Always a bridesmaid…

When Riley considered it, she had no friends outside of work “friends,” except the trivia groups.  And right now she needed friends.  She needed a life!  Eden was engaged.  Officially.  Her little sister, while Riley languished on the vine.

Must be happy, she warned herself.  At least Eden didn’t get a diamond, she thought meanly.  Tanzanite.  Was that even a precious stone?

Okay, she was being a bitch.  Stop it, Riley, she warned herself.  You and Eden want different things.  But did she?  Oh, who the hell knows anymore!

Of course she had to inquire about all the wedding plans.

“None.  So far,” Eden admitted.  “Right now we’re in our own little bubble of happiness.  Well, Steve’s in Singapore.  When he comes home, we’re going to dash up and visit Mom.  At least that’s the plan now.  Mom’s already bugging me about showers and an engagement party and I’m thinking—no.”

“You are?”  This was so unlike Eden, who spent way too much time flipping through fashion magazines.

“It’s just complicated,” Eden confessed.  “What with the families and the planning and Steve’s mother already talking about rabbis, who would have to be very reform.  I mean, who needs this crap?  All I want is a happy ceremony with a lavish meal to follow. And dancing.  Don’t know if Steve can dance. Hmm.  I better check that out.  So I’m thinking, since we’re both adults and we both make our own money—he significantly more than I—we should leave the families out of all the planning and just make our own arrangements.  DC is just as inconvenient for both families.  I think we should do it here.  You have to be  my maid of honor.”

“I have to?”

“I want you to be.  You’re my sister, after all.”

“Why—I’m touched.  Thank you Eden.  I’d be delighted.  Color scheme?”

“OMG.  You see?  That’s just it.  I don’t want to plan anything like that.”

“Eden, this is so not you.”

“I know, Riley.  Don’t you think I realize that?  It’s just that—Steve isn’t the type of man I planned to marry.  He just doesn’t go with the dream wedding of my college years.”

“Your playing-with-dolls-years either.”

Eden sighed.  “I was always thinking of, you know, that I’d end up with some hunk.”

“Popular in high school, selling insurance now?” Riley guessed.

Eden laughed.  “Okay, you pegged me.  Being in the in-crowd was always important to me.  High school, college, but Steve’s not an in-crowd type.  Still, he’s the most interesting and generous man I’ve ever met.  And I’ve met way too many.  So I have to adjust make-believe to reality.”

“My suggestion?  Hire a wedding planner.  Tell her what you want and don’t want.”

“Hmm.  That’s an idea.  I’ll ask Jane.  She’s a former roommate who used one.  But her wedding was over the top.  Three days worth of festivities.”

“Well, there has to be a rehearsal dinner.”

“Stop, Riley.  I’m getting a headache.  You’re right.  A wedding planner is the best suggestion I’ve heard so far.  But what to do about Mom and her plans for me?”

“Yeah.  That’s a problem I wouldn’t want to handle. A woman with too much time on her hands is a dangerous thing.  And Mom—well, since the divorce and everything, she can sort of swarm around us, even at a distance geographically.  But, Eden, this is your day.  And Steve’s.  You’ve got to do you.”

“Thanks.  I’ll keep you informed of the fallout.”

Riley, having set Eden on the path to glory, had to consider her own fate.  Like, what would she do if she were offered a plus one?  There was no plus one.

So why not go back to the Erie for trivia night?  She’d join the Mulligans, the worst team of the pack.  If people said anything about switching teams, she’d just say—well something.

The tables were already arranged when she reached the pub that Monday night.  One of her former teammates waved her over, but she shrugged.  Mike wasn’t there yet.  He usually came a few minutes late.  Going over to the Mulligans, she asked if she could join their team.”

“Trouble in paradise?” a smart-ass asked.

“Just thought you needed the help.  Since you always come in last.”

They laughed and made space for her.  Someone got a glass for her and poured her a beer from the pitcher.  They already had a huge plate of nachos fully loaded.  Perhaps that was their trouble. They were too busy eating and drinking to think clearly about the answers.

The game started exactly at seven.  Mike had arrived and was sitting where she could easily see him—and he her?  Yes, their eyes met and held, but just once.  Other than that, they slid away from one another.  Of course, the Mulligans came in fifth—again.  They were heavy on sports, but very weak on geography.  Oh well.  It was fun and she left smiling, not lingering as many of the other players were doing. There was work tomorrow.

Mike was waiting outside.  “I’m glad you came back.”

“I am too,” she admitted.

“I’ve missed you.”

“Me too.”

He shrugged.

“It was nice seeing you again, Mike.”  And she headed for her car.