Keeley couldn't help but compare Lydia and Collin's cheerful rehearsal dinner to her own, which felt more like a business function. Even her bridesmaids weren't her choice; the only person from her side was her father. Both her parents were only children, and while she had distant second cousins who benefited from her great-grandfather's trust, she wasn't close to them.

At her own rehearsal dinner, Aaron had been preoccupied with business contacts, making her feel alone even in his presence. A wave of gloom settled over her until the shrimp linguini Alfredo arrived. She attacked her meal with gusto, stabbing each shrimp as if it were her ex-husband.

Aaron might not have been the cheater she'd believed him to be, but he was still a liar who'd broken her heart and irrevocably damaged her life. Even 3,000 miles away, his interference continued to haunt her. The urge to send an angry text was strong, but she knew it wouldn't help. She couldn't let him see he still affected her.

"Keeley, are you alright?" Jeffrey asked, noticing her aggressive shrimp-stabbing.

She plastered on a false smile. "I'm great."

"Are you sure? You seem pretty pissed off."

She sighed, setting down her fork. He knew her too well. "I guess my problems followed me here," she admitted.

Keisha put a comforting arm around her. "Don't worry; we're going to have so much fun tonight you'll forget all about it!"

"This is not the kind of fun I imagined," Keeley said, staring in horror at the sign: 'Pole Dancing Classes.' Now she understood the exercise clothes request.

Keisha stifled a laugh. "It's not so bad! Afterward, we're going to Lydia's friend's place for snacks, party games, and manicures."

Manicures and games were fine, but pole dancing?

"Nobody's going to video this, right?" she asked nervously.

"I'm sure they will, but I'll get sworn statements from the bridesmaids promising no one will post anything if that helps."

It did. Keisha was a saint. With that reassurance, Keeley let Lydia's friend pull her into the studio.

Twenty poles stood in four neat rows. Apart from that, it resembled any other dance studio, with its wooden floor and mirrored walls. The bachelorette party—Lydia's cousins, roommates, and Keisha—numbered fifteen giggly women.

The instructor, after captivating them with a dazzling routine, said, "You won't be doing that tonight, but you might learn a few basic moves. Ready, ladies?"

Cheers erupted, and Keeley felt slightly less apprehensive. After all, nobody else would ever know. She assumed the starting position.

Before the first move, they warmed up. Keeley hadn't done so many lunges since high school P.E. The most exercise she got was walking across campus.

Unsurprisingly, mastering the first move took several minutes. Lydia's cousin, Delaney, was the first to succeed, demonstrating a passable "outside step."

The second move, a pirouette, proved more difficult. Keeley's arms wouldn't twist correctly. Suddenly, she realized Jennica would excel at this. Maybe a pole dancing class wouldn't be a bad idea for her own bachelorette party.

The "fireman spin" was even worse. Many women fell or got stuck. They spent fifteen minutes on it, laughing throughout.

"Keeley, video me! I think I've got it!" Keisha grinned, pulling out her phone.

She executed a decent spin, giving Keeley a thumbs-up. "Nice!"

"Now, let me get a video of you."

"I really don't think—"

Keisha insisted. "At least you'll have proof, even if you never show it to anyone. It'll help you remember tonight."

Keeley doubted she'd forget this humiliation anytime soon, but she handed over her phone.

After reviewing the video, she realized she didn't look as stupid as she'd feared. It wasn't so terrible after all.

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