Chapter Three
Ria
I adjust the spaghetti straps on my sparkly black dress and comb through my shoulder-length brown hair to give it a natural wave. I’ve never been one to go heavy on makeup, but I add a touch of lip gloss, mascara, and bronzer and thanks to the early spring sunshine my freckles have started to come out. I stare at my reflection in the bathroom mirror and don”t recognize myself; for the first time in a long time, I feel good.
“You sexy bitch.” I quickly turn to see Ali standing in the doorway. “Where have you been hiding that body?” she asks, looking me up and down. I smooth my hands down my dress, making sure it’s not revealing too much.
“Does it look okay? Do I look a little slutty?” I ask her anxiously, biting down on my bottom lip.
“Yeah it is, but that”s the point,” she says honestly, just like I knew she would. “You aren”t a married maid strapped to the kitchen sink anymore. It”s your time to find yourself again, Ri. Spread your legs and fly girl,” she declares dramatically, lifting one leg in the air.
I laugh at her ridiculous antics as I push past her to my bedroom next door, Ali following close behind.
“Don’t you mean ‘spread’ your wings and fly?” Gabby quizzes, zipping up her black bodycon dress, a perplexed look on her face.
“No, I don”t. I meant spread your legs.”
“Dear God. it’s going to be one of those nights with you, isn”t it?” Her eyes roll as her head shakes.
“Yep,” Ali says, popping the P. “Work has been a bitch this week and we all know what I do as a stress reliever,” she teases.
Gabby and I burst into fits of laughter and together we all chant, “Spread those legs and ride a dick.”
“Words to live by, ladies.” Ali adjusts her little black sparkly shorts and matching crop top before doing a little wiggle.
“You look amazing.” I look at her in awe. Ali has been to hell and back, and her confidence and resilience amaze me. She”s our wild one, the one who can’t be tamed, but we all need a little wild in our lives.
“Cab is here in five. Let”s do a shot and get this shit show on the road,” Ali calls as she heads out of the room.
Gabby huffs before saying quietly, “I”m just going to change real quick. I don”t feel comfortable in this.”
“Oh, no, you don’t,” Ali shouts, as she marches back into the room. She grabs Gabby’s hand and drags her toward the mirror. “You look fucking hot. You have the body of a goddess.” She spins gabby around to show her peachy bum in the mirror. “All those Pilates classes you do, that ass needs to be showcased,”
“It’s a bit short and tight and not very me.” Looking at her reflection, she tugs at the hem.
“Gabs, you look stunning,” I reassure her.
“Look, it”s got full sleeves, a high neck, and covers your ass. A nun would wear this,” Ali says, pointing as we all look in the mirror at Gabby.
Shaking my head and squinting my eyes at her, I say, “What nuns do you know?”
“None, but that”s beside the point. You look hot and the cab is nearly here. You aren”t changing. Stop hiding under your clothes. You”re twenty-four for fuck”s sake and you dress like my eighty-five-year-old grandma… And she”s dead.”
I snort a laugh. That’s our Ali, as honest as a judge.
“Okay, okay.” Gabby lets out a defeated breath. “But I need two shots before we leave.”
“That’s the spirit,” Ali shouts and slaps Gabby on the ass, making her yelp.
“If you don”t feel comfortable, you can change,” I whisper as we all walk downstairs to the kitchen.
She blows out a long breath. “No, Ali is right. I need to stop hiding. I shouldn”t be ashamed of my body.” She rolls her shoulders back as if she’s trying to convince herself she can do this.
We enter the kitchen, where Ali is already pouring drinks. “No, Gabs, you shouldn”t.” I kiss her cheek, stroking her silky black hair that she pulled into a high ponytail.
“Right, down in one, ladies,” Ali cries, holding three double shot glasses between her fingers. We each take one and clink the glasses together before downing in one.
The cab beeps outside and as I reach for my clutch from the kitchen counter, my hands begin to tremble. I haven”t been out for years. I can’t remember the last time I had a night out where Alex wasn’t there.
“Ri, where”s your head gone. Tell me,” Ali asks, obviously sensing my nerves.
“This is my first night out as a single woman. I don”t know how to be single. I don”t know how to be without him.” I admit, my voice a little unsteady.
“Ri, you don’t—”
I don’t let her finish. I know where this question is going. “No. God, no.” My tone is firm. “I don”t want him back. I don’t miss him, I just don”t know how to be just me, you know”? I feel my chest begin to tighten and I instinctively start to rub my hand over it to ease the burning sensation.
“Ri, chill, babes. You are wound tighter than a nun’s cooch.”
A deep belly laugh erupts from me. Ali always knows when I need to laugh and to get out of my head.
“What’s with the nun comments today? Are you planning on joining a convent, and this is your way of telling us?” I eye her suspiciously,
“Pretty sure I’d go up in flames walking into a place like that.” I nod in agreement.
“No, but seriously, we got you. You just need to be you. You look incredible and it”s good to see you smiling again. I know it might not feel like it, but this heartbreak saved you Ri. It’s gonna make you. It was never supposed to work with him. He wasn’t your person,and he didn’t get you. You would’ve just kept trying until he completely broke you. Remember, the egg doesn”t swim to the sperm—never chase a man.”
“I know you’re right.” I shake my hands and arms as if the motion will expel any negative thoughts from my body.
Pulling me in for a hug and squeezing me tight, she says,“Ri, this is the beginning of loving yourself again… welcome back.”
The cab drops us outside the main entrance of the club. Stepping out onto the street, the crisp March evening air hits us and I shiver, wishing I brought my jacket.
“Of course she would choose Aurora’s for her bachelorette. Is she aware that not everyone is married to a billionaire?” Ali mutters. “The drinks in here will cost more than my rent.”
“The invite said it was a free bar,” Gabby says, pulling the invitation out of her clutch.
“Fuck, yes. I knew we stayed friends with Nancy for a reason.” Ali claps her hands, a big smile now on her face. “Let”s go find my future husband.” Gabby and I look at each other, shaking our heads with a knowing look. We head towards the entrance and show the doormen our invites. He gives us silver bracelets with a charm on that says our names.
“She’s unreal. I bet she wipes her ass with cash after she takes a shit on her gold-plated toilet,” Ali mumbles under her breath as she puts on her bracelet.
“This way please, ladies.” The doorman points us toward a spiral staircase, spotlights guiding us up the dark space to a huge set of double doors at the top.
Inside can only be described as being as opulent as a wedding reception. The floor, walls, and ceiling are white marble. Enormous photos of Nancy and her fiancé, Chris, in various poses and places around the world. There is a six-tiered white cake with a photo of Nancy on the top and in the center of the room is a table that”s filled with glasses of champagne. As well as pink and white balloons that cover the ceiling and pop up stands for permanent bracelets, temporary tattoos, a candy station and a photo booth.
“I see ass, ladies. I repeat, I see ass.” Gabby gasps. Our eyes follow her line of sight to reveal deliciously toned, tanned ass cheeks that belong to a Butler in the Buff.
“What in the MTV Super Sweet Sixteen is this?” Ali says, as we all look around the room, trying to process the scene before us.
“I have no idea, but it’s insane,” I declare, my mouth falling open. I”ve never seen anything like it. My actual wedding wasn”t even half as elaborate as this.
“It”s incredible,” Gabby whispers, mimicking the same expression as me.
“I”m gonna need to get drunk ASAP to cope with this circus,” Ali states, waving over a butler and taking some cocktails from the silver tray he’s carrying.
The pink, glittery liquid swirls in our glasses as we walk over to the velvet seating area. I can”t help but look around and feel a pang of jealousy. As my marriage ends, Nancy`s is about to start. My stomach knots and tears threaten to fall, but I blink them away.
“Maria, Gabriella, Alice.” We turn to see Nancy glide over wearing skyscraper glitter heels and a tiny white strapless dress, her thick blonde hair in big bouncy curls, and wearing the brightest shade of pink lipstick I”ve ever seen.
“Nancy,” we all cry in unison as we try to sound as excited as she is. She leans in to air kiss each of us, one by one.
“Aaah, my girls. Thank you for coming,” she says, bouncing up and down.
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Gabby lies and from the corner of my eye, I watch Ali downing her drink so fast I”m worried I”m going to be carrying her out of here, fireman style, in about twenty minutes.
Turning my attention back to the glowing bride-to-be, I swallow any lingering jealousy. “You look incredible, Nance. Congratulations again. How are you feeling?”
“Oh, thank you,” she practically purrs, flicking her hair and flashing her giant engagement ring, which I am pretty sure could buy every house on my new street.
“It’s just crazy. So much to do, so many things to consider. Well, you know, don”t you, Maria? I mean, you’re married,” she says casually, sipping her champagne.
I take a deep breath. She knows I left Alex, but this is typical Nancy, and the real reason I didn”t want to come.
“Actually, we split a couple of months ago,” I tell her with a tight jaw, tracing my index finger over the indented spot where my own engagement ring and wedding band sat for so many years.
“Oh, my God. I forgot. I’m so sorry. What with all the wedding stress, it must have slipped my mind.” She puts on a fake smile and I don’t believe a word of it. “You”ll find someone, don”t you worry, I’ll introduce you to Chris’ friends,” she says with a patronizing tap on my shoulder and I smile weakly.
I”d rather be raked over hot coals than date a man like your fiancé, thanks.
“I know our little librarian here doesn’t have anyone.” She points at Gabby, who clamps her mouth into a forced smile. “So what about you, Alice? Settled down yet? Found a man that can stop you partying like you’re a freshman in college?” She chuckles into her glass before she takes a sip of her drink.
Seriously, Nancy read the room.
“Oh, no. Not yet, Nancy. I hear it’s all downhill after you say I do, and the sex turns to shit, so I”m going to hang on to my singledom and mind blowing orgasms for a little while longer.” She gives Nancy a shrug of her shoulders.
An awkward silence falls around us and I don”t know what to do other than sip my cocktail and pray someone breaks it.
“Yes, well, that might be the case for some, but not me and my Chris. The man’s built like a god and has got the stamina of a racehorse.” She winks.
“You’ll meet him later,” she informs us, waving her hand around again to blind us with her ring.
“He”s coming to your bachelorette party?” Ali asks, wrinkling her nose, looking between me and Gabby.
“Yes, he owns this club and his new business partners have joined him this evening.”
“Of course he does,” Ali mumbles with a sarcastic laugh.
“Anyway, enjoy the drinks and food. We are going to head to the main room soon to play some games, so get ready for some fun.”
“Yipee,” Ali mocks, but Nancy doesn’t seem to notice. She’s already clocked someone across the room and is walking away.
“God, she’s a piece of work. Someone needs to put her in her place. Thinks she”s better than us. Remind me again why we came?” Ali asks, taking a drink from a passing bulter, gulping the entire thing.
“For the free drinks and to find your future husband?” I stare at her, cocking an eyebrow.
“Ah yes.” She snaps her fingers before pointing between me and Gabby. “Let”s down as many drinks as we can and go find me my billionaire.”
I tilt my head back and drain the remaining liquid, saying a silent prayer. Dear God, give me the strength to make it through the evening.