Page 10 of One Week Wingman

“So fabulous,” Megan agrees, from just behind her.

I study them, amused to see they’ve already fallen back into their high school formation—or maybe they never left it. For all I know, Megan and Courtney have been trailing half-a-step behind Jessica for the past ten years.

Nita elbows me, so I turn on the smiles too. “Look at you all,” I say, friendly. “It’s been so long since we saw each other. I spy some wedding rings…”

They smirk and flash the hardware: platinum bands and diamonds for days. “Megan’s already on husband number two,” Jessica says, shooting her a look. “And of course, BJ and I have two darling littles: McKayleigh and Brownyn Jr. Also BJ!”

Nita shoots me a look. ‘BJ?’she mouths.

I elbow her back, trying not to giggle. “Congratulations!” I manage. “I can’t wait to hear all about them—”

“But we’re actually just closing now.” Nita jumps in.

“Oh, no probs, we just saw you guys in the window, and wanted to say ‘hi.’” Jessica turns her flawless complexion and Bambi eyes to me. “You’re the big-city lawyer now, right, Roxy?” There’s a gleam in her eye that tells me she already knows the answer.

“Nope,” I keep my pleasant smile in place. “I decided to go another direction.”

“And what direction is that?”

My smile feels more like a grimace as I wrack my brain for something to say.

“Roxy works at an amazing bar in Manhattan,” Nita jumps in, bless her. “Maybe you’ve heard of it, Mavericks?Time Outsaid it was the hottest martini in town.”

“Oh. Cute!” Jessica coos. “And you own it?”

“I bartend,” I reply through gritted teeth, hating the flash of superiority in their eyes.

“Aww, good for you!”

“We don’t get up to the city much,” Courtney adds, with a flip of her dark hair. “Things are just so crazy, you know how kids can be. Oh, wait, you don’t.”

“Don’t worry,” Megan pipes up, not wanting to miss out on the fun. “I’m sure it’ll happen for you two soon,” she says with a syrupy grin. “After all, motherhood is the most rewarding career of all.”

I feel Nita tense up beside me, so I quickly move to usher them to the door. “It’s been so much fun, girls,” I lie, as they file out. “Can’t wait to catch up!”

I slam the door and turn the sign to ‘closed.’ “Sorry,” I say, looking over at Nita.

“What for?”

I pause. Nita’s been trying to get pregnant for a couple of years now, with zero success—and about thirty thousand bucks in tests and IVF cycles. She sees my expression. “It’s fine,” she repeats, “I’m going to have to deal with this shit all week, I may as well get used to it.”

“They should have confiscated her kids for the naming alone,” I joke, trying to cheer her up. “I mean, BJ?”

“And BJ junior!” Nita finally cracks a smile. “That poor child.”

“As if he doesn’t have enough to deal with!”

Nita bustles around, tidying up, and I linger to help. “I’m beginning to think my friends were right,” I confess. “I should have just bailed on this whole week.”

“And leave me to face theHocus Pocusgirls alone? No way,” Nita vows. “I need you.”

“I know, but… I’m going to be having that exact conversation five million times,” I say wryly. “‘No, I’m not a big lawyer doing amazing things, but I make a mean mojito, thanks for asking.’” I sigh. “I don’t regret dropping out, it’s just… This isn’t what I imagined my life would be.”

“Me neither.” Nita gives me a sympathetic look. “I thought I’d be all up in Lin Manuel Miranda’s business by now. Dancing by night, devastating the men of Manhattan by day. Sometimes things don’t work out the way you expect. But… That just means you get something you never would have thought of,” she adds, with smile.

“Like a hunky fiancé, and banging bookstore?” I smile back.

“Banging!” Nita laughs. “Oh God, I can’t believe we used to say that.”

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