Page 17 of Summer with My Sexy Ex
“Assigned?” Bristol looks up to see Taylor staring her down. Belatedly realizing everyone at the table is silent and watching. Her face turns an unhealthy-looking shade of red.
“Sorry,” Bristol mumbles and slides lower in her seat. She keeps her gaze downcast and fiddles with her role tag.
“Okay.” Taylor claps her hands three times to get everyone’s attention, which still works since we all just responded by rote, like a bunch of third graders.
“I want everyone to get to know one another this weekend so we’re all best friends by the big day,” Taylor says. “I’m seating everyone next to someone they don’t know.”
“Excuse me, Taylor.” Bristol raises her hand.
Taylor points to her. “Yes, Bristol?”
“I know this one.” She points to me.
Taylor waves a hand in the air, dismissing Bristol. “Well, it only has to work for most of us, not everyone. Okay, where were we?”
Bridesmaid number nine raises her hand.
Taylor points.
“Can we sit now?” She jerks her thumb between her and her wife.
“Fine.” Taylor sighs. “But one of you is going to have to be blue.”
They look confused by the comment, but Taylor doesn’t explain.
I lean into Bristol and whisper, “Taylor’s boy/girl order around the table met its match with the female couple. It’s thrown her into a state of total seating-chart-astrophe.”
Bristol snickers, despite herself, which makes me smile. Maybe I’ll be able to thaw her yet.
I get the impression Bristol has similar feelings toward Taylor as I do. For one thing, I find her frightening whenever she uses herteacher voice. For another, I’m surprised she’s the one Blake has chosen to spend his life with. It’s not that I don’t like her, per se. More like I envisioned Blake with someone whose personality was like his: charismatic, laid back, fun.
Shit, would they even be getting married if she weren’t pregnant?
Does she make him happy? Do I even know?
Or am I too wrapped up in my own life to notice?
Taylor keeps talking, pointing out some of the various things we should be excited about for the weekend, none of which sound remotely entertaining. She walks around the table, distributing pale pink and baby blue sheets of paper. Her earlier comment makes more sense now. All theboysare gettingblue. And all thegirlsare gettingpink.
“Isn’t this gender discrimination?” I ask Bristol softly.
“Yeah, what if I prefer blue?” she whispers, gesturing to her paper.
“I wanted pink,” I say. “Trade?”
Bristol holds her paper out, and we swap. Her eyes sparkle as she smiles. I return the gesture two-fold, happy her hatred of me seems momentarily forgotten.
I feel a little rebellious switching papers behind Taylor’s back while she’s in her teaching mode, but I don’t feel bad about it.
Especially after I read what’s on it.
THE MOORE/SIMPSON VEGAS
WEEKEND ITINERARY:
FRIDAY
6:00 PM - Dinner at Rafaels, private patio reserved.
