatIwant to do.
And in this moment, I want to do a shot.
“Who’s ready for another?” I say, giving my hands a clap.
“Another?” Hannah echoes with wide eyes. “We just did one.”
“Oh come on,” Shelby goads her. “Remember what you said earlier. Tomorrow you’re back to the land of normal, with peanut butter sandwiches and butt wiping. Live it up now.”
Hannah thinks about it for not even a second. “You’re right! I do go back tomorrow! Let’s do a shot!”
“Oh, girl… I’m so glad you haven’t changed,” I say before polishing off my drink and grabbing my purse. “I’ll go order a round of shots and drinks. You two pick our karaoke song.”
“Are we not singing ‘Goodbye Earl?’ I thought that was a given?”
“It is. But you know, scan for any other ones we might’ve forgotten about. And find one where I can see if these pipes still work.”
This brings a huge smile to both of my best friends, but none more than Shelby. “Oh, I have many ideas.”
“I’m sure you do,” I say as I walk toward the bar. I loved to sing. I still do. I think. Singing was one of those many hobbies that over the years fell to the wayside in adulthood and marriage. Though, I know why it did—Justin wasn’t a fan. It’s not that I don’t have a good voice. I do. I never had grand delusions of moving to Nashville and a producer finding me singing in a bar like this, but I can carry a tune. I sang at Hannah’s wedding. Shelby was always my biggest fan and front-row center for every musical I ever performed in during high school. But… I don’t know… Justin never supported me in it. He’d always asked me why I was singing, or did I have to sing every song that came on the radio. I loved my husband—emphasis on the past tense—and me singing wasn’t worth getting in fights about. At first, I made sure to do it when I was alone, and, somewhere along the line, I stopped.
But no more. And that’s why this place was the perfect choice for my, as Hannah put it, rebrand party. Because nothing says getting part of me back than doing something I used to love.
As I wait for our drinks at the bar, I feel a buzz of energy shifting. I look around to see what’s going on, because every single person in this place is starting to lose their shit.
“What the hell?” I mutter as I try and stand taller to see what the commotion is about. I can’t get too high—this dress doesn’t allow for a lot of different levels—but I can’t get a view. Every angle I try to see is blocked by a cell phone. Is it a celebrity? Oh, that would be fun. Maybe one of the boy band guys we couldn’t get tickets for. Now that would make this a trip to remember.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome in the winners of tonight's big game… winning their third championship in four years… a dynasty in the making… let's give it up for the champions… the Nashville Fury!”
Cheers erupt in the bar. I actually think it starts shaking for a minute. People are screaming and the karaoke has paused for “We Are the Champions” to start playing. I don’t know if everyone here is a Nashville Fury fan, or just likes being a part of the party, but if I didn’t know better, I’d think this crowd and bar was on the dead center of Broadway.
I laugh to myself as I turn back to the bar, seeing that the bartender is handing me a tray full of my drinks. I’ve lived in Nashville since college, and never once in those seventeen years have I ever been to a Fury game. If one of the players was standing next to me in line at the grocery store, I don’t know if I’d realize it. I surely can’t name any one of them now sauntering through the bar.
But you know who could? Justin. And while I’ve been trying not to think about my ex, I can’t help but get a little chuckle out of the fact that I’m now in a bar with a bunch of football players who just won the game that I mostly watched for the concert at halftime. Justin might not be a Fury fan—his allegiance always lay with our home state team—but he’s a football fan boy, and he’d be freaking out right now. Petty me wants to take a picture, post it on my social media, and let his new girlfriend show him. I know she monitors—more like stalks—me on a few apps. Themature part of me needs to put that thought away and have a great last night with my two best friends.
Mature me is winning right now. Though we’ll see if that holds up after we take these shots.
“Here we go!” I say as I finally make my way back to the table. “Drinks and shots. We should be good for a while.”
“That’s what I’m talkin’ about!” Shelby yells as she passes us each a packet of sugar.
“What are we toasting to this time?” Hannah asks as she carefully opens the packet to pour it on her lemon.
I raise my shot glass and the other two follow suit. “To the last night of the best vacation ever.”
”To strong drinks and no hangovers,” Shelby adds.
“And to an epic start to the next chapter.”
With Hannah’s words we all tap our glasses and throw back the shots. The normal shiver that would go down my spine is faint, which means I’m well on my way past being tipsy and will probably be certifiably drunk by the time I polish off this cocktail.
The responsible Gabi who normally exists in my body would tell me to ease up, but luckily, I left her at home. I know this is my last night where I can truly not care about the divorce, or my responsibilities, and have fun. And dammit, after years of being married to that man, where fun was only what he deemed it to be, I’m determined to make this a night to remember.
