I counted the girls. “Two regulars and an XL. I’ll order the XL, you do one, and Madison, can you do the third?”
She nodded and pulled out her phone.
“Let’s get everyone outside to wait. The fresh air will help.”
Amy was crying onto Ashlee’s shoulder, and I counted the girls again. We had left no man behind.
Madison took the first batch of girls in her Uber, Alex took the second, and I brought up the rear with the last of us. No one threw up in mine at least, and I helped the four drunk girls into the elevator and up to our suite.
Alex opened the door for us, his eyes wide. “This sounds like it would be every guy’s dream. But get me out of here, please.”
I laughed. “Can you hang out a few more minutes?”
“Now that you’re here, yes.”
“Thank you.”
I helped the drunkest two girls into their pajamas, gave everyone a bottle of water, and told them to brush their teeth.
“Thanks, Mom,” Amy said, her tears completely forgotten.
I rolled my eyes. “Wash your makeup off too. The last thing you need is your skin breaking out before the wedding.”
I found Madison. “Do you think it’s okay if I bail? I’ve had enough for one night.”
“Definitely. I can handle it from here.”
“Thanks.” I kissed her on the cheek. “Sis.”
She smiled broadly, and I thought about her invitation to come visit her and Jake. It might be nice to get to know her. And she was far less of a mess than Amy.
I grabbed my bag and headed to the door, where Alex was standing, watching me in awe.
“Is this what all bachelorette parties are like?”
“God no. This is what happens when little kids get married.” I checked the time on my cell phone. “Do you think the hotel bar is still open?”
“Only one way to find out,” he said, taking my bag from me.
The bar was open, and nearly empty, except for a couple of midfifties guys in suits at a table. Alex and I sat at the bar.
“A Stella and a martini,” he ordered. “Extra olives.”
“At least they can probably actually make one here,” I said. “The martinis at that bar tonight were the worst I’ve ever had.”
“Anything beyond a shot is probably out of their wheelhouse.”
“And when you’re Amy’s age, you don’t know better anyway.”
Our drinks arrived. “What should we toast to?” Alex asked.
I thought briefly. “To Amy. The only bride to actually allow me to bring a date to her wedding.”
Alex smiled and clinked my glass. “Technically, I can be your unofficial date to Tim and Megan’s too.”
“Well you kind of have to be now, since you told everyone we’re together.”
“I can tell them we broke up and let Justin know you’re available?”
“Why? Do you hate me?”
He smiled again. “No. I definitely don’t hate you.”
“Then don’t tell Justin anything of the sort. I still can’t believe that sleazebag was going around saying that.”
“I swear I almost hit him.”
“I still might do it myself in a couple weeks. What does Tim see in him?”
“He’s—he’s fun in that bro way. Until he’s telling everyone he’s going to sleep with your best friend.”
I leaned back, surprised. “I’m your best friend?”
He looked at me carefully with an expression I hadn’t seen before. “Well. Yeah. I think you kind of are now.”
I didn’t respond immediately. Megan had been my official best friend since second grade, of course. Caryn, as much as I didn’t like her at the moment, had the title of “work best friend.” But Megan had been pretty MIA lately. And her requirement that I stay away from Tim’s friends romantically rankled me. No, I wasn’t demoting her, or Caryn for that matter, but maybe—maybe Alex had grown into a different type of best friend. I hadn’t even sent Megan a picture of my ridiculous bridesmaid getup. Or texted her all evening. And she wouldn’t have dropped everything to come help me with Amy.
I realized I hadn’t replied and needed to say something. “I—I hadn’t put a label on it. But yeah, I think you’re one of my best friends too.”
His shoulders loosened in relief. “Are we supposed to get those matching heart necklaces now? My sister always got those.”
“Tattoos,” I said sagely. “That’s how millennials say ‘I love you.’”