I should be moving forward too. –Liana
Liana
Alex had three rules for her bachelorette party:
- No boring outfits.
- No talking about feelings.
- No escaping before midnight.
I broke all three before 9 p.m.
But to be fair, she set me up for failure.
Her group chat invitation read: *”Bachelorette bash. Saturday. Bring your best slutty dress and at least one secret you’re too scared to say out loud.”
I stood in front of my closet for a full twenty minutes before settling on the black dress Alex once made me buy on a dare. Tight. Sleeveless. Definitely made for someone braver than me.
Alex had gone all out. The rooftop venue had string lights, a glowing “Bride Vibes” sign, and way too many drinks. Someone brought a tray of cupcakes shaped like tiny lingerie. Someone else brought a piñata that I was very sure was anatomically correct.
Alex wore a crown. A white mini dress.
And a wicked smile that didn’t leave her face all night.
“Liana,” she yelled over the music, dragging me into the center of the circle. “Truth or dare.”
I blinked. “What?”
“TRUTH OR DARE.”
I sighed. “Truth.”
Someone booed.
Alex leaned in, eyes glittering. “Are you and Elias officially living together?”
I choked on my drink.
“N-No,” I said quickly. “I mean, maybe. Not yet. I don’t know.”
Alex raised an eyebrow. “You sleep in his bed every weekend.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
She shrugged. “Feels the same from where I’m standing.”
I tried to hide behind my drink the rest of the game.
Later, while everyone was too drunk to notice I’d vanished, Alex found me on the edge of the rooftop, sipping prosecco and watching the city lights.
She didn’t say anything at first. Just handed me another drink and leaned on the railing beside me.
“You okay?” she asked eventually.
I nodded. “Yeah. Just… thinking.”
“About Elias?”
“About you.”
She blinked. “Oh?”
“You’re getting married.” I looked at her. “You’re really doing it.”
Alex smiled, softer than I expected. “Yeah. Weird, right?”
“A little.”
We stood in silence for a beat.
Then she bumped her shoulder into mine. “You know I wasn’t going to do a bridesmaid thing.”
I nodded. “Figured.”
“But I changed my mind.”
I turned to her.
She was smiling. That real kind of smile she only used when she meant it.
“Will you be my bridesmaid?”
My throat closed.
“Alex…”
“You don’t have to cry about it, idiot.”
I laughed through a sniffle. “I thought you were going to pick one of your hot friends.”
“I did. You.”
I shoved her shoulder. She laughed.
“Of course I’ll do it,” I said quietly. “Thank you.”
Later, hiding in the bathroom, I checked my phone.
Elias: How’s the chaos? Are you still alive?
Me: Barely. Alex just made me her bridesmaid. Also I think I just saw a penis cake.
Elias: You’ll need recovery cuddles. Want me to get you?
I smiled down at the screen, heart warm and full.
Me: Yes.
