“And maybe that’s the issue, on top of everything you’re making me do this withher—”
“Riley speaks Spanish, that seems convenient enough for—”
“Why did she know and I didn’t?”
During the silence that follows, Charlotte crosses her arms.
“Ah, there it is,” Gabi nods in understanding. “So that’s the real issue?”
Charlotte exhales like a riled up bull. “I just don’t like surprises.”
Gabi stands up and walks to the little coffee counter in the employees-only corner, placing two cups under the machine and pressing a button. “It wasn’t meant to be a surprise, Charlotte,” she says over the loud noise of the coffee machine. “I told you: we decided last week, and Lou simply got to talk to Riley before I got to talk to you. That’s it.”
Charlotte looks at her incredulously, but thaws out when Gabi hands her a steaming cup. “I’d like for you to keep me in the loop next time,” she murmurs to her coffee.
She hates this feeling; when other people know something she doesn’t. And to go through that kind ofembarrassment while Riley is on the other side of the phone, is not something she wants to experience again. It makes her feel… stupid. Out of control. Powerless.
She sips her coffee and makes a face. “I keep forgetting the chemical waste you serve your team as a sorry excuse for—”
“Charlotte, listen,” Gabi sighs, leaning back against the counter. “Because we’re only having this conversation once.” She lifts a finger for emphasis. “I meant every word when I said I’d love for you to be my maid of honor, and I was convinced that would be something you’re interested in too. You’ve been nagging me about my future wedding long before I met Lou. But if you’re not up for it, for whatever reason… This is the emergency exit. You don’t have to do it, just tell me now and I’ll pick someone else, no questions asked.”
Pressing her lips together, Charlotte eyes up her friend. She realizes what Gabi is doing: she can feel the unspoken apology for putting her on the spot at the engagement party. For dropping such a big responsibility on her without consultation. And now she’s giving her an out, which Charlotte greatly appreciates and considers, but in all Gabi’s vulnerability she also recognizes a silent plea: this is something she’s dreamt of sharing with her.
So, after a long moment of silence, Charlotte sighs. “You better motherfucking brace yourself for your bachelorette party.”
And Gabi beams.
But after a few days of brooding, Charlotte curses her own big mouth. She has no idea what she should plan for Gabi’s big night out. EveryTop 10 fun bachelorette party ideas!-article Google provides, makes her want to scoop her eyes out, and when she pictures herself guiding Gabi into a high tea with her eyes covered while shouting‘surprise!’, she isn’t sure if she wants to cry or vomit.
For a couple of weeks, she tries to ignore the voice in her head saying there’s someone she could call and discuss this with; someone who happens to be in a very similar situation. She’s convinced that if her phone had free will, it would open Riley's contact information every time she unlocks the screen. Which is why she doesn’t call her, because she’s a grown woman who is able to come up with something simple and mundane and fun—she’s fun, right?—and she doesn’t need anybody else, most certainly not Riley.
She calls Riley, and after surviving the initial bath-themed innuendos, they agree to meet up at a coffee shop in town the next day. When Charlotte spends a little longer than usual picking her outfit, settling on a burgundy button-up that coincidentally beautifully contrasts her blue eyes, she convinces herself it’s the most comfortable item in her closet.
When Charlotte arrives, Riley is already there. She’s wearing a tweed jacket, one earbud in, typing away on a laptop in front of her. When she notices Charlotte,her face lights up and she plucks the earbud out. “Hey, Charlie! Do you mind if I call you that?”
Charlotte forces one corner of her mouth up. “Yes, I do. Have you ordered yet?” she asks, motioning at the otherwise empty table.
Riley chuckles, but quickly realizes Charlotte is being serious when she doesn’t return the laugh. “Oh. Uhm…” She shakes her head. “No, I was gonna wait for you. What’ll you have? Sit, please, and I’ll get it,” she says while getting up, and Charlotte decides she doesn’t like how chipper she sounds.
“No, I’ll get it,” she hears herself say, not entirely sure why. It’s definitely not about control, she’s just... attentive like that. Riley is here because Charlotte needs her help anyway.
“Oh, okay,” Riley nods slowly, taking Charlotte’s conflicted expression in. “That’s very kind of you, Charlotte.” Charlotte chooses to ignore the drop in her voice when she says her name.
As Riley slides back into her seat, Charlotte unwraps her scarf and their eyes lock onto each other.
“So? What will it be?” Charlotte says impatiently, leaning her hands on the back of her chair. “I’m capable of many things; mind reading is not one of them.”
She expects Riley to name some teeth shattering sugary drink, but is instead met with: “Just a double espresso, please.”
She doesn’t know why that pisses her off too, but at least she hides it well as she walks up to the counter and orders Riley’s espresso and a black coffee for herself.
It has nothing to do with Riley’s unexpected sense of delicacy that she can’t quite match with her personality, and probably everything with Riley being a pretentious snob to impress her. When she eventually watches Riley sip her drink and swipe her bottom lip with her tongue, it calms her to imagine Riley secretly hates it and is currently suffering. Now she just has to find an undetected moment to drop a sugar cube into her own coffee.
“So, let’s brainstorm,” Riley says, leaning back in her chair. “Did you pick a date for Gabrielle’s party?”
Charlotte shakes her head. “You?”
Riley hums in thought, unlocks her laptop screen with her fingerprint and pulls up her calendar. “So the wedding is in May, and I wanted to plan Lou’s as close to the wedding as possible, but I can’t do that because I have a work thing I need to leave the country for. And I’m sure everyone needs to save up for the trip a little, so I was thinking… mid February?”
