Page 38 of Your Rule to Break
If there’s one thing I respect, it’s a girl’s girl—someone who likes to build up women. There’s enough going on in the world that we don’t need to compete with one another, unprovoked.
Miss Platinum Blonde does not seem like a girl’s girl. Also, who asks a stranger a question like that? Hard pass.
Eliza leans over to say something to her, and it doesn’t seem like Platinum likes it too much when she responds with, “I’m kidding. Chill out.”
I introduce myself to the other women at the table, and no one else asks about Zack’s penis, so I feel like that’s a win.
I can’t wait to tell Zack that one.
Once we all have a drink, Platinum stands up to make a toast.
“Here’s to the bride!” she cheers as she clinks silverware on her glass. “Eliza is one of my closest friends, and I’m so excited to spend some time celebrating her and Mitch. The next chapter is going to be a fun one. Also, she’s going to be so gorgeous on the beach in just a few weeks.”
Aw, this is nice. Maybe she’s not all bad? In the spirit of being a girl’s girl, giving everyone a chance, I turn over a blank page in my mind. I can certainly give her a chance.
"Here’s to Eliza and Mitch and their happily ever after!” Everyone offers a small “woo” or clinks their glass before taking a drink.
“Emilie, don’t be afraid to bring some extra single Cosmos to the beach. You seem like you have good taste in men.” She winks at me, pointing at Eliza as half the table pretends she didn’t just say that.
I take back everything I said. No chance.
A teeny tiny pit opens in my chest—jealousy which has no right to take up space like this. Zack isn’t mine; not really.
I drink half of my Aperol Spritz then and there.
The rest of thenight is low-key, as in we order Eliza too many cocktails and the table too much food.
I’m currently eating a bacon-wrapped date stuffed with goat cheese, when someone says we should open gifts.
Eliza opens some gorgeous, and some not-so-much, lingerie, along with your standard bride items like a silk robe embroidered with her name and a sun hat for lounging on the beach.
When my gift is the only one left, I pull a gold envelope from my purse and hand it to Eliza, her cheeks pink from too many drinks.
Now if my sister wasn’t marrying a fairly serious ex-boyfriend, maybe I could’ve gone the lingerie route. One of my favorite types of gifts to give are experiences, which is what I've done for tonight.
“You’re kidding! How did you pull this off?!” Eliza shrieks while reading the paper tucked inside the envelope. I smile at the excitement dripping from her voice.
I pulled some strings and was able to get in contact with the Chef from her favorite restaurant. Technically, Keegan was the one with strings, but she pulled them on my behalf.
“It’s a gift certificate for one of my favorite Chef’s, from my favorite restaurant in the city, to come and cook dinner for Mitch and me. But it’s at our house!”
The table lets out a collective “aww” and I know I did a good job.
“Emilie, thank you. Very thoughtful.” She puts the note back in the envelope and into another gift bag.
My sister and I haven’t been close in a long time, but my chest warms at her reaction. No matter what happens, sheisgetting married. I don’t want to do something I regret later.
“Emilie, is Zack coming to the wedding for real?” Platinum asks, her words high pitched and too loud, as she takes the empty seat next to me.
“He’s coming with me to the wedding, yes.” I drink the rest of my spritz, no intentions of ordering another.
“He’s so hot. How did you do that? Land a man likethat?” she asks.
What the fuck? I nervously laugh, looking at my freshly manicured nails, deciding what to say next.
“I don’t know if you think this behavior is funny, or acceptable, but it’s not. My free tip for the evening is don’t ask strangers about their boyfriend’s dick size or insinuate they’re not attractive enough for their partner. It’s not a good look.”
With each word, she sits further back in her chair. I feel like she’s about to launch into some defensive rant about how “that’s not what she meant” or whatever bullshit she’s used to leaning on for getting away with comments like this.