“She left. She wanted to check on her cat. She’s really attached to her cat.”
“Fair enough,” says Jordan, leading Simone back to the bar. She’s glad Simone is there to diffuse some of the tension with Natalie. Greetings, hugs, etc.
“We’re doing shots!” Natalie tells her.
Jordan says, “Not this again. We’re not twenty-two, Natalie.” She’s torn between her anger and her desire for her anger to be gone.
“Who cares. There’s not a maximum age. Simone, will you do a shot with us?”
Simone assesses the Shipman girls and asks, “How’re you getting home?”
“Uber,” they say together.
“I have my car,” says Simone. “I’m not drinking tonight. Do your shot. I’ll be your Uber.”
“Yay!” say Natalie and Mae together.
Jordan sighs. “Just one teeny-weeny shot before we go,” Natalie says to Jordan.
“Fine,” Jordan agrees, knowing it’s a bad idea, because one shot before you go is always, always a bad idea and it only ever makes you feel better for about four minutes. “But make it bourbon, okay?”
“Bartender!” calls Natalie, and Jordan cringes, but the bartendercomes over, and she says, “That’s what I’m talking about, ladies!” when Natalie orders a round. The shot burns going down, because you aren’t supposed to shoot bourbon, you’re supposed to sip it, but if that’s the biggest mistake Jordan makes this week she can live with it.
“Should we do another?” asks Natalie.
“No,” says everyone, and Jordan adds, “Oh my god, you’re drunk on two drinks and a shot; when did you become such a lightweight?”
“Do you think we’ll be in trouble with Dad if we come home drunk?” asks Natalie, ignoring Jordan’s question.
“Uhhhh,” says Mae. “Is that a thing that happens to adults?”
“I think you’re safe,” says Simone. “I’m sure your father has been drunk before.”
“Actually, I’ve never seen Dad drunk,” says Natalie.
Mae says, “At Dad and Kara’s wedding—” and then claps her hand drunkenly over her mouth.
Natalie and Jordan turn on her. “I’m sorry,what?” cries Jordan.
“Nothing.”
“No, not nothing. You said something about the wedding.”
“No wedding,” says Mae, speaking in the space her fingers leave as they part.
Jordan and Natalie exchange a glance, confused. Jordan, who feels instantly sober, says, “Mae? Were youatDad and Kara’s wedding?”
Mae removes her hand and says, “Possibly.”
Everything shifts then—everything.
“This seems like a good time to call it a night,” says Simone.
“It’s only ten o’clock,” says Natalie. Her eyes are shooting daggers at Mae. “I think we can stay a little longer.”
Simone catches the bartender’s eye and says, “These three are ready to settle up.”
Jordan pays the bill, waving away Natalie’s credit card. Mae, that little traitor, who isn’t meeting her or Natalie’s eyes, doesn’t even offer to pay.
