“You really wanna do this right now? You wanna have another Amber meltdown, one that will result in you losing one of the last people that gives a fuck about you?”
“You only care about yourself, Pippa,” Amber fired back. “Always have.”
My sister smirked. “At least I actually like myself, Amber. Can you say the same? Can you look at your reflection and love the person staring back at you, like I can? I’m not a fucking train wreck, Amber. Not like you. You fucking derailed the moment you met Eddie.”
Amber finally snapped, shoving Pippa into the wall, knocking down a picture frame in the process. My sisterstumbled to her feet, reaching forward to grab Amber by the neck, but I stepped between them again.
“Both of you, stop it!” I screamed, neither of them surrendering.
“You fake, manipulative bitch.” Amber lunged again, and it took everything in me to hold her back. The last thing I wanted was for the cops to come and Amber to get arrested so close to her wedding.
“Jesus Christ, Amber, are you serious?” Pippa violently pulled a strand of hair from her mouth, breathing erratically.
“You’ve been waiting for this, haven’t you?” Amber screamed. “You’ve been hoping I’d fall apart just so you could step in and pick up the pieces. You want my life, don’t you?”
“Oh my god,” Pippa shouted, laughing in amusement. “Your life? I wouldn’t want your pathetic life if it came with a million dollars and a mansion.”
“You’re jealous. You always have been.”
Pippa let out a snort of disapproval. “Of what? You? Your emotional outbursts? Your perfect little relationship that’s built on cheating and lies? No fucking thank you. You can keep that shit. Hell, even your own mother doesn’t fucking want to be at your stupid wedding. Tell me you’re fucked up without telling me you’re fucked up.”
There was no stopping Amber from swinging. I ducked just in time, Amber’s fist connecting with Pippa’s face. She was cruel to throw Amber’s mother in her face like that. “You leave my fucking mother out of this.”
Pippa spat blood onto the carpet, eyes flashing with rage. “I don’t have to. Your mother does that on her own. And guess what, Amber? Eddie will leave you one day, too. The second he realizes that you’re full of bullshit like we all have.”
Amber stilled, her voice wavering. “You’re one of my best friends. You’re supposed to have my back.”
“And you’re supposed to be sane,” Pippa retorted. “But your right hook says otherwise.”
“And I’m going to give you a left one if you don’t shut your damn mouth!” Amber’s fist clenched again, twitching like she was going to throw another punch.
That’s when I stepped in again. “Stop it. Both of you. Just stop.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down,” Amber shouted, her anger turning to me. “You’re just as bad. You let last night happen and didn’t even try to stop it.”
I looked at my feet, my guilt way too heavy to manage.
“Just let it go, Amber, or fucking embrace it. At this point, I just don’t give a fuck anymore,” Pippa growled.
Amber stepped up to Pippa again, her eyes narrowing. “I stopped giving a fuck about you a long time ago.”
She shrugged. “The feeling’s mutual, babe. You think I actually want to be a part of your wedding? I was only going out of pity because you literally have no one that gives a fuck about you enough to go. That’s the only reason Poppy and Mallory are going too. They pity you as much as I do. So, how’s it feel to have a one-sided wedding, Amber? One where every single person that shows up doesn’t give a fuck about you and are only there for him?”
Amber looked mortally wounded and took a step back, voice shaking with emotion. “You’re out of the wedding. I want you out of my fucking life for good.”
Pippa smirked. “Thank fuck for that. If I had to sit through one more Amber pity party, I’d probably off myself. I’m going to stay at Daniel’s tonight.” She shot me a look before stepping toward the door. “Good luck with your marriage,” she said bitterly. “You’re gonna need it, bitch.”
I wasn’t sure what to say. I just stood there like a statue, looking around the room at the aftermath of their destructive friendship. “Amber…”
Her head hung in defeat, eyes meeting mine for two seconds before she looked away, refusing to hold my gaze. “No. Don’t.”
“I didn’t want to get in the middle—”
“What middle? She’s your sister, Poppy. How can I compete with that?”
For what seemed like eons, neither of us spoke.
“Amber, please rethink this. I don’t want you to leave, not like this.”
