Story: A Wedding Diary
Chapter 5
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Previously: Abbey surprised Jed by agreeing to move to London. Their lovemaking ended in an unexpected way.
Summary: Abbey and her friends want to get a taste of Jed's bachelor party.
July 21, 1967
Abbey sat at her cherrywood vanity and lightly ran her sliver-plated brush through her auburn tresses. It was a nightly ritual, but on this particular night, it was supposed to be more of a distraction to relieve her of her negative thoughts. It didn't work.
Hearing a knock at the door, she ran down her stairs and opened it to find Millie and Joni standing outside.
"Hi!" she cheerfully greeted them.
"Hi, we came over to keep you company," Joni said as Abbey invited them inside.
"Where are your parents?" Millie asked.
"They went out dancing."
Joni chuckled. "You're so lucky to have parents who actually like each other"
"Girls, you didn't have to come all the way over here just because tonight is Jed's bachelor party"
"That isn't why," Joni insisted. "We came over because it's Saturday night and we were bored."
"And a little bit because tonight is Jed's bachelor party."
Abbey grinned at her two best friends. "I'm fine, really. I haven't even thought about it."
"Abbey, how can you not? You know what goes on at bachelor parties. It's nothing like the quiet shower we had for you."
"Steve told me he got a really good rate on the stripper," Millie added.
"How would he know what a good rate is compared to a bad one?" Joni asked as Millie contemplated the thought.
Abbey tried to take her mind off it, but failed miserably. "What is the going rate for strippers these days?" she asked after a few seconds of silence.
"Apparently, we can ask Steve," Joni giggled.
The three women ran back upstairs and plopped down on Abbey's bed just as they had done when they were in grade school. But conversations had changed over the years. Back then, the hottest topic between them was usually centered on lunchroom gossip or school achievements. Now, all they ever seemed to talk about was their boyfriends, their sex lives, and Abbey's upcoming wedding.
The wedding conversation struck a cord with Abbey. It was more difficult to lie to her friends as the night went on. Jed's party was all she could think about. She wondered what was going on at Steve's house and though she trusted Jed, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy that before the night was over, he would be staring at a naked woman dancing in front of him.
Millie and Joni were engrossed in a conversation about Dave when they noticed Abbey staring out her window.
"Abbey?" Millie called out.
Abbey turned to them without missing a beat. "Did you say there would definitely be a stripper there?"
"I knew it!" Millie exclaimed. "You can pretend to be cool and calm all you want, Abbey, but I knew there was just a little bit of jealousy hidden behind that mask."
Abbey picked her pillow off her mattress and sat down, snuggling it to her chest. "I'm not jealous. I'm just curious. I mean, don't you wonder what a bachelor party is really like?"
"No. I know what they're like. I've been to one," Joni replied. Millie and Abbey stared at her waiting for her to continue. "My friend Susan was getting married and we snuck over to her fiancé's party."
Millie sat up. "You're kidding. Did he see you?"
"No. We just wanted to take a peak."
"And?"
"And what? It's a party. A bunch of drunken guys and a naked girl. In Susan's boyfriend's case, it was two naked girls. Twins." She turned to Abbey. "Hey, why didn't we throw you a bachelorette party?"
"I'm starting to wonder the same thing," Abbey said. "Millie, how far a drive is it to Steve's house?"
"Abbey, you're not serious."
"What? We just show up and take a little peak."
"It's no big deal," Joni added.
"See? Come on, Mill. I really want to know what they're up to."
"If Jed sees you, he's going to be so pissed. He's going to think you don't trust him."
"Of course I trust him. I'm just curious. There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"
Abbey convinced them and the three drove to Steve's apartment. The party was already in full swing by the time they arrived. They peered their eyes through the cracks in the window shades to get a glimpse of what was going on.
There they were. Just as Joni had described - a bunch of drunken men showing off for one another. Abbey looked in the corner and that's where she found Jed. He was sitting in a chair, completely calm and subdued. He was holding a beer, but it was obvious to her that he wasn't drunk.
Suddenly, she began to feel guilty. She had come all the way down here for what exactly, she wondered. She knew Jed wouldn't be doing anything wrong and he wasn't. He was the model boyfriend. She nudged Joni and Millie and hinted that they should leave.
Just as they began to get back in the car, their eyes lit up with curiosity when a candyapple red corvette pulled up to the apartment. There she was - a beautiful statuesque brunette woman wearing a black patent leather raincoat over fishnet stockings and heels that Abbey swore had to be at least five inches. Her coat opened slightly when she stepped out of the car and the three young women caught a glimpse of the black lace teddy she sported underneath.
"The stripper," Millie declared.
Abbey stopped the woman. "Excuse me. I hate to be so forward, but are you going into that apartment?"
"Yes, I am," the woman answered.
"I'm sorry. My name is Abbey. I'm the fiancée of the man I think you're going to see. You're a...a..."
"A dancer," the woman finished. "My name is Crystal."
"Hi, Crystal. Can I just ask you something?"
"Sure, but make it quick. I'm already late."
Abbey was clearly nervous, but she knew she'd regret it if she let the woman walk into the apartment without trying to stop her.
"How much are they paying you?" The woman's eyes narrowed at Abbey's question. "I mean, whatever they're paying you, we can beat it."
"Sounds nice, but I think you're looking for my friend, Leslie. I'm really not into the whole woman thing."
"No, no, no," Joni began. "She didn't mean that." She looked at her friend. "You didn't, did you?"
Abbey shot her a look before turning back towards the woman. "Please. Just tell me how much they paid you."
"Fine. Fifty dollars."
Abbey began digging through her purse. "Okay. Hang on." She pulled out a wad of cash. "There's forty." She turned to her friends. "Ladies?"
Joni and Millie pulled out money from their purses and handed it to Abbey who counted it quickly before offering it to the stripper.
"What's this?"
"It's 88 dollars. It's all we have right now. Please do me a favor."
"What?"
"Don't go in there."
Crystal was initially confused about the request. "What?"
"We'll give you the 88 dollars and our undying gratitude if you don't go in there."
Crystal smiled at her. "Men are snakes, aren't they?"
"It's just that it's the night before my wedding and if my future husband is going to see any woman half-naked, I'd prefer it be me," Abbey reasoned.
The stripper nodded in defeat. "Yeah, that's what every young bride wants." She looked at the desperate expression that was clearly visible on Abbey's face. "Give me the money and you've got a deal."
Abbey breathed a sigh of relief as the woman closed her coat and headed back towards her car, but Abbey wasn't finished yet. A devilish smile came across her face as she came up with a plan. "Wait!"
"Yes?"
"I'll write you a check right now for another fifty dollars if you'd consider trading outfits with me?"
Millie became alarmed. "Abbey, what are you doing?"
"Giving the boys what they wanted. Sorta."
TBC