“She’s called me, but she hasn’t been home in two days. She doesn’t want to upset you anymore than she already has. You know, she actually considered calling the cops and pressing charges on you that night.” She hasn’t called. That’s a boldfaced lie, but my sister’s not one for admitting when she’s wrong, and I know she’s sorry. Somewhere deep inside that fucked up head, she’s sorry.
“Wonderful.”
“I talked her out of it.”
“You’re such a gem,” Amber responds sarcastically.
“She really is sorry, Amber. I know you don’t believe me, but she is. My sister is…”
“Fucked up? A psychopath? A fucking gaslighting manipulative bitch that everyone tiptoes around because it may hurt her pathetic little feelings?”
She’s all that and more. God, I hope the truth never comes out, because the fallout is going to change everything.
“She’s difficult…” I put down my brush, unable to make things better. “Just think about it, okay? There are too many years of friendship between us for you to just throw everything away over a mistake. I don’t want to have to choose between you two.”
“I’ll never let that happen, Poppy. She’s your sister, and I respect that. If it ever comes down to a choice between the two of us, I’ll make it for you.”
“Amber, I don’t want to lose you. You’re my best friend.” The thought of losing her makes my stomach twist with that familiar yearning. I’ve been out of my stash for the last week, and I don’t have the materials I need to make more. So I’m slowly detoxing and doing my best to hide it.
“I’ll always be your best friend, Poppy. That’s never going to change.”
Until you find out I’ve been lying to you for Pippa.
I brush off the intrusive thought and try to smile. “Let’s do something about this hair, shall we? No need for all these tangles on your wedding day.”
Mallory shows up later than we had planned and climbs into the car with us that’s headed for the wedding venue.
“You ready for this?” Mallory questions, looking absolutely stunning in her green dress. Green doesn’t look as good on me. Even the red in my hair and freckles don’t help it. But this is what Amber chose, and I’ll wear it for her, even though I’m preparing for everything to blow up today.
If I know my sister, she’s got something up her sleeve. I just don’t know what.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Amber whispers, her voice slightly quivering.
“You look nervous,” I observe.
“Is it that obvious?” Her hands keep shaking, and I gently take them, trying to calm her nerves. “I keep feeling like something bad is going to happen.”
“Nothing bad is going to happen, Amber. You got this!” Mallory cheers, but she wasn’t there when the blow up happened between Amber and Pippa… I was.
“Not everything is about you, Amber,” Pippa growled, their argument spiraling out of control.
Amber scoffed, her mouth pulling into a menacing sneer. “No, it’s never about me, right? Not when you’re busy making yourself the center of my wedding.”
I stepped between them, doing my best to hold them apart. “Okay, let’s all calm down—”
“No,” Amber shouted, her voice becoming frantic. “I’m done calming down. I’m done pretending like what she’s doing is okay. You may be cool with it happening, but not me. She’s a fucking selfish bitch, and you know it.”
Pippa smirked as she crossed her arms, looking at Amber with nothing but animosity. “Look in the mirror, babe. Trust me, you won’t like what you see.”
“I know you’re hiding something from me. You both are! My gut’s never wrong, and it’s been twisting for weeks every time I’m near either of you. So, what are you both hiding? Tell me! Tell me before you’re both out of the wedding.”
Pippa played it off perfectly, pretending Amber was out of her mind when she wasn’t. “You’re paranoid.”
“No,” Amber whispers, silently fuming. “I’m finally waking the hell up.”
Pippa squared up to her, begging her to throw the first punch. “Get out of my face.”
Amber’s fists clenched by her sides, the argument seconds away from becoming physical. “Or what?”
