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"You do what you can," I grinned and added, "But now we should really get this party started. The night is just beginning." And this night promised to be really good. I grinned. Really, really good.
"Exactly!" Isabella supported me. "It's YOUR night, Fiona. So far, it's been mostly about me. That needs to change right now." She looked around and everyone nodded in agreement.
"Don't worry, Isabella," the feisty Fiona replied reassuringly. "After all, it's supposed to be a fun night. And so far, I really can't complain about a lack of fun or surprises." She grinned and nudged me again in the side.
"Hey! Leave Isabella's fiancé alone," giggled one of the other girls.
"It's time you got your first task, Fiona!" demanded another.
"Yessssss!" they all chorused.
"To Fiona!" I called, upon which everyone raised their glasses and a loud "To Fiona!" echoed through the bar. Could this get any better? By chance, I had stumbled into a bachelorette party and would spend the rest of the night with these fun girls.
"The task!" Isabella demanded with sparkling eyes. At that moment, I would have liked to assign her a very different task. One that would have excited me as much as our kiss. We had been on a pretty good track earlier. That greasy guy, who supposedly Isabella owed money to, had unfortunately ruined the atmosphere.
"John and you, Fiona, are getting married soon," a petite blonde took charge.
"We know that," giggled another.
"Have you also practiced your wedding dance properly?" the petite blonde asked sternly.
"Of course!" Fiona retorted with mock indignation. "We're professionals."
"Then prove it to us. Find a man here who will dance with you to your song."
Fiona looked at me challengingly.
I couldn't really refuse, could I?
Even though I caught myself thinking that I would much rather have Isabella's body pressed against mine instead of leading the tall Fiona onto the dance floor.
"Oh no, my dear, you won't make it that easy for yourself. This magnificent specimen here has caught Isabella's eye. You'll have to find your own dance partner here somewhere. And of course, he should be named John and not..." The little blonde looked at me questioningly.
"Carter," I completed the sentence.
"Carter," she repeated and looked at Fiona. "So, bride, go outside and see if there's a John hanging around. If not, any other guy will do. Better to dance with the wrong one than not at all." Laughing, the little blonde gave the future bride a little push. Fiona first looked a bit uncomfortable. I grinned. Yes, that was part of a bachelorette party. The bride had to do some embarrassing or unpleasant things, which ultimately turned out to be a huge fun for everyone. Asking a stranger to dance was really no big deal. It happened countless times in every New York club, every night.
Isabella had shown much more courage when she stormed towards me and kissed me.
Fiona had received an easy task. But she seemed to see it differently. She emptied her Tequila Sunrise with a deep gulp, straightened her shoulders, and said, "Okay! I can do this!"
The other girls burst into loud cheers. Fiona strode somewhat uncertainly to the entrance of the bar, looked into the lobby, and then shouted loudly, "Is there anyone here named John?"
I shook my head grinning. It couldn't be more noticeable and embarrassing. But well, that was part of the task. And Fiona already had a few drinks in her.
One of the hotel staff standing at the reception desk looked up. "What about me?"
Fiona had obviously mustered the necessary courage, for she slowly approached him and said with a slightly slurred tongue, "May I ask you to dance?" She then elegantly curtsied and tugged at her skirt. Or at least, she tried to. The little blonde nodded at the bartender at that moment, who turned the music up full blast so that it could be heard all the way into the lobby.
YouaretheReasonby Leona Lewis.
Fiona grabbed the somewhat reluctant hotel employee, and the two began to move together to the rhythm of the music. Clumsily. The girls next to me giggled audibly, but Fiona either didn't notice or wasn't impressed.
And me?
I also wanted to dance.
But not with Fiona.