I won’t mention anything about my late period.Though Ally would be excited, I want this weekend to be all about her and Dan.
Ally smiles, glowing with pre-wedding happiness. “I keep having to pinch myself that this is all real.”
I finish up with her nails, unimpressed with the job. It’s not that they look bad, they’re just not wedding nails, clipped down to the skin. “Babe, I think I should call a nail technician in the morning to give your nails some length.”
“Absolutely not. I can’t play the piano with long nails. Besides, no one will be paying attention to my hands.”
“If you’re sure.” I rarely have long nails either, due to ballet. But a wedding is a special occasion. “Zara, your turn next.” I take Zara’s hand in mine and wince at the state of her nails too. They’re no better than Ally’s. “Let me guess, no fake nails for you either?”
“Unless you want me to play terribly at the reception, no.” Zara gives an awkward laugh, tossing her black hair behind her shoulders. “Gosh, I’m nervous. I hope I do Mozart proud. I’ve been practicing the concerto like mad. I have theAndanteperfected. Maybe I shouldn’t play the other two movements.”
“Of course you should,” Ally says. “I’ve heard you play them and you’re great. TheAllegro maestosois my favorite.”
There the two of them go again, chatting away about classical music. It’s cute, seeing this friendship they’ve formed.
I don’t know a whole lot about Zara. Apparently, she’s just moved here from out of state. She’s eighteenand in her senior year of high school. Zara boards at Sacred Heart during the week and lives with Violet each weekend. I don’t know where their parents are, nor does it seem appropriate to ask.
While Zara and Ally are good friends, I get the impression Zara is very much like a little sister. They met a few years ago when Violet asked Ally if she could give Zara online piano lessons. Each time Zara came to town to visit her sister, she met up with Ally for in-person lessons. I suppose the rest is history.
Zara brings a pink macaron to her lips. “I can’t wait for the look on Dan’s face when he sees you in your wedding dress.”
I switch to painting Zara’s other hand and laugh. “It most definitely won’t be appropriate for an audience. Ally, the way that man looks at you should be illegal.”
“Girl, please.” Ally giggles, sipping her champagne. “Have you seen the way Felix and Tyler look at you? I feel like I’m intruding every time I’m in the room with you three. I’m so happy everything has worked out.”
“Wait a second.” Violet holds up both hands. “I need details about the three of you. Like, holy fuck, you are living a dream, Harper.”
I bite my bottom lip and smile. “Itisa dream. We grew up together. I’ve been in love with them my entire life. They feel like they’re part of my soul.”
Violet shakes her head. “That’s sweet, honey, but you know I was asking for details about the sex, right?”
Ally and Zara burst out laughing.
I roll my eyes, laughing with them. “Fine. The sex is mind-blowing.”
“How do the logistics work? I mean, they’re brothers. Do you take turns with them one at a time or…”
“They share me at the same time. We all sleep in the same bed. Satisfied?”
The three of them are squealing. I’m smiling, realizing how much I’m enjoying my night with these girls, all of us laughing, talking about guys and sex.
Girlhood is something I’ve often found missing in my life. Tyler was always my closest friend. Growing up in ballet school, everyone was so competitive, it was hard to form genuine friendships.
The one girl I thought was my friend… Even to this day, her betrayal burns beneath my skin when I think about her. Fuck Cindy.
But karma is a bitch. One year after Cindy stole my lead role, she took a tumble on stage and broke an ankle. Her ballet career was over before it started. She tried reaching out to me shortly after. I didn’t give her the time of day and instead let her watch my career shine. The best revenge is to live a happy and successful life, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.
“Maybe this is a dumb question,” Zara adds with shy curiosity. “But what are the sleeping arrangements for Felix and Tyler when you’re not around, like tonight? Do they sleep in the same bed without you?”
We’re laughing again. I grab a pillow and swat Zara across the arm with it. “No. They have their own space. Enough about me. Violet, do you have any love stories brewing?”
“My love life is nonexistent.”
Ally snorts. “Are you sure about that? You and Killian…”
“There’s nothing between us. We’re just good friends.”
“Friends who have a ridiculous amount of chemistry?”
