Page 28 of Deception and New Direction

Cat andValhad been inWitnessProtectionfor most of their adult lives, which meant they hadn’t gotten to experience many things that other people usually did.

I hadn’t been to many either.Onefor my mom’s friends whenIwas younger, and one for a co-worker at the salonIworked at inVegas, but that was it.Ihad never been a bridesmaid either and was honored.

“I’m honored,Ellie,”Itold her. “ButI’vealso never been a bridesmaid before, soI’mnot sure what to do.”

“You all don’t really need to do anything,” she replied. “It’smostly a formality.Wade’smom and sisters have essentially decided to take over the planning and get a caterer and tents and such.Itwill be a small wedding with just our friends and a few family members ofWade’s.”

“Google says we have to throw you a bachelorette party, andIam so nominating myself for this job,”Valsaid excitedly.

“You don’t have to do that,”Elliesaid, smiling.

“Hell yesIdo!OhmyGod, look at these,”Valsaid, holding up her phone for us to see. “Iam so buying these penis necklaces for all of us to wear.Ooooh, and matchingT-shirts!”

We all laughed atVal’sexcitement, andIrealizedIloved these ladies so much.

“I askedTammyto also be a bridesmaid, but she told me she was too old for that,”Ellieadded. “Butshe offered to show up for the bachelorette party and be our designated driver if we needed one.”

Tammy was a hoot, andIwas thrilled she would be joining us.

“I have to pee.Wouldyou let me out?”Catsaid toEllieso she could slide out of the booth.

“I’ll come with you so we can talk more options for the bachelorette party,”Valannounced, following her out.

Once they were several steps away from the booth,Ellieturned to me and spoke. “Notto throw a curveball at you, butIwas actually wondering if you’d be my maid of honor.Wouldyou,Ruthie?”

I was speechless.Thesmile that had been on my face fromVal’scomments was now gone.Inits place was a slightly open mouth asIstared at her.

“You were the first friendImade whenImoved here, and we’ve only grown closer since, andI’dlove to have you by my side whenImarryWade.”

Tears filled my eyes asInodded, unable to say any words at that moment.Shesmiled back at me asIcoughed and tried to muster the ability to answer her.

“Yes,”Ireplied hoarsely.

“Great,” she said softly and smiled at me.

She acted likeIhad just given her the moon, when in reality she’d given me somethingIhad never truly had—a deep, loyal friendship.

The girls returned, and we discussed everything from what we would wear to takingElliedress shopping.Tammyalso stopped by briefly to discuss the bachelorette party.

An hour later, we were all finally ready to head home.ForValandEllie, that meant going upstairs to their apartments.ForCatand me, that meant heading toVince’scar, since he was our designated driver for the evening.

Vince had just walked in and made his way to the table when we all slid out of the booth.Thefirst thing he did was pullCatin for a hug and kissed her senseless.

“Ewww,”Valsaid, sticking her tongue out. “IthinkIjust got strep throat watching that.”

“What was that for?”Catasked him with a smile on her face.

“To let every man in here who is staring at you that you are taken,”Vincegrowled back. “Didyou ladies all have fun?”

We all nodded and made our way to the door.Tammyyelled goodbye from the bar, and we waved back to her as we left.Vincemade sureEllieandValmade it to the elevator lobby for their apartments, and then guidedCatand me to his car.

The car ride wasn’t very long, and it was filled mostly withCattelling him about the wedding plans.

When we arrived atJack’shouse, bothCatandVinceoffered to come inside with me to make sureDashdidn’t knock me over in his excitement.AfterIwas greeted with copious amounts ofDashlove,Isaid goodbye toVinceandCatand made my way to my room to get ready for bed.

It wasn’t exactly late, but it also wasn’t early, andIdidn’t want to dwell on the fact thatJackwasn’t home.

I took a shower—whichIhad learned was much easier to do at night with my cast instead of in the morning soIdidn’t have to rush.Ittook time covering the cast up with a bag, and time was not somethingIhad a lot of in the morning sinceIpreferred using it to sleep in.Afterfinishing up my nighttime routine,Iwent to go letDashout one last time before bed.

---