Her eyes flash, but her plastic smile stays put. “Yes, well. You showed up anyway!”
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world!” Causing any hint of this woman’s anger fills me with delight. The spiteful shell that protected me from Mrs. Jacobson’s passive-aggressive suggestions and backhanded compliments my whole childhood is no longer mere armor. My resentment has grown petty roots in my heart, nearly as nourishing and motivating as my parents’ love.
Mrs. Jacobson’s eyes slide over to Eris, who comes around to stand next to me in zis full genderfuck glory. Her perfect smile slips in shock. To my surprise, my gut reaction isn’t that cold satisfaction. In its place, a surge of protectiveness makes my stomach clench. How dare this bitch look at Eris with disdain?
Despite the curl of her lip, Eris stands proudly. A smirk teases the corners of zis mouth as ze and Mrs. Jacobson stare at each other.
Her sneer hits harder because Eris looks positively classy for once, with a sleeveless black turtleneck, neatly trimmed mustache, and a turquoise pendant and earrings that match zis septum ring. The tattoos on Eris’s skull are sharp and vibrant thanks to a fresh undercut. Zis tight black jeans, tucked intoheeled boots, emphasize the shapeliness of zis thick calves. Eris’s makeup is immaculate, the flower in zis chignon charming.
I wrap my arm around zis waist, pulling zim close. “Oh, where are my manners! This is Eris. Eris, this is Matt’s mother, Mrs. Jacobson.” Twenty years as neighbors, and I’m still not allowed to call her by her first name.
“Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” Eris holds out a hand, which Mrs. Jacobson gingerly shakes. Her nostrils flare in a sharp sniff as she reads the “And I Say, Fuck It!” script tattooed on zis forearm. “Blake has told me so much about you.”
“Good things, I hope,” Mrs. Jacobson’s fake laugh is as annoying as ever.
Eris merely shrugs, which I deeply appreciate.
Mrs. Jacobson’s smile dims. “So, what do you do for work, Eris?”
“I’m a drug dealer.”
I choke, sputtering out, “You arenota drug dealer!”
“I sell cannabis for recreational and medicinal use, Blake. Pretty sure I’m a drug dealer.”
“Ze manages a licensed dispensary,” I cough out, trying to reassure Mrs. Jacobson that Eris is not a criminal. Her very strong opinions on marijuana haven’t changed since the Reagan administration. She is the reason my parents grow and smoke exclusively in the basement; she would absolutely call the DEA. Even though it’s legal…now. I think. Actually, my parents are probably over the legal limit with how many plants they have.
Instead of engaging further inthatconversation, Matt’s mom looks to the entrance. “Oh, there’s the happy couple! Finally!”
That’s all the warning I have before Matt knocks into Eris and me again, like an overeager puppy. “Oh my god, you guys look so hot! You even dress alike!”
Eris and I exchange a confused look as Matt hugs us. I’m wearing a black linen button-up, adorned with a gold chainbetween the collar studs, and pleated shorts that hang past my knee. I guess we’re both in black, and for Matt, that’s apparently enough.
“Matt, I’m not sure you should call anyone but your bride-to-be ‘hot’ the night before you get married,” Mrs. Jacobson hisses through a gritted smile. “Especially your ex!”
Matt smiles blankly, his usual answer when his mom says something he disagrees with.
A shriek of my name makes me turn just as another ball of energy collides with my middle, squeezing me tight. This ray of sunshine is all blond curls and vanilla perfume. White maxi dress swirling, Allie bounces in excitement. She steps back from crushing her face to my chest to give me a once-over. “Fuck, you look good! I missed your sexy ass!”
Before I can respond, she whirls to face Eris, enveloping zim in a hug before ze can react. “Oh my god, you must be Eris! I’m so jealous Matt got to meet you first!”
“Matt, Allie, darlings, your wedding isn’t for socializing with your…friends.” Mrs. Jacobson pries Allie away from Eris and nudges her towards Matt. “Go, mingle with your other guests! You’ll have plenty of time to catch up with Blake and her friend. Later.”
Allie’s smile falls, and I want to punch Matt’s mom.
“Their,” Eris says, breaking the silence. “I’mtheir… Well, friend isn’t the right word, but I’mtheirs. Nothers.”
My curl of satisfaction from the vein twitching in Mrs. Jacobson’s temple twists into a glow of euphoria. Matt, despite correcting everyone else, has never corrected his parents. I’ve always been my own guard dog—and his—when it came to the Jacobsons. I have never expected anyone else to take up that mantle, especially not Eris.
I take Eris’s hand and shoot zim an appreciative smile. “Weddings are to celebrate with loved ones, right? I’m sure people will understand if they spend some time with us.”
“No, it’s all right!” Allie insists, her smile twisting. She and Matt exchange a loaded glance when he puts a hand on her back. “We should go greet everyone, but I’ll be back to hear all about you soon, Eris!”
Mrs. Jacobson herds them away. Matt and Allie send us twin exasperated looks over their shoulders, but follow her anyway.
“So that’s Allie.” I turn to Eris, who stares at me with a perplexed expression. Thanks to zis heels, ze’s almost at eye level, and my self-consciousness blooms under zis close inspection. “What? Do I have something on my face?”
“Everything makes so much more sense now.” Ze turns and heads to the bar.
