“I know. I was going to call you today to talk, but a lot’s been going on. Besides, I know Amber pushed you really hard. I don’t know if I could have taken all the crap she was dishing if our roles were reversed.” Gabby smiled and held her arms open. “Come here.”
Noel fell into them gratefully, returning her hug. “God, I was so afraid you wouldn’t forgive me.”
“You cleaned up the mess and the favors got done. No harm, no foul.” Her hand flew up to cover her nose. “Well, maybe a little harm, but it wasn’t entirely your fault. Plus, when I described the fight to Drew, he thought it was hysterical.”
“Oh, God.” Noel covered her face with her hands, hiding a smile. “The ranch slap.”
Gabby giggled. “What about the cream cheese in Amber’s hair from the jalape?o poppers? She looked like she forgot to wash all the conditioner out of her hair and it curdled.”
Noel joined in Gabby’s laughter, following her as she moved into the kitchen. “I’m just glad no one else was there filming it. Angry Bridesmaid Food Fight. That would definitely go viral.”
“Believe me, I am going to be ready with my camera phone next time. No way am I going to miss another opportunity like that.”
They sat at the oval dining room table next to each other, Noel cradling her coffee cup in her hands. “I have some more good news. I booked us the Presidential suite at The Rustic Inn. It sleeps up to ten people and he’ll let us have an afternoon checkout so we can sleep in.”
Gabby cried out happily. “How did you convince Charlie Sloan to let you have it? I think he’s had that room locked up since the eighties.”
“Actually, Nick talked to him. I owe him big.”
“Yeah you do. So, did you pay up?”
Noel grinned. “Somewhat?”
“We talking full coitus?”
Noel spit out her coffee, wiping at her chin. “What the hell?”
“Sorry, Drew’s been on a whole Big Bang Theory kick. We are binge watching it from the beginning and the lingo gets stuck in my head.”
“Well, to answer your question, no. Just oral coitus.”
“Tell me when to stop.” Gabby held her hands a few inches apart and started moving them further away from each other.
“My God, stop it. I don’t ask you about Drew’s mini me.”
“Oh, Drew is stacked. Let me tell you, there is no mini about that man. I have no complaints.”
“Neither do I.”
“I’m happy for you. You deserve happiness.”
“I do need to talk to you about Amber.”
Gabby sighed. “Am I going to need to have separate bachelorette and bridal showers for you two?”
“No, I don’t think so. She did bring up something interesting though. She told me this whole animosity started long before high school. Has she said anything about it?”
Gabby hesitated. “Only that you quitting choir was the best thing that ever happened to her.”
“She said I used to compete with her, but I swear, I didn’t do it consciously.”
“I wouldn’t stress about it. I doubt you did anything. Amber tends to see criticism and slights everywhere. There was a bartender who used to flirt with her incessantly at a club we hit in college. Amber dropped by to see him and found out he had a girlfriend. That he only flirted with her to get tips. She stabbed all four of his tires. Had to pay for damages.”
“Jesus.”
Gabby shrugged. “I love her, but she needs constant validation. If she doesn’t get the attention she craves, then any will do. Pretty sure that’s why the two of you could never get along. You don’t give any fucks about what people think of you.”
“That’s not entirely true. I care what you think.”
“We’re fine, Noel. I already said—”
“Do you feel like I bailed on you when your aunt died?”
Gabby’s eyes widened. “What? No. You’d just lost your parents. I knew it was hard for you. I appreciated you even showing up for the funeral. What made you even think of that?”
“Amber. She said I wasn’t a very good friend when you needed me.”
“Listen, when my aunt was on hospice, it was hard. We were really close and it was a rough death. But never did I question our friendship. You were there for me as much as you could be for a kid who had just lost everything. I had my whole extended family to grieve with. Believe me, I have never held any resentment toward you for that.”