Page 1 of Power Move

PART I

BACHELORETTE

1.INVISIBLE

Eva

Sportingevents brought out the worst in people. For masochistic but dedicated Cubs fans, that meant painful amounts of drinking. Heading into the seventh inning stretch, the Cubs led by two. Unfortunately, they were down byfouran inning later. In hopes of hitting the watering holes of Wrigleyville before the sad crowds showed up, our party left the friendly confines of the club level we paid too much money for.

“Can you both watch Callie?” Ellie, my best friend, asked myself and Jace, her sibling.

“Sure,” I said.

Callie O’Malley, one of Ellie’s sorority sisters, was of Irish blood but lacked any ability to hold her liquor. I resisted a strong urge to smack her as she tried to slam her hand on the hood of a guy’s car, fully stopped, to reenact a scene fromMidnight Cowboy.

I mouthed an apology to the older man in the Porsche. Jace shot me a look like they couldn’t believe this bullshit. We did it because we loved Ellie, but neither of us fit in. Jace was better suited by Northalsted’s rainbow-flag-waving set of openings. I was much of the same mind.

We arrived at the club. Callie bitched that no one had given her a drink.

“That girl is trying my fucking patience,” Jace groaned. “I will not make it. I swear I won’t.”

I looked at Jace, hands on their small shoulders. “I promise you, friend, we will survive this onslaught.”

“Hey, ladies—and Jace!” Dia Hernandez gave a shrill, but inconclusive declaration. “Who wants shots?”

“I’ll get them,” I groaned, wanting a break.

Jace called. “I swear to god, Eva, if you leave me?—”

I waved and departed, looking ridiculous as I approached the bar where a man refused to move. He turned and began to chat me up.

“Oh, a bridesmaid,” said the polo-wearing dickhead blocking my free movement.

“Hi,” I said.

“No Cubs gear? Are you here with the Giants?” He joked.

“I do not wear sports gear in an act of protest.”

“Protest?”

“They have shitty options for women. You mind moving, buddy?” I tried brushing past, something he read as flirtation.

“What are you up to after this?”

Great, a non-sequitur since he’s not even listening!

“I’m hanging with my friends over there. It’s my best friend’s bachelorette. My focus is on celebrating her!”

“Oh, really? Is she the hot little blonde?”

She wasn’t. That was Allison Florence, Ellie’s teaching coworker. I didn’t get along with her well, but her uncle offered the party bus for free since Ellie’s future father-in-law was a close friend. For a savings of three grand, I’d get over it.

“Nope. The bride is the one with the tiara,” I said.

I expected an offer to buy the drinks. Instead, he stared down my summer dress.

“Well, my place is around the corner?—”