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‘This past week you left me all these crazy texts and voicemails.’ I lean against the door, my anger draining just as fast as it surfaced. ‘What is going on with you, Kayla? I’m worried.’
She orders a new drink, a double gin and tonic, and though it seems like she isn’t paying attention anymore, at least she hasn’t hung up.
Taking a breath, I relax my voice. ‘I was thinking, now that I have a decent paycheck, we could get a place together again. The three of us. Somewhere in a good school district.’ It’s the whole reason I’ve been living so frugally, even after my promotion.
When she still doesn’t respond, I hurry on, hoping my news will put her in a better mood. ‘If we’re careful, I could support you and Mary while you figure things out. Just think, Kayla, if you stayed home with Mary we wouldn’t need to pay for after-school care or day care this summer.’ My voice speeds up, excited that I finally get to share my plan. ‘With one less bill to pay and my new salary plus my savings, I could cover food and rent until the next school year. You could spend more time with Mary while you figure out what you want to do.’ And I’d get my family back.
‘You just love throwing your new job in my face, don’t you?’ Her voice, absent for most of the conversation, snaps back just as loud as when she was yelling in celebration a moment ago.
‘What?’ I frown in the mirror as if my reflection has the answer. ‘No. I didn’t mean—’
‘You’ve always thought you were better than me.’ Her words come fast and sharp.
I press my palm down on the cool marble countertop. ‘I’ve never thought that, Kayla. I can’t believe you’d think—’
‘Well, you’re not better than me, okay?’ There’s an edge to her words I’ve never heard before.
I bite my lip, trying to stop the sudden onslaught of tears welling in my eyes. ‘Kayla… I never meant—’
‘You never had parents and I did. My parents cared about me, yours just left.’ Her words cut deeper than any knife, slashing my soul, exposing my greatest fears.
I stagger to the side, nearly falling onto the toilet. As much as I try to stall the emotions from welling up, a sob escapes.
‘Alice…’ Kayla’s voice is softer now, as if spewing venomous words purged her of whatever mood she was drowning in. ‘I… I didn’t mean…’
Blinking rapidly, I let out a long breath, trying to stop the tears from pushing their way out. ‘We’ll—’ I clear my throat. ‘We’ll talk when I get back, okay?’
‘Get back from where?’
It takes me another deep breath before I can answer. ‘I’m out of town, remember? At my boss’s wedding.’
‘Oh. Yeah. I forgot.’ Sounding like a chastened child, Kayla is quick to agree. ‘Sure, we’ll talk later.’
Ending the call, I lower myself on the toilet seat lid, my energy zapped. I could blame it on the jet lag, or the glass of champagne, but I’d be lying.
Deep breath in. Deep breath out. Blink, blink, blink.
After one or two more inhalations, I have my emotions under control. Or at least pushed down far enough where I can smile at myself in the mirror. An unnatural smile, but still a smile.
Beyond the door, the music is turned up and the women (plus George) cheer.
‘This is not a pity party,’ I tell my reflection, awkward smile still in place. ‘This is a bachelorette party for your friend and you will not ruin it.’ Nodding at myself, I run my hands down my front, as if I can physically brush away Kayla’s words. ‘You’re going to get back into that room and have fun.’ Grabbing the door handle, I give myself one more nod and take one more deep breath before wrenching the door open and striding out.
‘Take it off, take it off!’ A piece of black fabric hits me in the face.
Pulling it off my head, I have time to register it as a man’s shirt before Mike, barreling past at breakneck speed, nearly knocks me over.
‘Mikey!’ I grab onto the bathroom’s door frame to stop my fall. I’ve never seen him move that fast. He looked like the Flash, only a cat and, you know, naked.
Holding the shirt, I turn into the living room only to be met with the cause of Mike’s sudden departure.
Two half-dressed men are thrusting their hips faster than Shakira while surrounded by the small wedding party, all of whom have their arms up and their butts shaking, looking quite tipsy.
How long was I on the phone?
‘Alice!’ Bell dance-walks toward me and points over her shoulder. ‘Liz came!’ She smiles, her joy and the outrageousness of the situation making it easier to push aside my conversation with Kayla. ‘And she brought strippers!’
‘Get in on it, girl!’ Liz air lassoes me and pulls me into the group. It’s either draw unwanted attention to myself and my problems or play along.
