Abbie and Jake see more of the ballroom

The ballroom was enormous. There was a bar at one side of the room, a series of tall cocktail tables (intended for standing), another area of lower tables with chairs, a grand fireplace with a series of couches and chairs around it, and plenty of open space for mingling or dancing or standing around or whatever.

Abbie looked around and saw that the party was mostly people in their twenties, presumably Staci and Phil's friends and close family. Naturally there were some parents and uncles and whatnot as well. Jake had told her the family was quite extensive. There were easily sixty to eighty people there, and surely more were still arriving.

"Let's get you two a couple of drinks," said Megan.

"And get me another one," said Phoebe. "It's honestly the only way to survive all of this. The Reynoldses and the Kaplanses are a lot." She intentionally mangled the last names for humor.

Megan scowled. "Hey, I'm a Kaplan."

"And I love you," said Phoebe, planting a kiss on Megan's lips. Megan pushed Phoebe away, but Phoebe pulled her back and made the next kiss more sincere. Megan returned the kiss briefly before coming to her senses and realizing that Jake and Abbie were still there, watching them.

"Sorry," said Megan. "Got a little carried away."

"Can you blame her?" said Phoebe. Then she whispered in fake secrecy, "I'm a fucking fox!"

Megan waved her hand in the air. "I'm just a little stressed this morning. Staci's sisters were supposed to help out and they haven't shown up yet." She took a few steps away from the others toward the bar.

"And if we're being really honest," said Phoebe in a slight whisper, "we're also a little stressed because we were having sex this morning, got interrupted by a phone call, and never finished. So a little 'blue bean,' if you will."

Abbie looked at Jake, and then back to Phoebe.

"It's like blue balls, you know, except for women," Phoebe explained. She looked away and mumbled, half to herself, "maybe it's a European thing?"

Abbie smiled. "I never heard of that! But I totally understand." She leaned in to Phoebe. "We were interrupted this morning too!"

Jake started to blush. "Abbie!"

"Well it's true. We were!" said Abbie unapologetically.

Megan returned from the bar with two glasses of champagne, which she handed to Jake and Abbie.

"They were also interrupted this morning," said Phoebe.

Megan's eyes widened. "You told them? We barely know them!"

"Oh, who cares, right?" said Phoebe.

"It's fine," said Abbie. "It doesn't bother me at all." She looked around the room and then back to Megan and Phoebe. "Do you need some help here?"

"What do you mean?" asked Megan.

"Well, I mean two things. I mean do you need some help here at the party, and I mean do you need some help, like getting back to your own business?"

Jake chuckled to himself.

Abbie looked back at him. "What? I'm just trying to be kind."

"You want to greet guests as they arrive? Find them on the list and tell them where to get food and drinks?" said Megan.

Abbie shrugged. "Sure!" She glanced around the room. "And there must be some place you two can go to, you know -- finish up."

Phoebe squeezed Abbie's shoulders and then gave her a big hug. "You, my dear, are the greatest gift to society." She looked at Jake and slapped the clipboard against his chest. "This woman is a goddess. Don't you ever fuck this up."

Megan was unsure. "You're okay with this? I mean, you just arrived and don't even know anyone yourself."

"It's fine!" said Abbie. "If I was a party planner, I wouldn't know anyone either. Go."

Phoebe giggled and jumped up and down. She hugged Abbie again, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "You!" She looked at Jake, and then as an afterthought, gave him a kiss on his cheek too. "And you!" Finally she turned to Megan and gave her a kiss on the lips.

"We better go," said Megan. "One she starts getting kissy, you never know whose mouth her tongue might wind up in."

Phoebe licked her lips. "It's true!" She grabbed Megan's hand, and the two of them skipped off toward a side door, and left the ballroom.