Reese snorted, and both pairs of eyes turned toward her. At the same time, Hallie ambled back into the dining room and took her seat at the table.
“I mean, he’s used to getting what he wants. I’m sure he’s not going to make this easy if he doesn’t want it.”
“I’m really proud of your mom for sticking to her guns,” Rachel said, casting a sympathetic but supportive look at Reese’s mom. “Sometimes, standing up for ourselves is far harder than doing it for other people.”
Well, hadn’t those two just become thick as thieves these past few weeks. Still, Reese was glad her mom had someone outside of her normal social circle to provide unbiased support. A lot of the wives in Stoneport and Boston would find her mom’s decision unimaginable.
“I’m proud of you, too, Mom,” Reese said, and meant it.
Her mom blushed at all the attention, clearly wishing it would end. “Anyway, what time are you heading to Brynn’s?”
The slumber party, which Reese was truly trying to get on board with, was at Brynn’s apartment in Cambridge.
“I’m leaving at seven,” she said, checking her watch. “I guess the good news is that I don’t need to get all dolled up.”
“Gonna wear your jammies there?” Hallie teased.
Reese groaned. “I’m trying to be a good sport about this, but I am not planning on spending the night. I think Brynn will understand.”
“She’s sweet,” her mom cut in, adding, “maybe a little naive.”
This time, Reese let out an indignant scoff. “Look, I don’t disagree, but she’s still going through with marrying Grant. I think we’re moving beyond naivety and bordering on stu?—”
“Reese,” her mom chided, cutting her off.
“I like her,” Reese defended her word choice, “but after Grant’s show a few weeks ago at the couple’s shower, you cannot tell me, honestly, that you aren’t thinking the same thing.”
The difficulty about tonight came, more than anything, from the fact that Brynn was still going through with the wedding. It was clear that Grant didn’t prioritize her. That he didn’t have much respect for her. And that, on top of it all, he could care less about her feelings.
A real catch, her brother was.
“I think we all know where I stand, so I’m going to stay out of this conversation,” Rachel said, and laughter broke out, easing the tension of the moment.
“When do you head back to Florida?” Hallie asked, voicing a question that Reese herself had been wondering. Not that she minded Rachel being around; she’d been nothing but kind since their first run-in, and she’d provided a much-needed activity partner for Reese’s mom.
Really, the big question was when she’d be coming back to pick up that mantle again. Reese loved her mom, but there were only so many hours in a day.
“We leave tomorrow, but I think we’ll be back sooner than later.”
“Great,” Hallie beamed. “Then we can all do this together again when Sydney’s back, too.”
And, in spite of what a strange group they made, Reese found herself sincerely hoping that they would.
“So Jennifer just texted. She’s not going to be able to make it.” Brynn put down her phone, staring around the room. “I guess we can order dinner, then?”
Reese had been at Brynn’s apartment for less than an hour, and the hits just kept coming.
Reese was one of four bridesmaids and had expected at least a little bit of a buffer tonight, provided by women who would be far closer to Brynn and able to provide the right type of excitement for her impending nuptials.
Reese didn’t think she fit the bill on being that person for so many reasons.
Kate, Brynn’s cousin, had let Brynn know a few hours ago that she’d been called into surgery near the end of her shift. Shewas a neurosurgery resident at Boston General, so Reese couldn’t really hold that against her.
Too much, anyway.
And two other women was still a perfectly adequate number of people to let Reese slink into the background. They could joke and squeal and do whatever it was that Brynn wanted to do tonight.
Jennifer and Carrie were both Brynn’s friends from undergrad, and with all of them around twenty-six, Brynn’s age, she was banking on them to bring the enthusiasm.
