Page 8 of Wild Ever After
“Or, I’ll find another couple to take your place. I’ll tell them you were never engaged and that you were only the ghostwriter.” She flaps her hand around dismissively, as if it’s of no consequence to her, and then rests her elbows on the table. “I will find a way to spin this to protect the magazine’s image.”
I open and close my mouth, trying to find the words. The magazine’s image. Not mine. Nine months of working long hours at the office, giving up time with friends to research wedding invitation etiquette and learn all the shades of white. That’s to say nothing of the damage it’s all done to my relationship with Sam. It can’t have been for nothing.
Who would hire me after Melody inevitably fires me? She’d never write me a letter of recommendation, and people around this city would know. The magazine, and my articles, have been getting a lot of local and national attention. Last week a lady at the grocery store recognized me. For fifteen minutes she fangirled over my articles and told me that I helped her feel less overwhelmed with all the wedding planning.
“It makes sense now why Sam wasn’t keen on having his photo taken, and why his groomsmen are your bridesmaids’ significant others, instead of his friends or family.” Her gaze is narrowed, but her tone is calm. Too calm.
I nod, even though it isn’t necessary. She’s already put it all together.
Sam had very limited involvement in what I was writing. Early on, when he agreed to get engaged and let me write about it for the magazine, he made a couple of stipulations. He didn’t want his name or photo used in the articles, and he didn’t want to tell his family (our plan was to go see them in North Dakota after the wedding and honeymoon, maybe have a small reception to celebrate). The first one was no big deal, since the articles I wrote focused on the bridal experience. The second stung, I won’t lie, but I’ve never met Sam’s family, and the idea of them stumbling onto my bridal column was such a long shot, I didn’t see any harm in it.
Now I’m starting to wonder if he ever wanted to marry me. Maybe his future plans of a wife, two kids, and a golden retriever didn’t include me as the woman standing by his side. I know the wedding came in a rush and I’ve been consumed with getting it all ready, but is it possible I really missed all the signs that my fiancé never planned to walk down the aisle?
“Your call, Jade. Do you want me to find another couple?” she asks.
I stand and find my voice. “No. I’ll be there. And so will my groom.”
* * *
“How’d it go?” Scarlett’s waiting for me outside when I get done with my meeting.
“As good as could be expected, I guess.” I let out a breath that puffs out my cheeks.
“Wanna talk about it?” she asks.
“No. I need to pack and get ready. What time do we leave?” We’re heading to Milwaukee for my bachelorette party. Scarlett wanted to plan a big, beach getaway, but I’ve never been to the ocean, and I thought it’d be fun to see it the first time with Sam on our honeymoon.
“How about now?” She glances out into the parking lot and I follow her gaze. A pink Hummer is parked along the curb with Piper and Dakota hanging out an open door. Even from this distance, I can see the giant smiles on their faces.
“I don’t have my bag and look at me.” I glance down at my outfit. The knee-length skirt and button-down shirt will not do for my bachelorette party.
“I’ve got you covered.” My best friend takes my hand and pulls me with her. “I packed you a bag and tossed in all my skimpiest dresses as backups.”
As we get closer to the vehicle, I can hear the bass pumping and see the matching pink interior. The first real smile since Sam left tugs at the corners of my lips.
“Hey!” Piper jumps down to hug me. “Happy bachelorette party!”
A sash is thrown over my head and a flute of champagne is thrust in my hand. The hurt and stress of the past two days starts to melt away. Through it all, my friends have been there for me and I know they always will be.
Scarlett and I have been friends since high school. She is the most considerate and reliable person in my life. Piper only came into our lives in the past year, but I feel like I’ve known her so much longer. And Dakota. She’s married to one of the Wildcat players, but because she was finishing college, she only moved to Minnesota a few weeks ago. I’m still getting to know her, but I feel like she’s a kindred spirit. I’ve kept my circle small. Trust isn’t easy for me. But these three feel like the sisters I never had.
“Let’s party.” I lift my glass in the air, and my friends mimic the motion, clinking their flutes against mine.
4
LIKE HELL YOU WILL
JADE
We startwith dinner at my favorite local spot. Before this whole thing blew up in my face, I’d already invited a couple of girls from the office and three friends from high school that I’ve kept in semi-regular contact with since graduation to join us for the first stop on my bachelorette party. None of them know the truth about my engagement or that Sam bowed out. It’s fine, though, I don’t feel like talking about it tonight anyway.
After dinner, Scarlett, Piper, Dakota and I head for Milwaukee in the ridiculous pink Hummer. We dance and laugh the entire way there, and before I know it, the driver is pulling up to the first bar. I changed into an appropriately skimpy dress for the occasion, and after two glasses of champagne, I’m more than ready to have a good time.
I have done a lot of research on engagement and wedding traditions. I’ve jumped in feet first to things like attending bridal runway shows and researching ceremony locations everywhere from churches to inside a helicopter. The options are endless and most of the wedding planning seemed like a lot of extra effort in the name of marriage.
But bachelor and bachelorette parties make perfect sense to me. A final hurrah to single life, out on the town with your best friends? Yes, please!
Everywhere we go, heads turn. My friends are hot, but I think it’s the bright pink sashes they’re wearing, combined with the cheap veil on my head, that is getting us noticed. Everyone loves a bachelorette party.
