Page 46 of One Good Puck
Sophie reaches over and grabs my hand. “You get the important stuff done, Abby. The stuffthat counts.”
“Yeah. Your daughter is happy and safe and loved,” Dakota says. “Every day you show up to work and do a great job teaching your students, who adore you. That’s all that matters.”
This time when I smile, I don’t have to force it. Dakota and I have been work friends for the past three years, pretty much ever since she started working at the school. Through her, I’ve met and hung out with Sophie, who I’ve gotten to know better these past few months. They’re both wonderful people. So kind and supportive and hardworking. It means so much to know that they think I’m a good person, a good teacher, and a good mom.
“Thanks, you guys. That was the pep talk I needed,” I say. They both beam at me and raise their glasses.
“To Abby for being an all-around badass,” Dakota says. I laugh.
“To Abby!” Sophie says with a smile.
I’m still laughing as I click my glass against theirs.
“So how’s wedding planning going?” I ask them.
“Stressful but fun,” Sophie says.
“Same,” Dakota says. “Finding a venue took a while, but now that that’s done, everything else feels easy.”
“Yeah, I felt the same way,” Sophie says. “I still can’t believe we’re getting married at a winery.” She chuckles. “Me, the girl who hates alcohol, am getting married at a vineyard.”
Dakota nudges her playfully. “We know the only reason you and Xander booked that place was because the views are breathtaking.”
“Pretty much.” Sophie chuckles. “I can’t wait for your wedding in the mountains,” she says to Dakota.
Dakota flashes a blissful smile. “Me neither.”
“Have you two gone dress shopping yet?”
They both shake their heads. “When we do, you should come,” Dakota says.
“Yeah, I wanna make it a fun girls’ day,” Sophie says.
I smile, heartened that they want to include me. They start chatting about dress codes and cake tasting and seating arrangements.
“I probably need to go dress shopping too,” I say. “I haven’t been to a wedding in ages.”
“When’s the last time?” Sophie asks.
“Before I got pregnant with Abby. The dress I wore to that wedding is wildly out of style now. No way could I wear it to either of your weddings.”
Dakota laughs. “Okay, we need to see this dress.”
I chuckle, feeling a pleasant buzz from the wine. I hop up from the couch and run up to my bedroom, grab the dress from the back of my closet, and run back down.
When I hold it up for Dakota and Sophie to see, they both gasp at the rose gold bodycon bandage dress.
“Oh my gosh! I wore a dress that was just like that to my high school homecoming dance, except mine was hot pink,” Dakota says. Sophie laughs.
I laugh and shake my head. “I was probably twenty-three when I wore this and solidly in my tight little dress phase.”
“You should try it on!” Dakota says.
“Oh, I don’t think it’ll fit right. My boobs are a little bigger now from breastfeeding Emma as a baby.”
“Come on, try it on, Abby! Let’s get you feeling sexy again!” Sophie says.
Laughing, I shake my head. “Fine.”
