“Or lack thereof.”
“Jalen, stop playin’with me.”
He snorts, taking another pull from his cigar. “Aight, I’m done. I will reserve any further commentary for my toast.”
“Fuck outta here.”
Later that day, ziplining goes by without too many issues. Arnold switched up the group that was supposed to go, claiming to have needed a break from Amerie and her nagging. The two of them were supposed to do some sort of dance lesson with his parents, her parents, and Arnold’s aunt and uncle, but he convinced her to take a few of the girls to the spa instead. He and his dad joined us for ziplining along with Christian and a few others.
Cortez was on his bullshit, hyper-focusing on Janelle the whole day, but Marquise distracted him enough times and I stayed close by.
Luckily, we have the rest of the night to ourselves. I plan to shower and find Janelle, but when I round the corner of the hotel, I hear Janelle getting into it with her mom.
“Ma, what is the problem? I don’t understand.”
“I just don’t see why you didn’t go to the spa with us today. Your sister was visibly upset and she could’ve used some moral support from you. Do you think it was appropriate for you to spend your afternoon with Arnold? Sometimes I wonder if you purposefully make things harder for yourself.”
I’m shocked by the sharpness in her mother’s voice. She and Amerie seem determined to bring Janelle down, and it’s working. Janelle’s shoulders deflate. She struggles to find her words.
“Why are you acting like I went out on a date with the man? It was a group activity with him and fourteen other people. He’s about to be my brother-in-law and you’re acting like it’s taboo for me to be in the same room with him. That’s just weird. And as far as Ri being upset, she didn’t want me to come to the spa day so what was I supposed to do? Beg her?”
Her mom sighs disappointedly. “I did not raise you to be selfish, Janelle.”
“Excuse me?”
“And Amie tells me she tried to set you up with a nice gentleman here and you rebuffed her offer.”
“Are you serious right now?”
“Dead serious. You can’t spend your entire life pretending you don’t need people, Janelle.”
I’ve heard enough. I continue rounding the corner, heading straight for Janelle and her mom. “Hi, Janelle, Mrs. Cross. Apologies, Deb.”
She smiles brightly at me. “Well, hello, Rome. Were you part of the ziplining group today?” Her tone drips with disdain at the mention of ziplining.
“I sure was. We had a good time. It was so nice of Amerie to insist Janelle do it, because she’s been working so hard on the wedding. I’m sure she needed a break.”
Her mom looks utterly confused at my statement. “Ah, yes, well, the engagement party was wonderful.”
I barely contain my disgust. It figures Amerie told her mom everything but the good things.
“Oh, no. I mean this past week. There’s been a lot of last-minute adjustments and Janelle’s been handling them like a champ.”
She looks back at Janelle with raised brows. “Really?”
“Yep. She ran around searching for that pink ribbon for Wheezie.” I rattle off a few other errands Janelle has been charged with since being here. “Amerie even lost her ring the other day and Janelle was instrumental in finding it.”
She gasps with her hand on her chest. “She lost her ring?!”
“Yes, ma’am. She had us all worried sick, but it all worked out.”
“I can’t believe that girl, so irresponsible. I gotta go see her. Okay, thank you, sweetie. Have a great night. Janelle, I will see you later.” She hurries off before either of us can respond.
Janelle nudges me with her elbow. “You did not have to snitch on her for the ring,” she snickers.
“I absolutely did. You okay?”
“How much did you hear?”
