“Gosh, it’s been such a long time since I’ve been on a real date. I’d be happy if a man got me something from Goodwill,” Amanda says, and everyone laughs again. They’re all about threecranberry vodkas deep at this point, and while I can’t partake, I’m still having fun.
“Listen, I’ve found some good things at Goodwill,” I say. Rachel crinkles her nose and shakes her head as if my words were tangibly sour.
“Well, at least you won’t be shopping there anymore, not now that you’re with Dom,” Brynn says with a smirk.
“I can’t believe you’re with Dominic Wolfe,” Rachel says with a sigh.
“Isn’t he kind of old?” Amanda asks, and while that should be a dig, I don’t take it personally. Amanda is probably the nicest girl in the group, and it’s not her fault that all the air in her head doesn’t leave much room for anything else.
“Upper forties, right?” Brynn asks.
“Something like that,” I answer, taking a sip of my mocktail.
“Listen,” I tell them. “Just because there’s silver on the hood doesn’t mean there isn’t horsepower in the engine,” I whisper, and everyone shrieks.
I take a sip of my mocktail, smiling against the rim of the glass. It’s in that moment that I realize I am having a good time. While Lainey is my best friend, these girls remind me of girls I hung out with in high school. There’s a sisterhood, a camaraderie. Even though I don’t think I am as concerned about looks, dating, or name brands as they are, it feels good to laugh like this again. I like feeling like I’m part of something again. I feel like I have a little piece of who I used to be before the accident robbed me of everything in an instant.
“I know it sounds crazy, but I don’t really care about his money,” I say, and then all roll their eyes.
“Oh, please,” Rachel says. “Every girl says she’s not a gold digger, but come on! Even if we are, where is the shame in it? For real?”
“I would never want someone to think I was a gold digger,” Amanda says with a look of bewilderment.
“No, I mean it,” Rachel says. “We do so much for men. We dress up, we work out, we watch our weight. Every movement, every expression, every word we fucking speak, all to appease men and feel worth something. A constant show, and for what? To be told that all we care about is money? So maybe we do like when they spoil us. Everything we do, everything weare,is for their benefit. If I want some Dom Perignon and a pair of Gucci sunglasses at the end of the day, I think that’s reasonable.”
“Cheers to that,” Brynn says as she takes another sip from her glass. And I can’t help but think about that. These girls may not be everyone’s favorite, but it’s not like they don’t struggle.
“For once, I would like to have a job where how much money I make isn’t dependent on how much ass I show,” Amanda says.
“Or how much I flirt with greasy old men,” Rachel says.
“You’re lucky you don’t have to do it anymore,” Brynn smiles over at me. I smile back, but something feels off.
“I miss it, honestly,” I admit.
“You miss being smacked on the ass and being called pussycat?” Amanda asks, and I chuckle.
“No. I miss working. I miss being around people. I miss having friends,” I say.
“Well, you have us,” Amanda says, and I look up at them.
“She’s right,” Brynn says. “I wasn’t so sure about you at first, but I think you might be one of us.”
“And you’re a great dancer,” Amanda says.
“Yeah, you are,” Brynn agrees, her eyes locked on me intently as she smirks.
“I was in school for dance. But that was before,” I say, leaving it at that, and luckily, they’re too preoccupied to question me.
“Well, I’m bored,” Rachel says. “The two blonde boys at the end of the bar stopped buying us drinks, so I say we move on.”
“Yes,” Brynn agrees, finishing her drink. “Club One O’ One is supposed to be on fire tonight. And so are we,” she grins, and they all get up. I finish my mocktail, and as they grab their things, my phone buzzes. It’s a text from Lainey.
Lainey: Hey girl. I miss you. We really need to hang out soon.
My heart swells in my chest. I’m about to answer her when Brynn grabs me by the hand, tugging me off the stool.
“Come on, sweetie. You’re about to see how Ring Girl’s party,” she says, and I shove my phone in my pocket as we tramp out the door.
