Page 18 of Before I Say I Don't
“It’syourwedding,” Kendall added, shooting a sidelong glance at me that seemed to inquire,is it really though?
“It is my sister’s wedding,” Danica asserted, her voice crisp with authority. “I’m just making sure she gets what she paid for and that the people attending genuinely love her… and that she actuallyknowsthem.”
Zaria flipped her hair over her shoulder, her demeanor casual yet somehow deflective.
“Speaking of paid for… did you decide between the crystal chargers and the gold-rimmed ones? The crystal looked… more luxe.”
“We’re going with the gold rim. The crystal ones photograph looked weird in warm lighting,” Danica answered smoothly.
“Okay. I could talk to my vendor,” Zaria offered, like she had one on retainer. “Maybe?—”
“Wehavea vendor,” Danica cut in, voice still calm but clipped just enough to shut the door on the conversation. “A good one. Thanks, though.”
Serena leaned toward me and stage-whispered, “Pinterest Patty tried it.”
I bit my lip to stifle a laugh, taking a sip of water as the room buzzed with varying levels of energy.
Zaria was... inconsistent. One moment, she was all bright smiles and compliments, beaming like she had known me since preschool; the next, I’d catch her side-eyeing me with her nose tilted just enough to convey a silent judgment—bless her heart. I truly had no idea what that was about. Honestly, I chalked it up to her being part-time bipolar, full-time unpredictable. I was starting to wonder what sort of drama lay ahead in that already chaotic wedding planning journey.
“Now, down to business!” Danica said. “Quick status checks! Let’s start with the bachelorette itinerary!”
She glanced at Jayla, who was slowly flipping through the numerous pages in her folder with a growing sense of dread.
Jayla sighed deeply. Her posture drooped as she leaned back in her chair.
“Okay, so I’m just gonna keep it real," she began, her tone a mix of apprehension and defeat. "I know booking the spot for the bachelorette party was my responsibility since I’m the best friend and all, but… I ain’t gon’ have it like that. Not right now. So… can somebody else maybe pick this up?”
An immediate silence filled the room, so profound it felt like time had halted—like a pin had dropped, or a tumbleweed had rolled through the center of our gathering. Serena’s hand froze just inches above the crisp brie cheese she was slicing.
I glanced at Danica, and she met my look of bewilderment with a similarly puzzled expression. We literally wore the samewait, what?face.
My bridal party wasn't thetypicalbridal party—every single one of them hadvolunteeredto take on different responsibilities for the wedding, not because I begged, but because they all had solid careers and they genuinely wanted to ease the burden on my shoulders. I had been under a lot of stress lately, juggling a mountain of big cases at work, so their generosity was appreciated.
Jayla had the least-lucrative job—she worked as a dental hygienist—but she still made decent money and insisted on pitching in, which made her current admission all the more disheartening. Not to sound ungrateful, but I appreciated the effort, even if enthusiasm didn’t always match execution.
Danica toyed with her pen, tapping it like a countdown. until the sound pressed on everyone’s nerves. Then she planted her elbows on the table and leaned. Her voice carried the kind of weight that made everyone sit up straighter.
“Jayla…you’rethe one who asked to be in charge of this. We didn’t throw it at you, remember? You proudly told Kam, and I quote, ‘I got the bachelorette handled; y’all just show up cute.’That was months ago. The wedding is in three weeks. Not three months… butthreeweeks. That’s twenty-one days, three more weekends, and approximately zero wiggle room. People have booked flights and taken off work. There are decorations that you hand-wrote on the order form. Hell, Serena bought novelty straws that I donotwant collecting dust in my garage. And you’re telling usnowthat nothing’s booked?”
Danica’s words landed like stones, heavy and unsettling.
I watched as Jayla blinked slowly, her fingers fidgeting nervously with the edge of her folder like she was picking at a loose thread.
That wasn't just about money; I sensed that something deeper was troubling her—something she hoped we wouldn’t uncover.
“I’ve just got… stuff going on. Money’s tight. Things came up,” Jayla stammered, her gaze darting away from ours, unable to face the truth of her own inaction.
The tension in the room grew thick. I could feel Danica’s patience thinning, and I knew I needed to intervene before that discussion escalated into something far more uncomfortable.
“It’s fine,” I spoke up. “Really. Honestly? I don’t even want a bachelorette party at this point… just a bridal shower will do. It will be simple, easy, and less stressful for everybody.”
Danica gave me that look—I know you’re covering for her—but she held her tongue.
“I can help with the shower,” Lena chimed in immediately, her face lighting up with that radiant eagerness she always brought to our gatherings. “Food, setup… whatever you need.”
“Thank you,” I replied, smiling in relief.
I was grateful for the lifeline; it felt like a way out of that tangled web of disappointment.
