Page 7 of The Night Shift
“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Are you sure? The maid of honor isn’t allowed to lie to the bride.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s not a thing.” Just like I’m pretty sure April is the first bride in history to want to plan her own bachelorette party because she doesn’t trust anyone else to do it justice.
“Do you want to come over?” she asks. “I can make us some dinner.”
“I would, but I’m really not in the mood for food poisoning tonight.”
“Holly.”
“What? I swear, I’m fine. I don't want to bother you.”
“Bother me? You’re my baby sister. I'm here for you, no matter what. And besides, I need a break from wedding planning too. Parker is kind of getting on my nerves.”
“I am only two years younger than you.”
“Unimportant,” she says. “Two years or a decade, you will always be my baby sister.”
“Can you please tone down the cringe and tell me what Parker did to upset you?”
“He didn’tupsetme.”
“Is it bad? Can I rough him up a little?”
“Holly,” she warns.
“Oh, come on. I ask for so little.”
There’s a small pause on her end. Like she’s gearing up to say something big. “He wants us to dress up as…Starfire and Nightwing.”
I blink, waiting for the punchline. When it doesn’t come, I ask, “What the fuck is a Starfire and Nightwing?” Before April can respond, I wince. “Wait, is it some kind of a sex thing? Oh, god. It is, isn’t it?”
“What? No! It isnota sex thing —”
“La-la-la-la-la-la, please shut up before I’m forced to pour hot acid down my ears.”
If she could smack me through the phone, I’m sure she would. “It isnota sex thing. Starfire and Nightwing are part of the Teen Titans. He wants us to dress up as twoDCcharacters for my bachelorette.”
Huh?Immediately my forehead scrunches up into a frown. “Why on earth is yourfiancécoming to your bachelorette?”
“I invited him,” she says point-blank as if that’s the universal answer to every single question that exists.
“Why? That’s literally the only rule. No boys allowed.”
“He’s my best friend, Hol. Of course, he’s going to be at every single wedding-related party. And can we focus? We’re diverting from the point of this conversation.”
“There’s a point to this conversation?”
“I can’t let him bully me like this, Holly,” April goes on, her voice overlaid by the cackling of a Spirit Halloween witch. “This is how it starts. Today he’s just suggesting we wear a DC couple’s costume. Tomorrow he’s telling our daughter that Green Lantern is better than Deadpool. What am I supposed to do then? Agree with him?”
What’s actually concerning — and a little sad — is that she isn’t joking about any of this. Not even a little bit. “People would kill to have your problems.”
“I’m being serious.”
“So am I. If he’s getting on your nerves just say the word and I promise to find you someone nerdier and a little less lame.” A beep interrupts our call. “Hey, listen, I’m getting another call. Talk later?”
“Suuuure,” April says. “Take your time. I’ve only been at this store for the past forty-five minutes.”
