CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
I miscalculated when I thought Aspen would be upset about my good news. Irate’s a better word to describe the ire from my best friend.
“How could you do this to me, Marissa?” Aspen whines from my couch while Simone sends me sympathy looks from the chair.
I pour more wine in her glass hoping another top off will calm her down. Ryland and I arrived home early this morning and caught a few hours of sleep until Aspen and Simone starting banging so loudly on my door it woke us up at Ryland’s place. I started with wine. She started with hand flailing.
Aspen came dressed in her typical work outfit—a pair of black pants and a yellow blouse once she took off the thick winter jacket she still wears around even in April. Simone gets away with a more laid back look now that she works at Raven Digital Arts, but she still makes an effort, even if I suspect it’s for Trey’s benefit more than a need to dress up every day. She’s paired a dark wash jean with a baby blue button up shirt tucked in with a brown belt and matching brown leather boots to her knees. Simone spends more on shoes than the rest of us spend on food in a given month, but I’d love for her to be my personal stylist.
“Aspen, it’s not a big deal,” I say.
She reaches for her glass but then stops throwing her hands in the air instead. “Not a big deal? Marissa, you are married! I didn’t get to see it. Simone and I didn’t get to wear horrible bridesmaid dresses. When am I going to get the chance to be a bridesmaid now?”
I cast a glance to an unsuspecting Simone and almost feel bad about the bus I’m going to throw her under, but not enough to not do it. “Simone and Trey will get married and then we’ll both be in their wedding.” I hope Simone planned for a lot of bridesmaids.
Simone’s eyes widen in shock. “Me? Married? I don’t think …”
“Is this true, Simone? Will you make me a bridesmaid?” Aspen puts her hands down and tilts her head at Simone, cutting off her protest.
Simone, smarter than I thought, nods her head. “Sure, maid of honor even.”
Aspen jerks her head in agreement and I think she’s satisfied until she brings her attention back to me with narrowed eyes. “Don’t think this gets you off the hook. I had to read about my best friend’s marriage in the paper. The paper, Marissa. You know how I feel about the paper.” She finally takes a breath and reaches for the full glass of red wine.
A small bundle of guilt builds in my gut. Aspen does hate the papers. Last year they outed her boyfriend, Finn, as a billionaire before he had the chance to tell her. Don’t judge, it’s not exactly polite dinner conversation. Then a few months ago a local paper ran a scandalous and false report on Finn’s best friend, company CEO, and Simone’s boyfriend. The media hype’s slowed down in the last few months, but things were sketchy for a while. Thankfully the paper recanted most of the story and Trey’s ex-whatever-she-was left the country, but most people read the attention catching headline and that’s what they remember not the teeny tiny correction twenty-three days later. Even if a reporter and editor were fired over it.
Although as I sit in my guilt, there’s a piece of her story that doesn’t set right. Ryland and I were married a few minutes after midnight this morning. How would any paper have time to make the changes to their print edition? And why didn't she bring me proof of this story. That’s very unAspen like.
I raise an eyebrow at her and catch a spark in her eye. She knows she’s been caught. “It’s in the paper, already? How?"
She sighs and adjusts her yellow work blouse. “No. Fine, it wasn’t a paper, but it was a gossip blog and that’s worse."
I’m not sure how they’re worse or for that matter why Aspen is even on a gossip blog. She’s never one for staying up to date on those kinds of stories.
“What were you doing on a gossip blog?” I ask her looking to Simone who shrugs.
“This is on Aspen. She sent me the link at lunch and then she and Jake picked me up from work and dropped me off here.” Simone widens her eyes and gives a gentle shake of her head. All she’s missing is the spiraling finger around her ear calling Aspen crazy. “I’m happy for you, Marissa. You and Ryland are great together.”
Simone hit the problem on the head. “Simone’s happy for me, Aspen. My family’s happy for me.” At least they faked it an appropriate amount when I called from Vegas. “Why can’t my best friend be happy for me?”
“I’m happy for you. I never said I wasn’t happy. Who’s not happy? I just don’t understand why I couldn’t get a phone call. A text message.” Her words are filled with hurt making my guilt bubble up again.
“I told you we were going to Vegas for the weekend.”
“Yes, but you left off the ‘to get married’ part. That’s the important part, Marissa.”
“Let’s get back on task. Why are you visiting gossip blogs?”
She sighs. “Amanda said she heard a rumor that Edward Norton announced his divorce over the weekend.”
My laughter bubbles up until I have a hard time breathing and end up gasping for air. Simone’s eyes pass between me having a fit and Aspen blushing from her side of the couch trying to pass the whole thing off as no big deal. Aspen’s had a "thing” for the actor since she watchedFight Clubback in high school. It’s a slight obsession, but one I refuse to stop laughing at her about.
“Anyway.” She takes the last swig of her drink. “I am happy for you, Marissa. It was fast, but you and Ryland are adorable together. I knew he planned to ask, but I didn't expect a wedding this quickly.”
“Yeah, we’re going to talk about you knowing and not telling me Ryland had a ring.” I look to both girls with a side eye.
“Simone knew too.” Aspen points a finger at poor Simone and I laugh. “Come on. You missed brunch yesterday and got married. Let's go to dinner to celebrate.” Aspen stands and motions for Simone to as well.
Simone resists. She’s still learning how we work around here. “Don’t you think we should give Ryland and Marissa their first night together?"
