“Ugh,” the dark-haired girl said. She slapped her bottom. “Now we’ll see how much of Mom’s cooking has gone to my ass in the last month.”
Allison’s phone beeped as Jenny followed Margie into the fitting room. Tara handed it to her. “Brad.”
“Well, at least he’s checking in. So far.” Her fingernails tapped at the screen. “He’s on the ground in Cabo. Him and the rest of the crew.”
“Already? Good grief. What time did he leave?”
“His flight was at six, out of Memphis. I hope he doesn’t do anything stupid,” Allison fretted. “I was reading on the internet just a few days ago how the cops down there are all crooked and if they get the chance they’ll throw you in jail until you get people back home to pay a great big bullshit fine, even if you didn’t break any laws.”
“I’m sure he’ll be just fine,” Tara said soothingly. “He’s been there before, right?”
Her friend snorted. “Yeah. The way he talks it up, it’s only about one step below heaven. Nothing but booze and sunshine and girls walking around topless.”
Tara and Wendy and Odette exchanged looks. Tara sighed and shook her head. Wendy glared at the floor.
Shanaya took her courage in both hands, though her voice seemed to waver in her ears, regardless of its deep tone. “Well, I think he’s a damn idiot, Allie. I don’t care if the beaches are ass-deep in Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, there can’t be a single woman there who’s as gorgeous as you are. And I don’t see why he has to fly to Mexico to see a pair of naked breasts. Not when he could see yours every night.”
“He doesn’t even act interested anymore,” her friend muttered. A few feet away, Tara’s eyes were wide with surprise, but she gave Shanaya a single vigorous nod, as if to say, good, keep going!
She wanted to. She really did. But the words dried up in her throat. How could she pour her heart out here, right in front of everyone?
Luckily, Wendy came to her rescue. “My brother was hanging out with Brad’s brother Matt a few days ago. And Matt says that Bobby and the rest of them plan to hit a strip club as soon as they get off the plane. God,” she grimaced. “Why are men such pigs?”
“Oink,” she muttered, blushing.
“Oh, not you, Ray!” Wendy continued as if Allison wasn’t standing there, her hands clenched into fists as she heard about her fiancée’s secret plans. “You’re almost an honorary girl. One of us, you know? Not that you’re gay like your friend over there,” she pointed her chin at Gene, who gave them a languid wave. “But we know you’ve got more on your mind than the next drink or how quick you can get to a titty bar. You’re…you’re a decent guy, is what I’m trying to say. You deserve a girl. And some women,” she said, slanting the would-be bride a look, “deserve better than what they have.”
The conversation went on, as each girl was fitted for her bridesmaid’s dress in turn. And, in turn, they took turns trashing the groom, never mentioning him by name, but being sure to bring up each fault, each character flaw, and eviscerate him with the sort of genteel politeness which southern girls seemed to learn at their mother’s breast.
“Well, bless their hearts,” Jenny sighed at last, as Tara came out of the fitting room. “They can’t help the way the Lord made them. But you would think that men would try to learn once in a while. At least a little.”
“Well, if we did,” Shanaya put in, slightly in awe of the complete and utter dismemberment Brad had undergone at the hands of the four young women, “we might figure out that we could get along without you. And then where would you be?”
“Some of us? A lot happier, without a man fucking up our lives,” Jenny said bluntly. She smiled at the room. “Well, looks like we’re all done. Let’s take a look and see if Margie still knows what she’s doing.”
“I heard that!” came a voice from the back.
The bridesmaids pushed Allison in front of the mirror, and then surrounded her. In their pale green dresses, they looked like spring leaves surrounding a flower with gorgeous white petals. Allison shone, her tan skin glowing as she smiled at their compliments.
“Wait!” Wendy said. “We need a groom. Ray, get over here!”
“Oh, come on,” Shanaya said. “Dressed like this?” She gestured at her shorts and t-shirt and deck shoes, feeling ridiculous compared to the five women. “Besides, I’m not really-” she cut herself off as a wave of dizziness broke over her. In the corner, Gene straightened, shooting her a warning glance.
“Not really what?” Wendy demanded. “Come on. We need a man in here.”
Reluctantly, she allowed herself to be prodded next to Allison. “Now get in close,” Wendy said, pushing at her shoulder. “Gene, or whatever your name is. Get over here.” She tossed him her phone. “Take a picture.”
“Your wish is my command,” the djinn said, winking at Shanaya.
As he snapped the pictures, switching out phones as each bridesmaid demanded pics of her own, Margie wandered out from the back. “Oh my goodness,” the older woman breathed, putting her hand over her mouth as she gazed at them. “Ray, you’re in the wedding party, right?”
She nodded, wondering what the problem was.
“And who’s taking pictures at the wedding?”
“My cousin Bobby,” Tara said.
“Well, when he does, you girls make sure he gets some good pictures of these two together, and you make double sure I get a copy. I want to hang one up here in the store.” She pointed to the walls, where pictures of other couples were prominently displayed. “My God. I’ve been making dresses in this town for nearly forty years, and I haven’t seen anything like it. The way you two set each other off, like sunshine and shadow. It’s unbelievable.”
“I’m not that dark,” she protested, only to have her comment ignored as if she hadn’t said anything at all.
“Come on, chickies.” Margie waved the girls in front of her like a flock of ducklings. “Playtime is over. Out of those dresses and back into your regular clothes. We’re closing soon.”
Twenty minutes later, the women were back in their street clothes. “Whew,” Wendy said. She wriggled her body happily. “I’m glad to be out of that thing. It’s a gorgeous dress, Allie, and thanks for not choosing something absolutely hideous, but good God, a woman needs room to breathe, you know?”
“You got that right. I’m going to have to put my fridge on lockdown so I don’t split the seams on your big day,” Tara added. “No ice cream for me until Allie says ‘I do.'”
Allison made an unhappy face. “I was hoping we could all go out. I know we didn’t really do much for our bachelorette party, so I wanted to buy everyone dinner tonight to say thank you.”
But the girls were all shaking their heads. “Sorry, sweetie,” Wendy said, and the other women murmured agreement. “I’ve got a man who expects his dinner on the table as soon as he gets home from the lumberyard. Maybe Saturday, all right? We’ll go out, bitch about our husbands and boyfriends, get ripshit drunk, and do something that none of our kids will believe in twenty years.”
The girls laughed, but Shanaya could see Jenny giving her the eye. A quick jerk of her head towards Allison made her meaning clear.
She cleared her throat. “I’m not doing anything tonight,” she said. “And my mom texted me a little bit ago, saying that her and Dad are going to be driving up to Paducah to visit some friends and maybe hit the casino up there.”
“Hold up.” Tara stared at her. “Aren’t you the one who’s always saying that the lottery is a tax on people who are bad at math? But your Mom goes to a riverboat casino?”
“Yeah,” she grinned. “But Mom plays poker against people who are even worse at math. They can’t believe this sweet little Indian lady is a cutthroat card hustler.
“So anyway, Allie,” she finished. “How about I take you out to eat? My treat,” she hurried on as Allison hesitated. “Come on. Barbeque at the Boar’s Nest. You can’t say no to that. I haven’t eaten there since last summer.”
“Well…”
“Go on, Allie.” Wendy smiled at her kindly. “Treat yourself for once. You deserve it.”
Her friend smiled. “All right.”
——————
Parent Post: In Genie Us by Glaze72 – Chapter 1: Something Old
- In Genie Us by Glaze72 - Chapter 2: She Dreams of Gene Eh?
- In Genie Us by Glaze72 - Chapter 3: A Change Will Do Her Good
- In Genie Us by Glaze72 - Chapter 4: Morning Would?
- In Genie Us by Glaze72 - Chapter 5: Eaten Out