Page 17 of Like It's 1999

“Cut off the liquor or cut the microphone?”

“Both,” she says out of the side of her mouth.

“Is she even speaking English anymore?”

Alice leans in closer to whisper, “Was she ever? That accent. It’s hard to believe she and Kate grew up in the same place.” She pulls away slightly. “Steve, are you smelling me?”

Oops. Busted.“Sorry, I…uh?—”

The DJ’s booming voice on the microphone saves me. “Thank you, Laura. The sister of the bride, everybody. Let’s give her a hand.”

Kate’s brother-in-law swoops up to capture his wife before she falls off the stage, and “The Safety Dance” busts out of the speakers. Guests rush the dance floor. Before I can ask Alice to join me out there, some cousin of Kate’s swoops in and drags her away. Probably better if I find someone safer to boogie with anyway.

Hours pass before I get to be close to her again—hours counting down to the time when I won’t have an excuse to hang out with her anymore. I don’t know what’s holding me back from just asking her out. I guess it’s that since she’s Kate’s best friend, I always thought of her as off-limits because I don’t go out with girls who want more than a short-term, good-time thing. Why suffer through life with one person, who’ll just end up driving me crazy, while missing out on all the other awesome women out there in the world?

But this week—this whole month—with Alice has me questioning that logic. Kate was my first friend who happened to be a girl. I thought Alice was in that category too. But she’s something else. Kate’s cute and all, but that night with Alice was off-the-chain hot. Plus, I actually look forward to hanging out with her. I’d do anything with her—as I have this past month. Everything from getting a manicure to trying on clothes. The reason I never complained about doing all the girly stuff? I knew Alice would make it fun. Problem is, with the wedding a fait accompli, all those good times are coming to an end.

So why don’t you just ask her out? Why are you being such a chickenshit?

Because, idiot, if she says no, then you’ve lost her for good.

Worse, if she says yes, what do you even do then? You have no idea how to be in a…relationship.

ALICE

“Steve, you have to save me,” I whisper, tipping my head toward the guy at the other end of the bar. “Just follow my lead, okay?”

When I grab his hand, he doesn’t even hesitate. “You got it.”

Kate’s cousin Jared is bearing down on us, drinks in hand, so I turn up the volume. “Oh my gosh, you’re right! I completely forgot that we’re in charge of moving the gifts!” Taking Steve’s other hand so neither of mine are available, I wince-smile at grabby Jared. “I’m so sorry, but Steve and I still have bridesmaid duties to take care of.”

With a “Later man,” Steve circles a possessive arm around my waist and steers me out of the country club ballroom.

Plastering a smile on my face long enough to wave and throw a “Party on, dude!” over my shoulder, I let Steve decide where we’re going. I honestly don’t know who is in charge of moving the gifts from the table in the lobby. It definitely wasn’t in my column on Kate’s spreadsheet.

Moments later, we’re outside. New Year’s Eve in Virginia feels nothing like what it would in Boston, but when Steve throws his coat over my shoulders, I don’t object. “Thanks. You’re the best co-bridesmaid ever.”

“One of my many hidden talents,” he says with a shiver.

“Do you want your coat back?”

“Nah.” He pulls me in close. “But you have to share the heat.”

We breathe in the crisp air for a few moments. The sound of the nearby river is soothing, and my eyes flutter closed. “This is nice. I needed a breather.”

Steve grunts out a laugh. “You know what? This is where I tried to kiss Kate.”

“Oh my god, I forgot about that.” I pull away. “You homewrecker.”

He pulls me back in. “Come on, they were on a break, and I was curious. Kate and I never had any kind of spark, though.” He gestures toward the ballroom window. “I like to think that kiss is what got them to this.”

“Aw, Steve, I didn’t know you were a romantic.” I use the opportunity to give him a real hug.

He doesn’t resist, but he doesn’t reply. Just when I’m about to suggest we head back inside to check in with Kate, he says, “I had fun this week.”

“Yeah, this has been fun. For a wedding. But I’ll be glad when it’s over. I’m sure never getting married.”

“Never?”

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