Maggie smothered a laugh behind her hand, shaking her head.
Before Gwen could retort, Lillian rose gracefully from her chair, setting down her gin and slipping her arm through Gwen’s with a sigh. “Honestly, I don’t know how you keep up with these wild women,” she murmured, low enough for Gwen alone. “They’ve got the stamina of Olympians. I prefer to drink sitting down.”
Gwen felt her lips twitch before she could stop it. “You and me both.”
Pete, oblivious, pointed at them with delight. “See? Team Responsible already forming. We’ll need you two to carry the rest of us home.”
“Speak for yourself,” Danica said, patting Pete’s arm like she was indulging a child. “I have hand sanitizer at the ready.”
The chatter swelled again, sashes glittering, laughter bouncing off the suite walls. And even as Gwen felt the familiar thrum of tension low in her chest, with the unfinished fight with Maggie and three new work emails still unopened on her phone, she let herself lean into the absurdity, just for now.
The crawl began like every bad idea — with enthusiasm and sequins.
At the first stop, Pete ordered a round of “Bachelorette Bombs,” which turned out to be tequila dropped into Red Bull. Danica laughed so hard at Kiera’s horrified face she nearly spilled hers. Maggie didn’t even flinch — tossed hers back in one go looking incredible in a green two-piece dress that showed off her midriff, her blonde hair loose around her shoulders.
By the second bar, Maggie was on a table dancing with a pack of strangers while Pete egged her on like a hype man. Gwen nursed a vodka soda at the edge of the chaos, her stomach twisting.
“You look like you’re calculating her blood alcohol content,” Lillian murmured, appearing at her elbow with her gin and tonic.
“I might have to be,” Gwen said.
At bar three, the group had acquired glow sticks, plastic tiaras, and at least one inflatable flamingo Pete refused to explain. Izzy was leading Kiera in a conga line. Maggie spun into Gwen’s orbit for half a second, cheeks flushed, grinning in that reckless, magnetic way that had once undone her entirely. Then she was gone again, swallowed by the crowd.
Lillian steered Gwen toward the quieter end of the bar. “They’re exhausting,” she said, almost fondly. “Like watching a litter of puppies knock over furniture.”
“Puppies don’t usually order Jell-O shots,” Gwen muttered, though her lips twitched.
Pete made Danica pose under a neon sign that readTIL DEATH DO US PARTY.Maggie photobombed, flashing double peace signs, a tiara sliding down her forehead. Gwen caught the moment in her periphery and felt a familiar pang — half fondness, half worry.
By the time they staggered into bar four, the energy was ragged but still loud, all sequins and slurred declarations of eternal friendship. Gwen stayed close to Lillian, the two of them orbiting at the edges, trading dry commentary while the rest of the crew spun themselves out.
Maggie was still in the center of it, reckless and shining, like the whole world was a dare.
And Gwen, steady as ever, could only watch.
By the fifth stop, Gwen’s ears were ringing from bass-heavy playlists and too many shrieks of“Shots! Shots! Shots!”She stood near the edge of the bar with Lillian, who had somehow remained elegant despite the chaos — her lipstick intact, her martini glass perfectly balanced.
She was glad for Lillian’s company in the trainwreck that was this bar crawl. Someone who hadn’t lived through thecollege stories, who wasn’t fluent in every inside joke. The group had always tried to fold Gwen in, but she’d never quite shaken the sense of being on the outside. With Lillian beside her, at least she wasn’t the only one.
“They’re unstoppable,” Lillian murmured, leaning close so Gwen could hear her over the music. “I’m convinced Pete runs on battery acid.”
Gwen huffed a laugh, tilting her head toward her. “You’re not wrong.”
Lillian’s shoulder brushed hers. “You don’t even look tired.”
“I am tired,” Gwen said, dry. “I’m just good at hiding it.”
Lillian’s smile curved, amused. “No wonder you’ve survived in this circus for so long then.”
CHAPTER 19
Maggie
Maggie slammedthe rest of her drink harder than she meant to, the cheap plastic cup crunching in her hand. Across the room, Gwen and Lillian were tucked in a corner, all low voices and leaning shoulders. Lillian with her perfect skin and heroh, I’m effortlessly cool in every situationvibe, laughing at something Gwen said like she’d just been handed the world’s best secret.
It was infuriating.
In front of her. In front ofeveryone.
