Champagne Problems

part 1

December 31, 2020
12:32 pm
———

1 New Notification: iMessage
Juliet: hey, want to go get manicures?

My text from my best friend startled me. I paused the Netflix show I was watching to respond.

Me: Sure, why not. What time?
Juliet: 1? I can pick you up
Me: perfect, see you soon

I sighed. I wasn't planning on leaving my apartment this afternoon. I knew that I had a New Year's Eve party later in the day, so I decided to stay home for the beginning of the day. My social battery drains fast, so I figured it would be best to get alone time.

I got off my bed and started to get ready after a few minutes of deliberation.

I threw on leggings and a sweatshirt and put my auburn hair in a messy bun. I took a look at the clock and there was no time for makeup. Oh well.

Ten minutes later, Jules texted to let me know she arrived. I grabbed my coat and keys before leaving the apartment.

— — —

Twenty minutes later, we arrived at our favorite nail salon, Nailed It.

"What color are you getting?" I asked Jules.

We stood by the wall with all the color options. I scanned the colors, unsure which one to pick. I usually got a neutral color, but nothing stood out to me.

"Sea Salt," Juliet said, holding up a bottle of a light greenish-blue nail polish.

"What should I get? I can't decide."

She scanned the shelves before handing me a pale pink bottle. "Primrose Pink."

I nodded, satisfied with her choice. It's not like the color choice mattered.

We walked to the available seats. I handed my nail polish to the manicurist and told her what I wanted. Juliet did the same at the spot next to me.

"So have you talked to Drew today?"

"Of course, he's my boyfriend," I respond. "Why, did something happen?"

The manicurist started filing my nails.

"Nah, I was just on the phone with him earlier today. He seemed excited about the party tonight."

Jules is Drew's twin sister. Jules and I were roommates all four years of college and she was obviously the one to introduce me to Drew. I met him when Jules took me home with her for Thanksgiving during freshman year.

I recognized him as the hot guy that I liked in my marketing class. And apparently, he had a crush on me too. We started dating by that Christmas and have been together ever since.

"Really? It's just a New Year's party." I winced as the manicurist poked at my cuticles.

"Just a New Year's party? Becky, c'mon. It's a huge deal. Just wait until—" She suddenly stopped talking. Her face turned a bright red.

"Wait until what?"

"Until... You see all of our friends. Yeah, our friends. We haven't seen them in a while," she responded quickly.

She was definitely going to say something else, but I didn't call her out on it. Jules gets easily excited, so it could have been something about Ivy bringing her delicious chai cookies.

"Okay." I nodded and looked down at my nails. The first coat was done.

I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. She looked relieved. I wondered what's up with her behavior.

"So Meredith told me she got a new boyfriend," she said.

"Oh really? Is she bringing him tonight?"

Jules nodes. For the rest of our nail appointment, we caught up on each other's lives.

It was nice to catch up with Jules. I had been inadvertently pulling away from our friend group over the past few months. I totally forgot how nice and therapeutic it was to have a girls' day.

— — —

Seven hours later, Drew came to pick me up before the party at Stephen's.

After receiving his text, I left my apartment and hopped into his Chevy that was parked at the curb.

He leaned over the center console to give me a kiss. "You're so gorgeous tonight."

My face flushed. "Thanks."

"So how was your day? Juliet said you got your nails done?" He starts the car and pulls away from the curb.

"Yup. Mine are Primrose Pink." I held up my fingers. He took a quick glance and nodded to himself.

"What'd you do this afternoon?"

"Hung out at Stephen's. I helped him shop for snacks and drinks for tonight."

I nodded. We fell into a comfortable silence. Every once and a while, he would glance at me out of the corner of his eye. He probably thought I didn't notice, but I did.

"What's wrong? Do I have lipstick on my teeth or something?" I laugh, trying to cover up my feelings of insecurity.

"Nothing. You just look so beautiful tonight. I love you."

"I love you too," I automatically reply. We've been together for five years. Of course, I love Drew.

We pulled into Stephen's driveway soon after. I gathered my purse off the floor of the truck and hopped out of the car to join Drew.

We walked up the path hand-in-hand. He absentmindedly traced circles on my knuckles, holding the bottle of Dom Perignon in his other hand.

I knocked on the door before we stepped inside.

— — —