Page 23 of Upgraded Friendship

Andrea

As my trembling voice fills the air, I feel a surge of anger wash over me. How dare Jeremy and his fiancée put me in such a difficult position? But as I look into Josh’s eyes, I know that now is not the time for anger. I need his support, now more than ever.

“Andrea, it’s okay, we can go together,” Josh reassures me, squeezing my hand gently as a silent gesture of solidarity.

I offer him a weak smile, my eyes shimmering with gratitude. “Thank you, Josh. I don’t know what I would do without you,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper.

Josh returns my smile, and I can see the determination in his eyes. “Anytime, Andrea. Anytime,” he replies, his voice filled with sincerity.

Josh decides to take the rest of the afternoon off so we can talk about what we are going to do. As we make our way back to my apartment, I can’t shake the feeling of anxiety that bubbles up inside. The prospect of pretending to be Josh’s girlfriend for an entire wedding rehearsal and then the ceremony fills me with unease, but I know that Josh won’t let me face this alone.

A few days later, as the time for the wedding rehearsal draws near, Josh and I find ourselves standing outside the venue, my nerves frayed and my heart pounding in our chest.

“I can’t believe we’re actually doing this,” I mutter, my voice tinged with disbelief.

Josh offers me a reassuring smile. “Hey, it’s just the rehearsal. We’ll get through it together,” he replies, his voice filled with confidence.

As we step inside the venue, I can’t help but feel a sense of apprehension wash over me at the sight of the rows of empty chairs and the altar at the front of the room.

The sight of Jeremy and his fiancée waiting for us at the entrance only adds to my unease, but I plaster on a polite smile and try to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“Hey, Andrea, Josh! So good to see you two again,” Jeremy greets us with a smirk, his eyes flickering with amusement.

I force myself to return his greeting, my voice laced with forced politeness. “Hi, Jeremy. Thanks for having us,” I reply, trying to keep my tone light despite the knot of anxiety that coils in my stomach.

Melissa, steps forward, her smile bright and welcoming. “We are so glad you could make it. Jeremy has told me so much about you, Andrea,” she says with a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.

I exchange a wary glance with Josh, knowing full well that Jeremy’s version of events is likely far from the truth. But before I can say anything, Melissa asks a question that catches me off guard.

“So, how did you two lovebirds meet?” she asks, her tone holds genuine interest.

I swallow hard, trying to compose myself as I search for the right words. “Uh, he is my best friend’s bother,” I reply, my voice tinged with uncertainty.

Josh nods in agreement, his expression carefully neutral. “Yeah, Andrea and I grew up together,” he adds, his voice echoing my own uncertainty.

Jeremy’s eyes narrow in suspicion, his gaze boring into ours as if trying to uncover some hidden truth. “And when did you two decide that you were in love?” he presses, his tone bordering on intrusive.

I exchange a nervous glance with Josh, knowing full well that Jeremy’s questions are nothing more than thinly veiled attempts to pry into our personal lives. But despite my discomfort, I force myself to answer as honestly as possible.

“Well, it’s hard to say exactly. I think we both knew that there was something special building between us over time,” I reply, trying to keep my tone light despite the weight of Jeremy’s scrutiny.

Josh nods in agreement, his expression carefully neutral. “Yeah, it wasn’t like some big Hollywood moment or anything. It just kind of…happened,” he adds, wrapping his arm around my waist.

Jeremy’s smirk widens into a grin, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Well, isn’t that just adorable,” he says, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

I bite back a retort, knowing that engaging with him will only escalate the situation further. Instead, I shoot him a forced smile and turn my attention to Melissa, hoping to steer the conversation in a more pleasant direction.

“So, Melissa, what are the plans for today’s rehearsal?” I ask, my voice tinged with forced cheerfulness.

Melissa’s face lights up at the mention of her wedding plans, and she launches into a detailed description of the next couple days. As she speaks, I can’t help but feel a sense of relief wash over me, grateful for the distraction from Jeremy’s relentless questioning.

But as the conversation continues, I can’t help but notice that Jeremy’s eyes are still trained on me and Josh. His gaze is filled with suspicion and mistrust. As we make our way into the main hall for the rehearsal, I can’t help but feel a sense of foreboding settle over me, knowing that this is only the beginning of what promises to be a long and difficult weekend.

Josh and I take our places at the front of the room, trying to ignore the curious glances of the other wedding party members as they file in.

As the rehearsal progresses, it’s time for Jeremy and his fiancée to practice their vows. My heart sinks as I realize what’s coming next—witnessing them exchange vows.

I steal a glance at Josh, who meets my eyes with a sympathetic expression. Despite the discomfort of the situation, his presence offers a sense of solidarity.

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