Ella was glad for the night out. It was the perfect excuse to get away from the inn for a little bit, and more importantly get her mind off of a certain soon-to-be-married gentleman. She still couldn't get over how embarrassed she was that the groom had caught her in a wedding dress.
The phone buzzed in the other room and Madelyn hurried to answer it.
“Okay girls, the car's here. Everyone ready?” she called out. “We're out of champagne here anyway.”
“As ready as we're going to be,” Gwen answered. She grabbed the lipstick out of Ella's hand and pursed her lips. “Let me help you.”
Ella held still as Gwen applied a hypnotic shade of red to her lips. It was far more than Ella usually wore and her lips began to feel heavy.
“Much better.” Gwen grinned at her. “Look.”
Ella turned to the mirror and gasped. The woman looking back at her was some sort of rich party girl, not a penny-saving maid. It was magic.
“Woah,” Ella whispered.
“You clean up nicely,” Gwen commented, grinning widely. “Do not let me catch you wiping that off. It looks good.”
Ella nodded, still staring at the woman in the mirror.
“Are you two coming or what?” Clarissa asked, poking her head back into the bathroom. “The car's leaving with or without you.”
Gwen laughed and grabbed Ella's arm, and together the four women ran out to meet the car.
The four girls finished off the bottle of champagne in the limo on the way over to the small bar just a few miles from the inn. It was a local hot spot, but Ella doubted anyone would recognize any of them. It was a prefect place to celebrate and not worry too much about the paparazzi. It helped that she knew two security guards were shadowing their every move.
The bar was crowed and noisy, yet a path to a table magically parted for the four girls in short skirts and sparkles. Madelyn wore a short veil in her dark hair as well as a sash proclaiming she was a bride. Ella tried not to strut too much as she walked to the table, knowing that they were most certainly the hottest women in the bar that night. And given how much her dress was sparkling, she was going to at least act like she believed it.
A waitress took their drink orders quickly and hurried off to the bar to fill them as the four girls grinned at one another. The live band was just getting on stage to warm up, and Gwen looked ready to dance.
“I love this song!” Gwen cried as the band began their first piece. She grabbed Clarissa's hand and pulled her up. “You two, save our drinks. We'll be back!”
“We'll drink them and just order you more,” Ella quipped, the buzz of champagne from the limo in her head. If they kept drinking at this pace, their goal of just “tipsy” would quickly change into “just able to stand in the morning.”
Gwen laughed and tugged Clarissa out onto the dance floor, where the two of them began shaking their hips and having a grand time. Of course, the drinks arrived as soon as they were out dancing, but it looked like they didn't care.
“Ella, I want to thank you for coming tonight,” Madelyn said, sipping on her drink. Her eyes were glossy from alcohol, but her words were still clear. “I know we just met you, but it feels like I've known you forever.”
“It really is my pleasure,” Ella assured her. “And the feeling is mutual.”
Madelyn grinned widely and held up her drink for a toast. Their glasses clinked and they giggled as they took their sips.
“Can I buy you ladies a drink?” A man asked, leaning up against their table. He was cute, with blond hair and brown eyes. Ella was fairly sure she recognized him from somewhere in the area.
“Well, tonight's the last night you can for me,” Madelyn informed him. “But, you might have better luck with my friend here.”
“I thought this was a girl's only night?” Ella frowned slightly and then looked closer at the man. “Chris?”
The man studied her for a moment. “Ella? I didn't recognize you. You look hot.”
“Thanks.” Ella recognized him as the grocery clerk at the store Ella got her groceries from. He was nice enough, but Ella knew he wasn't her type.
“Buy you a drink?” Chris smiled. “Unless there's someone else buying your drinks.”
“I, uh...” Words slipped through Ella's brain like water through a sieve.
“No worries. Someone else is buying for you tonight,” Chris said with a shrug. “You two ladies have a good night.”
And with that he sauntered off to the very next table with women and asked if they wanted a drink.
“I don't feel quite as special now,” Madelyn remarked, watching him schmooze with another set of single ladies. “But, it does raise an interesting question. You falling in love with anyone?”