I raised my hands in surrender. "I don't want to cause any premarital strife."

Jen gave me an unwelcome hug. "It's okay, Elly. I was just giving him a hard time."

Kent was standing behind her and raised his hand to scratch the back of his head with a chuckle.

I smiled softly and pat Jen uncomfortably and then pulled back, looking her over. "So you are due in what? Three months?"

Jen looked over her shoulder at Kent and shook her head, "No. No, I lost the baby over the summer."

I nodded slowly and looked from Jen's face to her hand and then to Kent and saw that the ring was still there. I looked at Jen.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I can't imagine how tough that must have been." It was the only genuine thing I’d said to her since we started talking.

Jen nodded again and reached out, gently clasping my elbow. "We missed you at Kent's birthday this year!" She looked over her shoulder at Kent. "Why didn't we invite Elly?"

I didn’t need to hear whatever lame ass excuse they had for “accidentally” misplacing my invite. I wouldn’t have gone, anyway. It took me all summer, but I had finally come to terms with the end of my relationship with Kent. And I didn’t need to stand there and pretend that I wanted to be friendly to either of them.

”Must've slipped your minds. Sounds like you had a hectic summer,” I said. I pointed to the bar sheepishly, "I'm gonna go get my drink. I'll see you guys around." I raised my hand and waved at them both before turning away, heading for the bar to order myself a shot.

I was glad to be away from that train wreck of a relationship. I didn’t need him in my life anymore. Once my tequila shot arrived, I tilted my head back. I blew out hard trying to calm the fire as it slid down my throat. I looked at the clock and then around the bar, smiling softly as I took in all the costumes. The girls, much like myself, dressed like a bunch of sluts. The guys' costumes ranged from super lazy to super crazy.

Someone dressed as Chewbacca came up next to me and put a hand on my boob and honked it. I looked over my shoulder and laughed, slapping the hand away.

“Want a drink?" I asked.

Chewie nodded and then pulled off her mask. It was a girl. Man-ish in a tall way but certainly not a man. I ordered another shot and then pushed it to my band mate, Susie.