“You have to tell her now.”
“She didn’t wanna hear it. She asked for a night of peace.”
“Who gives a fuck? She hasn’t given us a moment’s peace since we landed.”
“Damn, tell me how you really feel.”
“Waiting is only gonna make it worse. She’ll be more pissed that you didn’t tell her immediately even though it’s her fault you didn’t. And I don’t trust Arnold not to try to beat you to the punch.”
She doesn’t give me a chance to protest, grabbing my hand and dragging me to find Ri on the dance floor. Our cousins stare at us like we’ve lost our minds before tuning us out in favor of whatever song is playing now. I clutch Ri’s hand and take her with me to the restrooms.
“What the hell is going on?” she asks, watching me check the stalls to see if we’re alone.
“Arnold tried to kiss me,” I blurt.
Her mouth falls open and I catch her right eye twitch slightly. “What did you say?”
“I said that Arnold tried to kiss me. I slapped him before it happened, but he did try.”
“When?”
“Tonight. Right before I met up with you guys. He showed up to my room drunk, talking nonsense, and made a move.” I know I should tell her the things he said too but she looks like she’s about to go into shock from hearing about the kiss alone. I need to build up to that.
Ri braces her hands against the edge of the sink, dropping her head to her chest. She looks up and meets my eyes in the mirror, her face furious.
“I don’t believe you.”
Hold the fuck up. That is not at all how I thought she’d react. I thought there was a possibility she’d get mad at me because I’m the messenger, but I didn’t think she wouldn’t believe me.
“You don’t believe me?”
“No.”
“Why would I lie about this, Ri?”
“I don’t know! You seem to want to ruin my wedding by any means necessary, but I didn’t think you’d stoop this low.”
“Ruin your wedding?” I screech. “I’ve been doing everything in my power to make this wedding perfect for you.”
“If this is your idea of perfect, I feel bad for your patients.”
I rear back as if slapped. She spins around leaning against the sink with her arms folded over her chest. “You know what it is?” she continues. “You’re jealous.”
“Jealous?” My heart starts racing, making me dizzy. “The floor is yours, Amerie. Please explain how I’m jealous and what the fuck I’m jealous of.”
“You’re jealous of me. You’re jealous of my relationship with Arnold. You’re jealous of this wedding. You’re jealous of my relationship with Mom. You want my life and I’m so sorry that you can’t have it, but you can’t. Arnold doesn’t want you. He wouldn’t try to kiss you so stop trying to come between us and just be happy for me!” She stomps her foot like a child.
“You sound so stupid right now.”
“You’re the one making up shit for attention.”
I clasp my hands together in front of me. Warning bells go off in my head telling me to pull back, but I’ve allowed myself to be silenced for too long.
“No, you’re the one too focused on me to even enjoy your own fucking wedding vacation. You’ve been up everyone’s ass making everyone miserable because you’re miserable. And even though you’ve treated me like shit the past two weeks, longer if I’m being real, I still defended you when your fiancé came to my room telling me he chose the wrong sister and how he wanted to run away with me. I came to you to try to save you some heartache, but you know what? You two clowns deserve each other. So fuck you, fuck him, fuck this whole fucking wedding.”
Her breaths come out in harsh pants. She tries to process what’s happening, but I can see it’s killing her. She’s fighting the truth I’ve given her, determined to twist it to work in her favor.
“You can’t say fuck the wedding. You’re the maid of honor.”
