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“Fine.”
I twist her toward the stairs and turn back to the bar, finding Tessa filling up champagne flutes. “Tess, what are you doing? You’re a guest tonight. Not staff.”
“It’s cool. I could use the tips. It’s going to be packed.”
I shake my head. “I totally get that. Well, thanks for coming out with us tonight.”
“Thanks for inviting me. It’s strange…hanging out with a bunch of chicks. I feel like…I should go upstairs and write in my diary or somethin’.”
I laugh. “We need to get you out more often.” Then I realize what she said. "Upstairs?"
Her eyes flash. "Yeah, I um…live in a walk-up…not far from here so…feels like it's right upstairs…" she chuckles, her voice trailing off.
I know not to push someone who is clearly a private person. "Okay, well, thanks again."
Tessa gives me a warm smile and pours me a glass of red wine. “Heard you got a room here. Do me a favor and have a glass. You’re super uptight about everything going well. Relax, it’s a party.”
“Oh, I can’t. I’m actually a little hungry. I didn't eat much at dinner.”
Tess smirks knowingly. “I noticed you scoping out the bachelor party across the room.”
I wince. I was banking on the fact that I was discreet about it but kept peeking at the guy's table. Looking for signs that someone may have said something along the lines of “What date with Charlie? I’m crossing what off her bucket list?”
I realized by the time the check came, I’d barely touched my snapper.
“I’ll go check on those bar bites for you, hun.”
“Thanks, Tess.”
When the guests start pouring in, I cue the staff for the champagne and hors d'oeuvres since Aiden and the boys aren't back yet. Pepper comes down the stairs in record time, making an unintentional grand entrance.
I take her arm. “Remember the first time we had a party here for you and Chase?” I ask.
She grins and glances at the back wall. “Yes, and there were a lot more presents on that wall.”
“And that’s why we never threw you a bridal shower. Half the town already showered you with gifts at your fake engagement party. It would just be rude.”
Pepper waves to a couple of people walking in. “Guess I better go mingle. Wouldn't want to be rude. When are the guys getting here?”
“Not sure. Let me check with Noah.”
How far are you?
Noah: At least thirty minutes. The guys aren't coming back to town with us, so we stayed for a few more drinks.
Noah: Why?
Just wondering.
“Thirty minutes.”
“Lovely. I’m going to go pretend I like people.”
I watch Pepper plaster on a smile and approach some old friends. She pretends she doesn’t like this scene, but this is who Pepper is. She’s a social butterfly.
I’m the outcast.
She shouldn’t be tied at the hip with me.
