Page 13 of Kind of a Bad Idea

“Ah, gotcha,” Wendy Ann says. “I’ll shoot her a text and ask. Do you want me to have her save you a spot if Craig and Pete aren’t on the list?”

“Yes, please, that would be great,” I say. “Would you want to come, too? I know you don’t have a lot of experience with climbing, but I could help you. This climb isn’t supposed to be that hard. It’s famous for the views and the hot springs along the way, not the difficulty.”

“Thanks, but no,” she says. “I’m still sore from carrying flowers up to the tent on Saturday.”

“You only carried four arrangements. And they were the small ones.”

“Exactly. Grad school wasn’t great for my physical fitness. The brain is strong, but the muscles are weak.” Her voice brightens as she adds, “But I think you’ll have a great time. Let me touch base with Lilac and get back to you.”

“Okay, thanks,” I say, smiling at Mr. Prickles, who seems pleased by this development as well.

Or maybe he’s just enjoying the sunshine.

“You’re welcome and…Binx?”

“Yeah?” I ask, my ears perking up at her tone. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, everything’s good. I mean, mostly good. I just…I love you. You know that, right? And that I’m always on your side no matter what?”

Touched, I say, “Yes, weirdo. And same. Oh! If I land a spot on the trip, why don’t you come stay at my place while I’m gone? You can get some time away from Mom and Dad, and I know Mr. Prickles would appreciate the company.”

She laughs. “Your pet cactus? Is he still alive?”

“Alive and kickin.’ Or pricklin’, as he likes to say, and he really does enjoy company around the house, so you’d be most welcome.”

She snorts. “And you call me a weirdo. Have a good day. I’ll get back to you as soon as I hear from Lilac. Oh, and don’t be late to the shower. They only rented out the bar for two hours, so they want everyone there on time tonight.”

I blink faster, sputtering as I hurry to catch her before she hangs up, “Wait, what? What shower? Tatum isn’t due for months. And we already had a shower for Phoebe. Do we have to do one for every baby? Because I think that’s going to get excessive. Drew and Tatum like raw dogging way too much.”

“Ew. Why do you always find the grossest way to talk about sex?”

I grin. “I do not. I could have said something way grosser. You want to hear?”

“No,” she says quickly. “And it’s not a baby shower. It’s for Starling and Christian.” She pauses, adding when I respond with confused silence. “Their combo wedding shower and bachelor/bachelorette party? The one they’ve been planning for months?”

I frown harder. “What? This is the first I’m hearing about any of this.”

“No, it isn’t. You said you would bring Jello shots.”

I sit up straighter, my stomach sinking as this begins to sound familiar. “Oh no. Was this discussed on poker night back in July?”

“Yes, the one where you took Christian for two hundred bucks and Starling had a fit because the deposit for the bar was due the next day, and they’d just dropped a bunch of money on the wedding venue, too.”

I curse.

“I can’t believe you forgot,” Wendy Ann says.

“Of course I forgot. I was focused on poker. Besides, they should have sent out an event reminder or something.”

“They did. Twice. It’s in the family group text.”

“I left the family group text,” I say, standing to pace around the deck. “You know I hate group projects.”

“A family text isn’t a group project, but I hear you. The notifications are a lot. But you didn’t have to leave. You can just mute the conversation and check in on it once every few days or so. That way you stay connected without being bombarded. So, what are you going to do about the Jello shots? Even if you make them right now, they won’t be firm by five o’clock, will they?”

“No, they will,” I say, dragging a hand down my face as I realize my lazy morning just took a turn for the hectic. “I won’t be able to do the layered ones with different colors, but I can get basic shots done. I just have to run to the store for supplies and get my ass in gear. Talk later, okay? At the party, I guess? And will you text me the exact time and address?”

“Will do,” Wendy Ann says. “And I’ll drop those old bell-bottoms you wore for spirit week in high school in your mailbox on my way to babysit Sara Beth and Phoebe.”

---