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Dinner Party Plans
Lisa Marie was grinning ear-to-ear as we entered our usual hangout. From what she'd told me, she'd scored a huge hit in a young, new aspiring actress who had just landed a recurring role on General Hospital. For Lisa, this was the major leagues.
"Hello, darlings!" she sang as Trish, Candice and I sat down at the table. There were actually glasses of champagne waiting for us.
"Hey, Leece," Candice said as she slid in beside her at the booth. Trish said hello as well. "Champagne this early? What's the occasion?"
We exchanged knowing glances. I was the only one Lisa had told so far, although she'd wanted to keep it a surprise for all of us.
"Ladies, I have landed a bigtime client. Have you ever heard of Amanda Lancaster?"
"No," Trish said, a curious look donning her face. "Who is she?"
"She's the next big thing in daytime soaps, that's who she is! Expect to see her in a regularly recurring role on General Hospital in the next couple of weeks!" Lisa Marie's expression was one of major delight. "This is huge, girls... And I'd like you all to join me at my place Saturday night for a dinner party in celebration."
"Are we allowed to bring dates, or is this a 'stag' party?" I had to ask.
"Dates are optional - bring one, don't bring one, I don't care either way."
"Well, aren't you enthusiastic," Candice muttered.
"Oh, goody! I'm going to ask Randy to come with me!"
Lisa Marie rolled her eyes and delivered a smirk her way.
"Yeah - like that is ever gonna happen."
Trish gasped as she instantly caught the double meaning. She swatted at our friend's arm.
"Shush!"
That only made Lisa Marie laugh.
"Well, honey, you know it'll never work unless you do the naked hokey pokey! And by the way, you're blushing." She playfully tweaked the mortified blonde's nose.
"Okay, so what time Saturday is this party taking place?" Candice asked, bringing us all back to reality."
"Let's say seven o'clock."
"Okay... I have someone in mind to bring along, but I just have to-"
"Candice Michelle Beckman, are you seeing someone? And you didn't tell us?" I asked, fully facing her.
The brunette eyed me, then looked around at our other two friends in turn. Those big brown eyes of hers appeared guileless, her facial expression equally innocent-looking.
"What? Oh... No, not really."
Lisa Marie gave her what we all called 'the look.' It was reserved for someone when she'd apparently had a secret she'd kept from the rest of us.
"C'mon, honey - spill it. Who is he, where did you meet him?" she dove right in.
Candice smiled a little and ducked her head, overwhelmed. As we all plied her with questions - or, more aptly, interrogations - she gestured to us and began to explain.
"Okay, okay... I'm not dating this guy... technically. Well, not yet, at least. I met him in a bar."
"You met someone in a bar?" Trish asked, and gaped at her. Candice had never been one for that scene, and she never seemed to like men who frequented there.
"It's the bartender at The Red Saloon," the brunette went on. Her gaze was on Lisa Marie when she revealed this news. "His name is Allen Jones, but everyone calls him AJ."
"Yeah, I know who he is!"
I stared at my friend in surprise.
"You like a bartender?"
"Yeah, so? He's a nice, decent guy."
"I didn't mean it in an offensive way," I said, holding my hands up in a placating manner. "I just can't remember the last time you went out with someone who wasn't a lawyer or a doctor or a programmer."
"See, that's the thing... I'm not going out with him."
"Yet," Trish added as if to conclude her thoughts. She donned a bright smile. "This is fantastic, Candice! So, you've met someone! Who knows? He could turn out to be the one."
Lisa Marie rolled her eyes yet again.
"Why does it always have to be about that?"
"Oh, stop," the blonde chided. "Don't you have any sense of romance, Lisa?"
"Yeah," she retorted, "I romance 'em till dawn and then I'm outta there."
Trish wrinkled her nose at the remark. She turned to Candice and tried to appeal to her.
"Don't listen to her - she's so crude!"
"Oh, whatever," the public relations manager scoffed. "Anyway, back to my party... Amy, you'll be coming, right?"
"Absolutely," I said between forkfuls of blueberry pancakes. "And of course I'll bring a date."
Trish brightened again at my side and grabbed my arm.
"How are things between the two of you?"
"Super." I couldn't help the grin that suddenly came to my face. "We finally had sex last night."
All three of my friends let out squeals and other exclamations of delight.
"How was it?" Surprisingly, it was Candice, not Lisa Marie, who'd asked that question.
I threw my head back slowly, my eyes rolling back to go along with the gesture. The memory of the prior night was enough to make me salivate more than the pancakes ever could.
"Oh, my God - it was incredible!" I answered in a loud whisper.
The girls all gushed and praised me. I couldn't help but giggle. Edge was terrific... He truly was, and I was really happy.
"Good for you, honey!" Lisa Marie quipped, patting my hand. "At least someone besides me is getting some!"
Trish and Candice both rolled their eyes simultaneously. The blonde met the brunette lawyer's gaze.
"She just doesn't get it, does she?"
"Actually, she is - that's why she's rubbing our noses in it that we don't."
This time, we all shared a laugh.
"Let me help you plan your party!" Trish offered, her hand going to Lisa's. "I know a terrific caterer in the Upper East Side. His name is Lance Cade."
"Ooh," the older woman cooed, her eyes narrowing seductively, "sexy name! Is he by any chance single?"
"Lisa!" the blonde cried, her mouth flying open again.
"Hey," came the reply, and our friend raised both her hands, "I just thought he wouldn't mind cooking with someone instead of alone." She winked.
I couldn't help but laugh heartily at the exchange. I was feeling so great that day, and I was reminded of why I loved each one of those women so dearly. They were my sisters in every way but blood.
I was most definitely looking forward to Lisa Marie's dinner party. It would give me a chance to introduce Edge
to Trish and Candice... And I would get to meet and know the men in their lives as well. Saturday night
was looking to be fun.