“A toast!” Nigel stood, holding up his glass of wine. “To Miranda and Andy, may their union bring them all the happiness they can stand.”
The people gathered for the rehearsal dinner laughed but drank to the toast. The food, was spectacular. Gunter had outdone himself and promised that the wedding reception meal would be even better. Dorothy looked around the convivial group and smiled. This was exactly how she'd always pictured her daughter's wedding would be, with one exception. She had always thought her husband would be here to share it with her.
“I'm stuffed!” Andy leaned back in her chair, patting her tummy lightly. “There won't be edibles at the party tonight will there Lily? I can't possibly eat anything else!”
“Oh, there will be nibbles for later.” Lily smiled. “You'll work off what you've eaten, I promise.”
“Work off?” Miranda didn't like the sound of that at all.
“Dancing, Miranda.” Lily did a little dance right in her seat. “We're gonna make Andy, boogie her butt off...”
“I wouldn't advise that.” Miranda spoke dryly then tilted her head as if looking down Andrea's back. “I happen to like her butt exactly where it is.”
“Miranda!” Andy was shocked. “How much have you had to drink this evening?”
Miranda picked up her glass, “Not nearly enough.”
Andy lowered her voice, “Miranda?”
“I am going to marry you tomorrow, Andrea. I highly doubt I'll be able to sleep tonight, and I'll have to spend the night alone.” Miranda took a sip of her wine. “So I'm taking your example and getting a head start on the evening. Hopefully I will, eventually, be able to sleep.”
“Miranda...” Andy's comment was stopped by soft lips moving against her own for a moment, then clear blue eyes locked with hers.
“Tomorrow at this time, we will be married.”
Dazzling everyone in the vicinity with her trademarked smile, Andy laughed and nodded. “You bet we will.”
###
The children had all gone up to their rooms, planning to change into comfy clothes then meet again for a round or two of video game madness. Dawn had offered to chaperone, much to the children's dismay. Both Miranda and Lara looked to Andy for approval of the supervision. Andy nodded and hugged her great-aunt. “Thanks Aunt Dawn. You're the best.”
“Pfft...” Dawn's eyes had twinkled at her niece. “Just have fun, okay?”
Andy had flashed her million watt smile and nodded. “You bet.”
Now, ten minutes later, only the adults remained, chatting with each other about various things.
“You know,” Jo spoke up as Miranda's wine glass emptied, again. “You should take it easy on the wine.” Her dark eyes narrowed in amusement. “We are going to have that drinking contest later. Remember?”
“Mmmm...” Miranda set her glass down and gestured for it to be refilled. “Yes, beer, I recall. That won't be a problem, no matter what state I'm in prior to the contest.”
Jo laughed and looked around the table. “I'm sure that's the most polite 'Bring it on' I've ever heard.”
Everyone laughed, including Miranda. Andy only chuckled slightly. She was a bit worried about Miranda and her inebriated state. She tried to think back to all the times they'd shared alcoholic drinks and in all those instances, Andy couldn't once remember Miranda actually getting drunk. It was a little terrifying to think about Miranda losing control. Andy watched another glass of wine slowly drain away and realized that Miranda wasn't drinking all that much. Miranda just had a way of making you think she was drinking more than she really was. Andy also knew that Miranda had eaten quite a number of carbs during dinner: another buffer for the alcohol. Grinning, Andy took a sip of her own wine and thought, Jo is toast. She wished she would be there to see it. A full blown smile crossed Andy's face as Miranda turned to lock eyes with her. The moment was broken by Lily taking her by the arm.
Dougie placed a blindfold over Andy's eyes and kissed her cheek before whispering. “Have fun.” He waved to everyone and grinned at Lily before he made his way back to his room, for a while.
“C'mon, Andy...” Lily guided her friend up and away from the table. “It's time for us to party!”
###
Miranda watched as Andrea was led away. She wanted to protest, but apparently half the wedding party was going with the young people, the men in the group all drifted away quietly and Emily was indicating that they too needed to change rooms.
She was led to a lovely outdoor terrace. The space was surrounded by greenery, interwoven with small lights, giving the party a festive feel but still the privacy they required. It was also close enough to the hotel that, even exhausted or drunk, the walk would not be too taxing. A long rectangular table held a variety of beverages and various edibles. A uniformed bartender, along with a similarly dressed waitress, stood on hand to fill requests. Soft music was playing through speakers hidden among the landscaping and there were several small round tables for people to sit, leaving a nice sized space for dancing if the mood struck. Miranda smiled softly at Emily and nodded. “Very nice.”
Seeming to grow about an inch at that statement, Emily smiled, “Thank you, Miranda. I'm glad you approve!” Serena had gone with the others to Andy's party, so Emily felt a bit lost in the company of all these people she didn't actually know. She had the feeling that the police detective, who had followed along, would be moving to the other party later in the evening and wondered if the wife, Blair, would leave as well. Any further speculation regarding the guests was halted as another arrived.
“Darling!”
Miranda turned and smiled. “Donatella, how lovely you could make it.” Kissing, and receiving kisses on both cheeks, Miranda guided her long time friend to a seat. “How are things?”
“Going well. I got a bit lost for a moment but the desk clerk knew where your party was being held.” Donatella, glanced around and drawled, “Are you going to introduce me, Darling?”
Laughing at that, Miranda shook her head. “I don't believe you need an introduction, but yes, of course.” She raised her voice slightly speaking to the gathered friends and family. “This is my dear friend, Donatella Versace.” Gesturing to each person, Miranda continued, “Donatella, this is my sister, Natalie. My sister-in-law, Josie. My future mother-in-law, Dorothy.” She grinned as Donatella nodded to each person then smirked and continued. “My future grandmother-in-law, Pava and her friend Mary.” Again Donatella nodded, but the “grandmother” designation had widened her eyes somewhat. Miranda's voice softened. “And this... is my Tante Louise.”
Standing, Donatella moved to take Tante's hand and bowed over it slightly. “It is a very great honor to meet you. Miranda has spoken very highly of you.”
“Nice to meet you too.” Louise smiled as the tall woman released her hand and moved on to the younger people attending.
“You,” Donatella looked at Jo, “seem familiar...but I don't know you. But,” She turned and sounded thoughtful, “you look very familiar.”
Blair laughed. “I never had the pleasure, but I believe we've been to a few of the same functions and our companies do business with each other...” She held out her hand. “Blair Warner.”
“Ah... Warner Industries then, of course,” Donatella shook the hand offered, and pulled Blair in to air kiss each cheek. “Versace uses many Warner Textile fabrics in the mass production of their designs.”
“Yes, they do.” Blair bowed slightly at the waist. “It's nice to finally meet you.” She grinned and gestured to Jo. “This is my wife, Jo.”
“Oh.” The fashion designer took another good look at Jo and remembered, “You were in the last issue of Runway.” She felt Miranda's hand on her back.
“The Good Detective inspired the tribute to law enforcement. She was instrumental in helping Andrea and me catch the psycho woman who was trying to kill me.” Miranda's eyes glittered in the low lighting. “She is a good friend.”
“I was glad to help.” Jo grinned. “Not sure how good a friend you're going to think I am after I drink you under the table tonight. I'm pretty good at drinking contests you know?”
Miranda laughed. “You can try. And I believe it will be you cursing my name come the morning.”
Donatella laughed. “What is the drink?”
With a glint in her eye and a knowing smirk, Miranda informed her friend, “Beer.”
“American beer?” Shaking her head at that, Donatella laughed and dismissed Jo with a wave of her hand. “No chance.” Turning, she smiled at the only person there that had yet to be introduced, but needed no introduction. Miranda made it anyway.
“Ah, yes... of course you know Emily.”
“Of course.” The Italian smiled and air-kissed both of Emily's cheeks. “How are you, my Darling?”
“I'm well, thank you.. and thank you for being here!”
“Of course, of course.. I wouldn't miss it.” Donatella did glance around, seemingly disappointed. She spoke to Miranda quietly. “I had hoped to meet your Andrea this evening.”
“Andrea is off with her friends at her own hen...bachelorette party.” Miranda rolled her eyes, “You will meet her tomorrow.”
“I suppose, if I must wait... at least we can pass the time together.” She linked her arm with Miranda's. “Did you say something about a drinking contest?”
“I believe something of the sort was mentioned.” Miranda laughed as one of the tables was moved away from the others. She sat on one side and Jo settled on the other. With a gesture, two beers, and two mugs were set on the table in front of them.
Jo filled her mug quickly. She picked it up and lifted it slightly. “You're goin' down, Old Lady.” She chugged the drink down quickly, smiled and slammed the mug down on the table when she was done.
Miranda grinned and tilted her own filled mug toward her opponent. “We shall see.” She finished her drink just as quickly as Jo had, but set it down lightly, waiting for the next to be served. Her bored expression never altered, but the corners of her mouth twitched as Jo's face began to morph into slight concern.
Their rapt audience looked on with fascination at the spectacle, especially when Miranda instructed the waitress to begin bringing the beers to them, two at a time.
###
They had taken a decent ride in what was obviously a golf cart then walked a short distance before Andy heard the sound of the ocean getting louder and felt the surface she was walking on give way to sand. “Um... Lily? Can I take off the blindfold now?”
“Nope.. not yet.”
Blindly reaching down, Andy took off her shoes as they moved forward. “Really, Lily...”
“Okay, fine... just hold on another second...”
Andy stood where Lily left her, and heard a large whoosh, then felt a wave of heat on her face. “Now?”
“Yes, now... Geez...”
Removing the blindfold, Andy grinned at the huge bonfire that Lily had just lit and looked around at the others. “Cool!” They all grinned and encouraged her to join them at the refreshment table.
“Andy,” Serena beckoned her friend over and gestured to a bowl of orange snackies. “I believe these are your favorite.”
“Ohhh!” Even though she wasn't a bit hungry, Andy snagged a Cheese Doodle and chewed as she looked over the selection of drinks. Lifting two longneck bottles from the ice, she handed one to Serena. Tapping the bottles together, Andy looked around and smiled. “To bonfires.” She removed the cap on her drink and took a long swallow. “Lily!” She blinked when her long-time friend was suddenly at her side. “I thought you said something about dancing??”
“I certainly did!” Lily led Andy to the other side of the fire, where several pieces of plywood had been laid on the sand. She hit play on the iPod and one of Andy's favorite dance tunes began to pour from the speakers.
Everybody dance now!
She grinned as Andy raised her beer high and gave a loud “Woot!”. Lily found herself being hauled into the middle of the makeshift dance floor and they began to move. Serena and Lara joined them.
Lily was sorry there weren't more people here, but Jo had promised that she and Blair would come by later and even though it was supposed to be girls only, Dougie was also scheduled to arrive in a little while. She continued to dance with her best friend and laughed, knowing the night held more surprises for Andy.
###
Pava sipped her drink and watched as the drinking contest continued. Miranda and Jo weren't the only ones slowly becoming inebriated. All the rest of the party were imbibing as well. Granted not as much as the contestants, but still she figured they were all pleasantly buzzed by now. All except for that Emily woman, she had drunk nothing but water since the party started.
Pava didn't even try to count the number of empty bottles that now covered the small table between the two contestants, or the ones that stood on the table nearby. Jo had just downed another mugful and it was now Miranda's turn. Pava's arm was across the back of the chair that Mary sat in, but she leaned in the other direction to speak quietly to Louise. “Should Miranda be doing this?”
Louise sighed. “Probably not, but she inherited her tolerance for alcohol as well as her stubborn streak, from her father.” She shook her head as Miranda calmly drained her mug and began to fill it again. “My brother didn't have many admirable traits, but those two seem to be keeping Miranda in good stead this evening.” Louise also sipped her drink as she watched. “I believe Miranda will win this particular contest.”
“I can't imagine drinking as much as they already have.” Pava heard Mary snort softly and added, “Not anymore.”
“Me either.” Louise smiled as Miranda turned to look at them.
“Perhaps when I reach your exalted ages, I will no longer participate in contests such as these either... until then...” Turning back to the task at hand, Miranda downed another mug and clearly passed the burden back to Jo.
“Careful Miranda,” Natalie laughed at her twin sister. “We can't pull our little trick anymore.”
A pure Miranda laugh rang through the space, “True, but I don't believe I'll need that amount of help, this time.” She chuckled. “Like mother like daughters I suppose... Cassidy and Caroline call it 'The Switcharoo.'” She watched Joanne finish her drink and prepared to take another for herself.
“So my first impressions were right.” Pava took another swallow of her drink. “All of you, trouble through and through.”
Miranda looked over her shoulder at Andrea's grandmother and, with a glance at Tante Louise, grinned. “We do come by it honestly.”
Louise grinned at her niece. “It does seem to run in the family.”
“I am quite certain we have all had our own brushes with trouble.” Miranda turned back to the task at hand. It was proving more difficult than she had expected. Donatella's amused comment drew a glare.
“Milan.” The fashion designer's knowing tone and laughing eyes deflected Miranda's narrowed look. She was one of the few people who could ignore Miranda's ire, about certain things. “That was a week full of...trouble?”
Licking her lips, Miranda's expression changed from deadly to amused. With a wry grin she lifted one finger to her lips and although none of them heard it, they all knew the “Shhh...” gesture. Miranda chuckled and they all began to laugh, seeming to realize, for the first time, Miranda was human after all. When the laughter faded, Miranda watched her opponent closely, with only slightly glazed eyes. Blair knelt next to Jo and spoke quietly.
“Joey...” This had obviously already gone too far for Blair's taste. “Are you okay?”
Jo nodded as she shakily poured her next drink. “I got this.” She drank the mugful, slower than she'd been emptying the drinks in the past, put the mug back solidly on the table, and smiled, more to keep the drink down than for any other reason. A small shudder passed through her as her stomach attempted to process the latest addition to its contents. The pleasant buzz in her brain began to grow louder.
Nodding, Miranda picked up the bottle next to her and poured the liquid, steadily, into her mug. She spoke casually. “We can call a halt to this anytime you wish.” She drained her mug, as quickly now as she did in the beginning, “We are even now...”
“No way...” Jo managed to pour herself another and drink it, slowly. The shudder this time was more noticeable. The buzzing in her head became stronger and began to move down her spine in a not-so-pleasant way. “Your turn.”
“Of course,” Calmly pouring herself another, Miranda gazed steadily at her opponent as the drink slid down her throat. Setting her mug down, carefully, Miranda raised her eyebrows. “It is now, I believe, your turn.”
Jo blinked at Miranda. Swallowing hard, she concentrated and picked up the new beer that had been set next to her. She poured slowly, carefully. When the mug was full she tried to set the bottle back on the table. It toppled over, but stayed on the table. Jo blinked at the fallen bottle, then looked back at her mug; her very full, mug. She stared at it for a long time then blinked again and shook her head slightly. She tried to focus as a hand came into view and picked up the mug. Jo followed the hand and mug up to Miranda's face and watched as the contents disappeared. The empty mug was set back in front of her, and the hand now reached up, tapping her on the cheek lightly.
“A very good try, Detective.” Miranda smiled and sat back in her chair, satisfied with her win. She just hoped she didn't need to move for a little while. “Emily,” she glanced to her right where Emily instantly appeared. “I believe the Good Detective and I are in need of some pretzels.”
Emily bobbed her head and automatically responded, “Yes, Miranda.” She quickly moved to the snack table to procure the requested items.
Jo blinked at the calmness of the order and its immediate fulfillment then began laughing. She laughed so hard that she had to hold on to the table for dear life and wasn't aware of the others chuckling along with her. When she finally managed to calm herself, a wicked grin crossed her face. “Does she always do everything you say?”
Licking her lips, Miranda glanced at Emily, then at the waitress. A flash of Andrea's smile crossed her mind and Miranda's smile became slightly predatory as she answered, “Always.”
“Ha!” Jo spoke loudly so everyone could hear but addressed Emily, and the waitress just because Emily was standing next to her at the moment. “If she,” Jo waved toward Miranda, “asked you to bark like a dog, you'd do it?”
Without missing a beat, Emily picked up two small bowls of pretzels and carried them to the table, speaking as she approached. “What kind of dog?”
Laughing at a that, Jo popped a pretzel in her mouth. Before she could ask for it the waitress brought a drink, cola this time. She sat one bottle in front of Jo then as she delivered Miranda's. she leaned down. It was soft, but loud enough for everyone to hear as she made a sound very near Miranda's shoulder.
“Ruff.”
Miranda picked up the cola bottle and tilted it slightly toward the waitress.
Jo grinned at Miranda and only slurred her words slightly. “Ain't you somethin'...”
Leaning forward, Miranda smiled at the waitress and winked at Jo. “You bet I am.”
###
“C'mon, Lily... dance with me!” Andy grinned at her friend and shimmied her shoulders. “I love this song...”
Lily shouted over the music and the space between them, “I need a drink!” She pointed to the table on the other side of the bonfire. “Back in a minute.” She did need a drink, but she also needed to call Doug and check on Andy's other surprise.
“Pfft...” Andy unconsciously copied Miranda's usual gesture of dismissal, and turned to the other two women in the dance area. “You'll dance with me, right?”
“Of course,” Serena laughed and moved closer to Andy.
Lara smiled and laughed as well, “Sure...” She was the oldest one here, but was still up for a fun night of dancing with friends. “I like this song too.”
Andy laughed and twirled to the music. This was fun. She'd always loved going out dancing with her friends. The buzz she had been maintaining by alternating beer with wine was beginning to edge toward complete drunkenness. She'd promised the girls that she was going to try very hard not to get drunk like that anymore, not after the last time. Not after Miranda had come home to find her and Serena totally baked. But this was a party, right? She finished the dance and the music changed, playing a random song off of the iPod's playlist. It was a slower song so Andy too decided she needed another drink. “C'mon...” She grinned, linking her arms with her dance partners, “Let's take a break and get another drink...”
As the trio rounded the fire, they saw Lily snap her phone closed. Andy blinked. “Problem?”
“Nope,” Lily smiled. “Everything's under control.” Doug was on the way, and so was Andy's other surprise.
“Cool.” Andy poured herself a glass of wine and flopped down into one of the beach chairs Lily had set up just a bit away from the refreshment table. She watched her friends over the rim of the cup as she drank. This was a great night, the beach, good friends, good music, but Andy still wished Miranda was with them. A breeze from the ocean brushed past her and she watched Lara turn into it, her long, nearly white, hair blowing back from her face gently. Andy sighed and thought, I really wish Miranda was here. She finished her drink quickly and grinned as another of her favorite fast songs began to play. Hopping up out of the chair, she grabbed both Serena and Lara's hands, dragging them back to the dance area. If she stood a little closer to Lara while they all danced, well, that didn't mean anything, did it?
###
Miranda looked around, satisfied with the results of the evening. Donatella and Blair were at a table quietly conversing about, something. Design most likely, Miranda thought. Since she had informed Donatella that Blair had designed the dress she would be wearing at the ceremony, the Italian had shown quite a lot of interest in picking Blair's brain. Miranda's eyes softened at the child-like delight Blair seemed to have while discussing the subject with what amounted to a legend in the field. Speaking of child-like, Miranda smirked and turned her attention to the Good Detective. The drinking contest was obviously still having its effect on Jo's muscle control, at least Miranda hoped it was, otherwise there was no excuse for the dance the police officer was attempting to perform. When dancing with Jo at the girls birthday party, Miranda had thought that Jo was an excellent, graceful, dancer, so this evening's performance was quite the eye opener.
Miranda also had no idea how persuasive the police officer could be until Jo had coaxed Dorothy and Natalie out into the dance area with her. For a moment, Miranda had to wonder just how much they had imbibed this evening. She didn't dwell on it long though, because the music was lively, the ambiance was friendly and everyone seemed to be enjoying conversing with each other. All in all it was a very pleasant evening.
Seeking out Emily, Miranda's gaze found her long time assistant sitting quietly at a table on her own. She caught Emily's eyes and smiled, nodding her approval for the party. Miranda had to blink as Emily's face practically lit up with a smile. A thought came unbidden to her mind, Her smile almost rivals Andrea's. As if cold water had been poured over her, Miranda stiffened. She had not just thought that! The memory of Andrea's smiles, the million watt, genuinely happy smiles that Andrea turned on her so often flooded Miranda's brain. Then she looked at Emily's happy expression again and chuckled to herself, Nice, but not even close. Obviously the effects of the drinking game are still affecting my judgment. The young waitress set a coffee in front of her. Miranda lifted the mug to her lips, watching the waitress move among the tables. It was small, but a sigh escaped Miranda's lips, I wish Andrea was here. The pleasant atmosphere only lasted a short time longer, before it was broken by four very boisterous people.
Emily was immediately between the newcomers and Miranda, “Now see here... what do you think you're doing?”
“Our job.” The clean-cut man smiled, showing off his dazzling white, perfectly straight, teeth, “This is the Priestly-Sachs bachelorette party, right?”
“Yes,” Emily answered without thinking. “But...”
He turned to his companions, “Desk clerk was right. This is the place!” One of them set a large portable stereo on a table and loud, thumping, music began to pour from the speakers, overriding the music already playing. The four began to dance, and not only that, but as they danced, they began to remove their clothing.
Emily was appalled. “Oh no!” She dove for the stereo and fumbled with the controls until she got it shut off. “You do NOT belong here!” She turned to her boss, pleading, “I am SO sorry, Miranda... I didn't.. I mean.. I wouldn't...”
Jo began laughing and walked a bit unsteadily from the dance area toward the group. She patted Emily on the back as she passed by, “Don't worry...” Her blue eyes twinkled as she glanced at Miranda. Jo only slightly slurred her words as she winked, “I know where they need to be.”
Miranda pressed her lips together as her eyes roamed over the two half-naked female dancers and both of the male's very toned abs. She spoke clearly, but obviously was not happy about the turn of events. “Andrea's party.”
“Yeah,” Jo grinned and gestured to the strippers. “C'mon, I'll show you where.”
“Oh no you don't...” Blair huffed in exasperation, “You are NOT driving in your condition!”
They all watched, rather slack-jawed as Jo and Blair ushered the dancers away. Emily turned to Miranda and opened her mouth to apologize for the interruption when Tante Louise spoke up.
“Miriam?”
“Yes, Tante?”
“Those young people,” Louise glanced in the direction that Jo had led the strippers away, “They were going to take off all their clothes?”
Miranda licked her lips, “I believe they were, Tante.”
Louise nodded and raised her eyebrows, tilting her head and grinning slightly. “I, believe I'd like to see that.”
“Tante!!” Natalie was appalled. “How can you even say that?!”
Pava chuckled and patted Tante's thigh, “You know what? I think I would too.”
“Pava!” Dorothy was nearly as aghast at Pava's statement as Natalie was at Louise's. “You can't be serious.”
Mary sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. She sent a disgusted look toward Pava and rolled her eyes. “Oh, she's serious.”
Miranda sounded thoughtful as she spoke quietly, “They did seem very... enthusiastic about their jobs.” Blue eyes glittered through the dimly lit area, landing on Donatella. “And they were quite...fit.”
“Mmm... they were,” the Italian agreed. “Very.”
There was an awkward sort of pause before Josie laughed and offered her elbow to Louise, “C'mon, Tante.” Winking at her husband's favorite aunt, Josie assured her, “I know where they're going.”
Miranda was surprised at that. “You do?”
“Mmm...” Josie nodded, “I helped Lily and the others set it all up earlier this afternoon.” She led Tante out of the party area to a small line of parked golf carts. They had used these this afternoon to carry things to Andy's party area. It had been explained to her that the carts were for hotel guests' convenience for the golf course and also for touring the town. Josie smirked as all the rest of Miranda's guests claimed spaces in the other carts behind them and she drove slowly so that they could all follow her to the beach. She grinned at her passenger and indicated the train they were leading. “Look what you started, Tante.”
Tante laughed. “I merely took the opportunity.” She leaned over and confided, “Miriam wants to see that young gal of hers, more than I want to see those young men.”
Josie laughed and winked at the older woman. “You're very tricky.”
“Not, I think, as deceptive as some.” Tante glanced back at Pava, who was following in the cart behind them, “but I can hold my own.”
“You don't think Pava wants to see the strippers either?” Josie pulled into a spot next to an already parked cart. She ran around the small vehicle to help Tante out.
The older woman chuckled, “Josie... Pava wants to see those young people strip just about as much as Miranda does.” Patting the hand on her arm, Tante began walking, following Josie's lead down to the beach, aware that the rest of the previous party was following them, “No... This is just to get the lovebirds together for a little while tonight. Nothing more.” Tante amended, to herself, Well nothing to speak to Josie about... She glanced back at Mary's annoyed expression. This trip may have an ulterior purpose for Pava.
Laughing, Josie lightly bumped her shoulder into Tante as they walked, “I'm going to have to start spending more time around you. I have a lot to learn.”
Tante just chuckled again and nodded as they continued to walk.
###
Andy laughed and twirled as the thumping music swirled around her. She was having so much fun, and that last glass of wine had started her head floating just a bit. She barely even noticed as Lily dragged Serena off to the side of the dance area and began to speak low but with frantic gestures. Andy almost rolled her eyes. Lily always seemed frantic about something or other. Lara was still there with her though, dancing to the fast paced music and even singing along. Andy laughed as her friend's moving lips perfectly matched the lyrics. When the song was over, Andy glanced over to where Lily and Serena had been, only to find them gone. Shrugging, Andy figured they'd gone to get another drink and she sighed as a slower paced song began. It was one of her favorites.
Lara chuckled and opened her arms to her forlorn friend, “C'mere.”
Moving into the embrace, Andy began to sway to the music. “Are you sure?”
Laughing at that, Lara managed a shrug. “We're friends, right?”
“Yeah...” Andy shifted, moving closer, laying her head on Lara's shoulder. “We are. I've been wanting to tell you what a great job you did, with the stage and all...”
“It was no problem.” Lara pressed her cheek against the back of Andy's head. “I can do that stuff in my sleep.”
“Yeah, but...” Andy raised her head to look into Lara's eyes. “It meant a lot to me... that you would step in like that, and it meant a lot to Miranda, too”
Lara threw her head back, laughing. “Honey, I see you every day, and every day nearly all you talk about is how great Miranda is and how much you love her. There's no way I'd let your big day with her fall through.”
“I love her so much, Lara.” Andy smiled dreamily, thinking about Miranda always put a smile like that on her face. “I can't believe how lucky I am.”
“Well I think it's wonderful.” Lara twirled Andy around the dance area. “And I think Miranda is a very lucky woman.”
“I agree.”
Andy whirled around but that, in combination with the just-finished dance spin and the fairly large amount of alcohol she'd consumed this evening, made her dizzy and instead of releasing Lara, Andy held on tighter so that she would not fall. “Miranda!”
The tightened embrace did not put a happy expression on Miranda's face.