“Oh, no, I offered.” Gabby took the dress from Amber and pulled her card out of her purse, passing it to the cashier. “This will be stunning on you.”
“I know, right?”
Noel bit her lip. She had no idea how much money Amber brought in working at the spa, but Noel had a hard time believing she couldn’t at least chip in for her own dress. Amber still lived at home and Gabby let slip once that her parents didn’t make her pay rent. Noel promised to try to get along with Amber, but it rankled Noel that Amber took Gabby up on the offer to pay for her bridesmaid’s dress. However, Gabby was a grown woman. If she wanted to buy Amber’s dress, then Noel would mind her business. Reluctantly.
“Just give me a few more minutes. I want to look at the tiaras and shoes.”
“Hurry up, sweets. I am starving.” Once Gabby retreated to the other side of the room, Amber’s blue eyes took on an evil gleam. “Oh, Noel, I heard there might be an open apartment in your complex. Maybe you could put in a good word for me?”
When hell freezes over.
“I think Nick already put down his deposit.”
“Oh, really? You weren’t ready to let him move in with you?”
What the hell happened? Amber’s text made her think they were going to let bygones be, but here she was, poking Noel about Nick once more.
“Nick’s been living with a bunch of men for eight years, Amber. Pretty sure he wanted his own space.”
Amber tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Really? Because he talked about a future with me after our third date.”
“And look how that turned out.”
“Maybe he’s just not that into you.”
They were practically nose to nose now. “I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”
Amber’s expression sucked in like she’d just swallowed a lemon. “Maybe you should concentrate on getting Gabby’s bachelorette party set up and less on my ex?”
“I thought you were all too eager to help with that?”
“You’re the MOH. I’m sure you can handle it.”
Noel didn’t have much experience dealing with jealous ex-girlfriends, since most of her past consisted of short-term casual encounters. Still, Amber’s animosity for her, all over a guy Amber had been quick to drop two weeks ago, seemed out of control.
“What happened to working together on this wedding for Gabby’s sake?”
“What can I say, Noel? I guess you don’t always get what you want.”
What in the heck did that even mean?
Eleanor came through the door with a tray of lattes, cutting off their tense exchange. “I got the goods.”
Gabby darted towards her mother. “Oh, a pick-me-up.”
Gabby and Amber took theirs first, while Noel hung back. When Eleanor held the last cup out to her, Noel accepted it and the cardboard tray. “I’ll toss this for you.”
“Thank you, dear. So, what did we find?”
Gabby and Amber started talking at once, showing Eleanor the red dress, while Noel hung back with her latte and bag. Despite Amber clearly hurting Gabby’s feelings earlier, she’d easily forgiven Amber. Noel knew it was just Gabby’s nature to let things roll off her back, but Noel couldn’t understand Amber. She seemed to genuinely care for Gabby one minute and then chipping away at her confidence the next. It was like Amber Jekyll and Bitch Hyde.
Once they hit the sidewalk, Amber started talking excitedly. “Oh, I forgot to tell you! I got Vienna to close the salon on Christmas Eve and all of the stylists are going to come do hair and make-up for you and your wedding party. Isn’t that great?”
“Oh my,” Eleanor said.
Gabby grabbed her arm. “Shut up! How did you swing that?”
“It’s no big deal, Vienna was going to have short hours anyway. You said you were looking for someone who could come to your house and do it, and I came through.”
“You sure did.”
Noel watched the two of them hug, hopping up and down together, and a knot of jealousy formed in her stomach. She didn’t begrudge Gabby having other friends. She had Nick and the guys. The difference was Gabby, well, being the only girlfriend she hung with, who knew her almost as well as Nick, was special and it felt like she was slowly slipping away.
“Noel?” Eleanor prodded.
“Yes, sorry.”
Gabby slipped her arm around her waist. “You seem out of it today. Everything all right?”
“I think I’m tired, is all. This night shift is really messing with my sleep regimen.”