Free Blogger Girl by Meredith Schorr

pounds each.”
    “Oh, please rub that in while you’re at it,” Bridget said sarcastically. “You’re still wearing the black wrap dress with the plunging neckline and long slit down the side, right?”
    “That’s the plan.” Since I couldn’t show off a husband and kids or brag about a high paying and exciting career, I wanted to at least look hot.
    “Cool. I wanted to confirm before I aired out my racy number.”
    “I can’t wait to see you in that dress! You’re gonna look smokin’! Even Hannah will be left speechless.”
    “Speaking of Hannah, did you respond to her email?” Bridget asked with a catch in her voice.
    “Nope! And I’m not going to.” After mulling it over ad nauseam, I realized that for once, I had the power over Hannah. Although I had never needed her back in high school to propel me to popularity since I was quite happy with my social status, it would have been nice if she hadn’t constantly found something to rag on about Bridget and me. And she always found a way to say things discreetly enough so as to not bring any negative attention to herself in the process. I remembered one instance in gym class when we were choosing teams for softball. Hannah was captain of one team and one of my friends was captain of the other. Our friend had already chosen me for her team and was probably going to select Bridget on her next turn. Even though some of Hannah’s cronies were eager to be on her team, Hannah shocked almost everyone by picking Bridget. She loudly told her pouting groupies that Mrs. Dervish, our gym teacher, had asked her to pick some of the “less popular girls” first to make them feel important, but I always knew she had done it to purposely keep Bridget and I apart. Ten years later, I quite liked the thought of making her sweat over the book review.
    “Atta girl! I’m high-fiving you through the phone,” Bridget said happily.
    I raised my left hand in a one sided high-five. “Back at you. By the way, I know you’ve got the Prosecco covered but I doubt Jonathan will drink it. Do you have any beer? Or vodka? Or anything that doesn’t sparkle?”
    As I heard the flick of a lighter, Bridget asked, “Jonathan’s definitely pre-gaming with us?”
    “Yeah. Pete and Andy had no desire to meet up first and Jonathan was too lazy to plan his own tailgate so I talked him into joining us. That way, we’ll walk in a united front. You don’t mind, do you?” I had forgotten to mention it to Bridget assuming she’d be okay with it, but since it was her apartment and not mine, I suddenly felt a twinge of guilt.
    “No worries,” Bridget said, exhaling deeply. “The more the merrier. And we’ll be a united drunk front.”
    “True that.” Relieved she wasn’t annoyed I had invited Jonathan, I decided not to complain about her smoking again.
    “Nothing that sparkles though, huh? I guess that leaves out ‘Goldschlager?’”
    Smiling, I said, “He’d probably drink it but I’ll tell him to bring his own alcohol just in case, okay?”
    “’K, K.”
    “Watch it. One more K and you’d be in trouble!”
    ***
     
    “Stepping away,” I said to Rob over speaker phone.
    “I’ll try to hold down the fort without you,” he replied dryly.
    “Not possible, boss man. That’s why you pay me the big bucks.”
    Rob laughed. “Don’t forget that the next time I need you to oversee a large copy job.”
    “Hardy har har.” I hung up the phone and stood up, wincing when my toes pressed against the front of my new leopard printed flats. It was casual Friday and I decided to leave my heels at home, wrongly assuming that flats would be more comfortable. They weren’t. Steve Madden shoes had historically disagreed with me but these were so cute and looked perfect with my skinny jeans.
    After limping down the hallway, I stopped in front of Nicholas’ office, tried to breathe easily despite the fluttering of my heart, and knocked lightly on his door.
    He looked up and gave me a