Page 16 of June Bride
The man stepped outside. Brandelyn motioned for Sunny to follow her into the back. “I’ve got about ten minutes to spare before my next appointment needs me.”
Sunny didn’t need more than ten minutes to break the news to Brandy.How am I going to do it, though? Gently? Beat around the bush? Be direct?Direct. Yes. Less time, and like ripping off a Band-Aid. She would have sighed if she thought it would give her any strength.
“What’s up?” Brandelyn’s demeanor chilled as she shut the door to her office and motioned for Sunny to have a seat with her at the desk. Photos, files, and floral paintings adorned the room Brandy spent most of her working days inhabiting. She may have only worked three or four days a week, but she made the most of it. “If you’re here, it must be pretty serious.”
“I couldn’t text you about it, that’s true.” Sunny sat down. “I would have normally dropped by after you were done with work, but with your family here…”
“Ugh. Don’t remind me. I never thought of this room as my oasis, but it has been ever since Hurricane Meyer arrived from New York.” Brandelyn rolled her eyes as she sat down. “Although it hasn’t stopped my mother from trying to barge in on my appointments.”
“Yeah, you told me about that.”
Brandy waited a few seconds before clearing her throat. “So, what’s up?”
Lord, here it came. The moment of truth. The one thing she had been holding back that whole year. “It’s about the wedding.”
It must have been the way she said it. Perhaps Brandy sensed the panic in Sunny’s voice.Oh, my God! Look at her! She thinks I’m going to call off the wedding!That couldn’t have been farther from the truth. Sunny better rectify this right now before Brandelyn launched into a million words that had nothing to do with what was going on between them.
“I’m not… I don’t…” Sunny squeezed her hands into fists and inhaled a deep breath. “I don’t want to wear a tux to the wedding,” she said upon exhale.
She kept her eyes closed as she awaited Brandelyn’s response. Yet all Sunny heard was the tapping of a pen against the desk. Or maybe that was Brandy’s foot tapping against the floor. Something tapped. Sunny’s sanity? Her heart, slowly losing its size and luster?I’m screwed.Why hadn’t Brandelyn said anything yet? Was she so aghast by her fiancée’s confession that she was gearing up for a giant explosion?
Sunny finally opened her eyes. Brandelyn looked back at her, a frown accompanying her elbow digging into her desk. It certainly had been a pen smacking against the desk.
“Very funny,” Brandy said.
“Huh?”
“I know you like to pull my leg, Sun, but now really isn’t the time. My sister had a meltdown at her dress fitting. You should’ve seen it. It was like she didn’t get the memo that cleavageanda plunging neckline is like advertising to all of small-town America that you’re a giant hussy. My mom called her a slut! God.” Brandy rubbed both of her temples. “Sorry. I’m not in the mood for shenanigans right now. I’ll get my sense of humor back for the honeymoon.”
Sunny sank into her seat. “I’m not pulling your leg. I’m not joking.” She bit her lip. “I’ve been hanging onto a dress for a while now. I was… I was really hoping to wear it to the wedding, but I know how much you wanted me in a tux so I, uh… I haven’t mentioned it before now.”
The silence in Brandy’s office almost cracked Sunny in half. Nor could she get a proper reading of her fiancée’s expression. Brandy had completely shut down, the words she chewed either made of pure arsenic or sweeter than the kind of sugared honey Sunny’s mother once added to sun tea.It was… not good. But it was meant to be good. God, help me. It’s that one, isn’t it?Brandy stewed in everything she wanted to say but didn’t have the guts to blurt.
“You’re serious?” she finally asked.
Sunny slowly nodded. “I bought the dress before you said I should wear a tux. I don’t know why I didn’t say anything earlier. Guess I thought you would be…”
Laughter cracked through the room. Brandy slapped her hand on her desk, her grin so wide that it frightened poor Sunny, who continued to sink farther into her chair.
“Holy crap, Sun, you got me good.” The laughter continued as Brandy flung herself back into her swivel chair and almost knocked the whole thing over. Figurines rattled on the desk. A paper almost lost its spot on the edge. Sunny’s eyes were drawn to the diplomas and certifications hanging above her fiancée’s head. “I thought you were serious for a moment. Damn. Can’t say I’m mad about it, though. Ireallyneeded a good laugh recently. Phew.”
Sunny didn’t know whether to cry or barge out of Brandy’s office.She doesn’t believe me? How can she not believe me?She held one hand against her chest and promised herself that she wouldn’t cry. Not in front of Brandy. Not over something as important as this.
“I’m not joking,” she said.
It took Brandelyn a few more seconds to finally stop laughing. When she did, it was with confusion swimming in her dark brown eyes. “What?” she asked, humor drained from her face.
Sunny folded her arms, hoping it would propel her posture as she took her stand. “I said I’m not joking. I don’t want to wear a tux at our wedding.”Ourwedding. That was the operative word here. Brandy wasn’t the only one getting married. Maybe Sunny had a few other things she cared about. There was meeting in the middle and making concessions, but it wasn’t up to Sunny to give up what went on her own body. “I’ve already bought a dress I really like, you know, like you’ve got a dress, too. I’m letting you know that I’ll be wearing it to the wedding.”
Brandy remained silent.
“I know it’s always been your big vision to wear a big, fluffy princess dress and marry someone wearing a tux… ‘cause you love the optics, the aesthetics, whatever… but maybe I don’t want to play that role. Maybe I’d like to feel like a princessy girl on my wedding day?”
Brandy gripped her pen in both hands. Was she about to snap it in half? Maybe this was when Sunny should start running. “It’s so unlike you to be that kind of woman.”
“Thatkindof woman?”
Sunny didn’t trust the look on Brandelyn’s face. Was she about to snap at her? Cry? Ask why Sunny dared to humiliate her in private like this? Sunny hated how she could only sit there and guess her fiancée’s reactions.I hate that this is a thing.Standing up for herself and what she wanted at her own damned wedding shouldn’t have been this dramatic. How could she marry a woman who didn’t respect her wishes? Who said things like,“It’s so unlike you to be that kind of woman,”when Sunny announced that she wanted to wear a dress?
