Page 9 of Best Woman
Another enamel-eroding gulp of my cocktail. “I’m good. Fine. I don’t live in Florida so…there’s that.”
We both laugh. I’ve met more than a few Floridian expats in New York and we all have the same story: weirdos who escaped as soon as we could. Among my friends who have left the Sunshine State are a burlesque-dancer-slash-mortician, a baker who only crafts cakes shaped like vulvas, and a nonbinary software developer who dresses exactly like Trinity inThe Matrix.
Lounging on her side of our booth, whiskey in hand, Kim somehow looks like she is at some horrifically exclusive after-hours party. Even in the unflattering overhead lighting, she glows.
“Not being in Florida is certainly a win. Have you lived here since high school?”
“At the Cheesecake Factory? Yeah, I’ve got a lovely little studio set up in the walk-in freezer.”
Another laugh, her eyes crinkling. “I’ve been in New York since college,” I continue. “Floundered around for a couple of years figuring things out after I graduated. Not that Ihavefigured anything out.”
Her eyebrow raises. “Well, you figuredonething out.”
I laugh. “The girl thing, yes. Everything else, not so much. Isomehow fell into interior design, which I like and am weirdly good at.”
“That makes sense.” She rips off a piece of brown bread and starts to butter it. “You always had a very clear sense of style, even in high school.”
I attempt to duck behind my bangs. “I’m not sure myHot Topic sale rackvibe was all that stylish.”
“You had a point of view. That was pretty rare where and when we grew up.”
“And likely why I left. What have you been up to since then?”
She shrugs, swirling her drink. “This and that. I wanted to make music for a while but was never all that good. Then I dipped my toes into event production, but I hated always smelling like secondhand cigarette smoke. Did corporate marketing for a bit, but the money isnotworth how psychotic everyone is. Now I mostly consult.”
“So you’re what, professionallycool? Sounds about right. You were like, the most interesting person I met until I turned eighteen.”
She laughs. “Don’t sell me short, I’m still the most interesting person you’ve met.”
We clink our glasses in mock cheers.
I suppose it’s time to address the elephant in the Cheesecake Factory. “You’ll certainly be the most interesting person at the wedding.”
“Maybe not. After all, you’ll be there.”
“Aw, shucks.” I take another swig of my drink. “Beinginterestingis not all it’s cracked up to be. A wedding is inherently a family reunion.”
“But one with ice sculptures.” Kim knocks back the rest of her drink and waves over the waitress. “Last week Rachel told me over FaceTime that they’re having a hard time deciding what kinds of animals to do. Swans areso2012.”
We order another round of drinks from the waiter.
“That’s nothing.” I tear viciously into the bread between us. “Last I heard they were trying to rent a replica of the couch fromFriendsfor wedding photos.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Straight people?”
“Straight people.”
“How’s your sudden promotion to maid of honor going?” I ask. “It’s a lot of responsibility in such a short amount of time.”
“Honestly, it’s been a nightmare. I love Rachel, but you know what she’s like on a normal day.”
“The first time I met her I tried to buy Adderall off of her because I assumed she was on, you know, a lot of it.”
“Right,” Kim says. “I still don’t know why she needed me to step in all of a sudden. She and Jenna were always so tight.”
How to handle this? If Rachel didn’t tell her, it was probably for a reason, although if I’m being generous, that reason was probably to spare my feelings.
