Shane was the first to speak. “What the fuck did you just say?”
Every muscle Shane had visibly coiled, and I knew that this may be Kyle’s very last moment on this earth. I tried desperately to think of something to say to redirect the conversation. “So, Matt, Mark, Luke, where’s John? Writing an addendum to his Gospel?” I laughed awkwardly at my own joke as everyone turned their blank faces to me. “What? No one else thinks it’s weird that Shane’s groomsmen all have names from the New Testament?”
Shane rose quickly and threw his napkin onto the table. “I’m suddenly not hungry. Maybe we should start our night, guys. What do ya say?”
The men all murmured assent as they began to get up. Well, everyone except Kyle. He knew better than to go anywhere with Shane and his closest friends.
“Shane, wait. Let me explain.” Amanda grabbed his arm, but he shook her loose.
“There was a time and a place for that. This wasn’t it. Ready, guys?” And with that, they left.
“Kyle, you are such a fucking prick. What the hell is the matter with you?” Amanda hissed.
“I don’t . . . shit, I’m . . .God, I’m so sorry, Amanda. It just slipped.” He turned to look at Kate, who sat like a statue beside him. “Kate, baby, just hear me out.”
“I’ve heard enough from you, Kyle.” Tears began to slip down her cheeks as she stood. “I’m suddenly not feeling very well, girls. I think I’m going to call it a night.” She didn’t meet any of our eyes as she walked off.
“You better go after her, dumbass. Fix it before she draws her own conclusions,” Amanda sighed.
Kyle got up awkwardly. “Fuck, Amanda, I’m sorry I ruined everything. I never wanted that. I’ve never felt like a bigger dick.”
“That’s because you’ve never been a bigger dick. Now go get your girl.” Amanda looked away from him, effectively dismissing him.
As Kyle strode off, I stared at Amanda in amazement. Kyle had just jeopardized her marriage, and she still cared enough about him to want him to go after Kate. Underneath that scathingly sarcastic, brazen shell was a real softy.
Amanda looked over at me, sadness written all over her face. “Well, we’re off to a great start.”
I glanced around the nearly empty table at Steph, Danielle, and Mary. Fuck . . . Mary! Max had left her behind? He was almost as big of a dick as Kyle.
Mary could evidently read my face because she explained. “I told Max to go. The guys won’t be able to get into the club without him.”
I smiled at her, though I knew it was grim. But it was all I had, so I hoped she took it for what it was worth. She was obviously a good person, way better than me. That was for sure.
Mary started to stand. “I’ll just go up to my room.”
“No way,” I interjected abruptly. “This is Amanda’s bachelorette party, and it’s going to be a fucking awesome one if I have to hire every hot, male stripper in A.C. to feed you caviar with his man-meat. Now let’s eat something small, and then go get our freak on.”
The girls all cheered except Amanda. She simply sat there looking at us: her three best girlfriends and one virtual stranger, who were determined to give her the night of her life. “I’m probably going to regret this, but I’m in.” Her voice lacked the conviction I was used to, but still, I could work with it.
“Atta girl.” I leaned in and hugged her before turning to locate Melody. “Melody,” I yelled to our server, who was currently about twenty-five feet away waiting on another table, “we’re going to need some pasta and a lot of alcohol.”
“I’m on it,” Melody called back.
I nodded firmly. “Now that everyone’s on board, let’s get this ho train moving.”
***
Two hours later, I was sitting beside a very drunk Amanda in a back booth at Swanky. We’d lost track of the other girls on the dance floor at some point. As soon as I saw the waterworks coming, I knew to get Amanda somewhere secluded. The only thing she hated more than crying was crying in front of people.
“He’s going to call it off, isn’t he, Lil?”
“No, Shane would never do that. He’s crazy about you.”
“But I lied to him. He’ll never forgive me.”
“You didn’t lie to him. You just didn’t tell him. They’re very different things.” I instantly recognized my logic. I’d used it on myself quite a few times. The aftertaste of the words was bitter as I remembered how untrue this advice actually was. A lie of omission was still a lie. But saying that to a completely obliterated Amanda wasn’t going to help her situation.
“No, I should’ve told him. It wouldn’t have mattered if I’d been upfront about it. But it looks fucked up that I didn’t, like we were trying to be sneaky about it.”