Nothing More Beautiful (43 page)

The food arrived not too long after we
ordered, the drinks flowing during the meantime, and I had to stop
Danielle before she went overboard. It was too early in the evening
for her to crash.

Halfway through dinner and after her second
drink, Nikki suddenly started rubbing my calf with her foot, her
skin grazing mine with a soft, practiced touch. She didn’t look at
me as she slid up and down, talking to the woman next to her. At
first I thought it was an accident, but after a few seconds, her
intentions were clear, and I shifted in the booth.

About five minutes later she tried again,
her bare leg on my bare leg. The weird thing about it was that I
didn’t hate her touch. It was different than Vince’s hairy legs, so
silky and clean, and more electrifying than when my legs grazed
each other.

We were all good and buzzed and almost ready
to leave when Danielle, Becky, and I decided to go to the bathroom.
On the way there, I overheard a guy say, “Look at those sluts.”

I stopped at his table. “Excuse me?” My
blood was boiling, my anger ready to blow after such a devastating
week.

“You can’t deny it,” the guy said. “You’re
sluts.”

“Yeah, hon, he’s right,” a woman said, the
only one sitting with the group of five guys. “You’re sluts.” The
other guys were all laughing, but said nothing.

“Fuck you, you little whore.” The alcohol
and rage destroyed my filter. “And fuck you, douchebag.”

Danielle rushed back and grabbed me by the
shoulders. “Hey, we’re better than that.”

“Are you though?” the same guy said. “A slut
like you? Come on.”

Becky arrived and hauled me away before I
lost it. “What the fuck was that all about?” she asked in the
bathroom.

“I have no idea,” I said, “they just started
calling us sluts as we walked by.”

“People are weird,” Danielle said, “let’s
leave it at that and enjoy the rest of tonight. I’m not tanked yet,
remember? So we still have a long night ahead of us.”

I promised to let it go. On the way back to
our table, the group harassed us again without a reason, trying to
provoke us into some sort of confrontation. I gritted my teeth and
walked on. We were heading for the door when I grabbed Becky’s
half-finished margarita and turned back for the harassers.

I could hear Becky behind me,
“
Maci!
”

I tossed the drink in the guy’s face and
slammed the glass down on the table as the other four guys cried
out, “
Oh!
”

“Fuck you, morons,” I laughed. Becky yanked
my arm, pulling me for the exit. A waitress was rushing over to us
as we started speed-walking to catch the others. Adrenaline pumping
through my veins, I let out a laugh of sweet revenge, climbing into
the elevator.

“What just happened?” Bridgett asked. Becky
and Danielle fed them the story on our way to CC Slaughters for
some cheap drinks. I was all pumped up and ready to dance. As a
group, we took over a large portion of the floor, but the music
wasn’t what any of us wanted. “I want to dance!” Danielle
yelled.

“We
are
dancing,” I shouted back.

“Dirty Nightlife is a few blocks down,”
Nikki said, “that place gets really hot.”

“Let’s finish these drinks and go,” Danielle
said. We didn’t argue with her. It was her night, and no one really
cared anyway, though a few of them wanted to go to Darcelle’s for a
drag show. My head was swimming by the time I finished my drink at
CCs. As maid of honor, it was my duty to see that Danielle paced
herself and to make sure people didn’t force too many drinks into
her hands. Sadly, I was unable to control myself, let alone
her.

Two random girls ended up buying Danielle
another drink at CCs, so we stayed for a while longer before we
gave up and went to Dirty Nightlife, which I had never heard of,
but then again, I didn’t do the club scene, so that was no
surprise. The club was packed, and cleavage was everywhere,
including a few women wearing only bras. Stripper poles were
scattered throughout the place, yet there were no actual strippers,
only regular dancing partyers doing their own thing.

Nikki ran over to a free pole with the rest
of us in tow. A group of guys bought us a round of martinis and the
night really took off from there. We all went wild: dancing,
drinking, and laughing. Nikki kept climbing the pole and pointing
at me, but I laughed it off, glancing at someone else while sipping
on my drink.

Tugging down her shirt so that her breasts
were practically popping out of her tank top, she caught my eye
again, and danced with her ass grinding against the pole, sliding
down, then back up. She pointed at me again and drew her finger in
toward her, signaling me to get closer.

I didn’t know if she would ever stop, so I
walked over to her. “Yeah?”

“Dance with me.”

I gave in. “Sure.” She placed a hand on my
hip, scooting closer. I guess this was what Danielle had warned me
about. She grinded her crotch against me, then spun around, bumping
me with her ass. I’m not sure if it was the alcohol or something
else, but I clutched her hips and grinded back.

She grinned with a trace of seduction. “Have
you ever kissed a woman before?” she asked, leaning into my
ear.

“No,” I answered. I couldn’t see straight at
that point. “But I’ve thought about it.”

“How come you’ve never tried it?” She
squeezed her breasts into mine and I felt a little turned on.

“Don’t know.” I pulled back so I could see
her better. “Never was in the situation to try it, I guess.”

She turned around and danced down to the
floor, then back up, running her hands up my legs. She spun back
into me so that our eyes met. Her lips were wet with lip-gloss.
Before I knew it, her mouth was on mine, her tongue exploring mine.
I fell into the moment, rolling my tongue against hers.

“What the hell?” Danielle broke us apart.
“Maci, what are you doing?”

“Kiss—kissing a girl.” I backed up. “And—and
guess what—I liked it, Danielle. Just like the song.” I laughed at
myself.

“Then there’s no reason to stop,” Nikki
said.

Danielle put a finger up to her face. “Not
this one, Nikki. I told you that earlier.” She looked furious with
her friend.

“You said not to sleep with her.” Nikki eyed
Danielle, just as pissed off for the interruption. “You never said
anything about making out.”

“You told her not to sleep with me?” I asked
Danielle, confused.

“You know what? Keep her to yourself. I’m
out of here.”

“Good. It was a mistake you were ever
invited anyway,” Danielle shouted as Nikki left. She grabbed my
arm. “I can’t believe you, Maci. I told you to watch out for
her.”

“I’m a grown woman, Danielle. If I want to
kiss a woman I—I can.”

“Maybe you should take a break for a while,”
she said.

“That’s a good idea.” I grabbed my stomach.
“I don’t feel so great.” I sat down at the table we had claimed
earlier in the night.

Bridgett sat down next to me. “Did you—did
you just kiss a girl?”

I nodded, my drunken vision seeing a few of
her. “Yeah.”

“How was it?”

“A little arousing.”

She spat whatever she was drinking. “God, I
hope I remember this in the morning.” We sat there laughing, and I
slowly, drunkenly drifted off into a hazy sleep.

T
he next morning I had the
worst headache of my life. I woke up on the floor in the hotel room
we’d booked for the bachelorette party. I couldn’t remember how I’d
gotten there and was pretty sure I had blacked out at the dance
club. The hangover lasted all day, and I had thrown up more than
once. I remembered little, but I did recall the one big event,
especially when Bridgett brought it up again, laughing with her
whole body.

I went the entire week without telling Vince
about the kiss, worried about his reaction. Sure, a lot of men say
they think it would be hot, but when it came down to it, it was a
guessing game. Guilt ate at me.

Saturday morning came and I swore I had more
jitters than Danielle, even though it was her wedding day. Everyone
from the bachelorette party would be there except Nikki, including
big-mouth Bridgett, who couldn’t keep a secret. On a positive note,
she was keeping her distance from Vince ever since the theft
ordeal, so the likelihood that she’d spill the beans was miniscule.
I worried about all the others, though. People would be getting
drunk, which meant their tongues would be getting loose, like mine
had. Luckily, Vince had to work late Friday night and missed the
rehearsal dinner, where I was asked several times if I was
switching teams. All the jokes bounced off me for the first hour
before I grew tired of them, and snapped at Becky.

Danielle had packed the schedule for the day
full of fun preparatory appointments and tasks. We started the day
off right with a delectable breakfast with strong mimosas, then we
got our nails and hair done, did our own makeup, and dressed at the
venue. The Hostess House, a beautiful, elegant choice for
Danielle’s smaller wedding, had a chapel and reception room, and a
gazebo outside, where the two lovebirds were to unveil in front of
each other prior to pictures.

I almost cried twice while helping Danielle
dress. She was so stunning in her gown, and all the emotion was
getting to me, realizing that she was about to enter into a new
stage in her life. “Are you ready?” I asked after we finished
adjusting her wedding gown. It fit perfectly, the pure white fabric
falling in a short train, with the surplice neckline showing off a
great deal of cleavage.

She nodded, happy tears running down her
cheeks. She clasped my hands. “I know things are about to change a
lot between us when I move in with Ashley, but I want you to know
that I’ll always be there for you. Even though we’re not related by
blood, you’re my sister, and that will never change.”

My eyes watered again: I was on the verge of
losing my composure. I had no words for her, my emotions too wild,
so we embraced each other in silence. “I’m so happy for you,” I
said at last. “Come on. Let’s go see your bride.” I took the yellow
sash and tied it around her eyes, blindfolding her. I guided her
outside to the gazebo where Ashley stood, also blindfolded, next to
her maid of honor.

“Ready?” I asked. They both said “yes” with
tense excitement. I nodded at the other woman, and we both untied
the blindfolds at the same time, drawing them back. Both brides
gasped. Instead of white, Ashley wore a yellow strapless sweetheart
dress. The ball gown featuring a dropped-waist bodice bejeweled
with diamonds, and a trainless floor-length skirt, layered in six
ruffled tiers.

Tears dominated the next few minutes as they
relished the moment. Then we took pictures and the time flew by. We
retired to the prep room a half hour before the ceremony. Danielle
grew nervous then, pacing.

“You can do this, Danielle,” I said in a
calm tone. “You want to do this.”

“I’m just worried about my vows,” she said.
“I’m worried I won’t be able to say them. I don’t want to be up
there bawling the whole time.”

I hugged her tightly. “When the time comes,
so will your voice.” The simple words comforted her enough to where
she stopped pacing. Her mother and father also gave her advice each
in turn as we waited.

The wedding coordinator, a slender Asian
woman, peeked into the room before rushing in. She wanted no one
outside the wedding party to see the brides before they walked down
the aisle. She was very particular about it. “It’s time. Maci and
Becky”—she waved us over—“come.” She began ordering us around as we
filed into line outside the chapel.

Ashley walked down the aisle first. Unlike
Danielle’s parents, Ashley’s didn’t accept her sexuality, so her
uncle—who was also gay—gave her away as everyone rose from their
seats. Becky and her counterpart walked next, then Lisa, one of
Danielle’s friends from grad school, started off with her
complement. I went last with Tanisha, Ashley’s maid of honor, who
was popping out of her pink pastel dress. The blue pastel dress I
wore wasn’t as flattering as I would have liked, but Danielle chose
it, and there was no point arguing with a bride.

Blue and pink flowers filled the candlelit
chapel. The site stunned me as we made our way to the front, amazed
at how well it all turned out: the streamers and decorations, and
all the people who showed up.

When I took my spot near the Officiant, I
spotted Vince in the second row with my mom. He smiled at me with
his sweet, intoxicating eyes. Scanning the room, I laughed a little
at the ratio of women to men, which was easily four to one.

A breath later, Danielle entered the room on
the arms of her parents. At the arch, they gave her away, and
Ashley leaned in and whispered something to her. From there, the
ceremony proceeded without incident, their vows prompting more
tears. When I finally found Vince afterward, he was in queue for
the receiving line. “Hey, you’re looking pretty good in that
dress,” he said, giving me a hug and a kiss when he reached me.

“It’d look better on the floor,” I teased,
whispering in his ear.

He laughed. “True. Where do I sit?” The long
line behind him pushed him on as I pointed. After everyone passed
through, I found Vince waiting at our designated table with Alma. I
touched his chest as he hugged me again. His sharp suit probably
cost as much as Danielle’s wedding dress.

I downed a glass of water, feeling a bit
lightheaded. “Wait here. I’ll go get Eric.” Ever since we got back
from Hawaii, Alma continued to be nice to me, but her mood had
declined, now even more dismal. Luckily, Danielle, Ashley, and I
concocted a brilliant plan to set her up with one of Ashley’s rich
co-workers.