When I was a little girl, she entered me in a bunch of beauty pageants—and I won most of them. I was well on my way to becoming the next JonBenet Ramsey, if you know what I’m saying. But then one day, it all stopped. Mom ran out of money. The guy she was married to at that time lost his ass in the stock market, and she divorced him.
While she went on the hunt for a new husband, I went through my ugly duckling stage. No more pageant wins for me. I was gangly and awkward. I desperately needed braces for my very crooked adult teeth. I had really long legs that I seemed to always trip over.
In other words, I was a mess. Mom would watch me with pity, always making comments under her breath. And it broke me. I wasn’t her beautiful little doll anymore. I was ugly.
Oh, but then the braces came off. I learned how to style my hair—thank you, YouTube—and I started to develop. Next thing I knew, I was tall and curvy, I had perfect sized boobs according to my mother, and my face looked exactly like hers too. I thought she’d be happy.
Instead, she viewed me as competition.
“I need something that’ll send someone over the edge,” I say, earning curious looks from my friends.
“Explain yourself,” Caroline says. “Who is this someone?”
“Theo asked me to be his date at a wedding,” I tell them.
Sarah and Caroline exchange knowing looks. “Are you two finally going to date each other?” Sarah asks.
“No. Absolutely not,” I say firmly. “We’re just friends. If we take it to the next level, we’ll ruin everything.”
“You might not—” Caroline starts, but I shake my head, cutting her off.
“No. Friends. That’s it.”
“So why do you need a dress that’ll send someone over the edge?” Stella asks, her gaze sharp. “I figured you were referring to Theo.”
A chorus of “yeahs” accompany her statement.
“I’m not referring to Theo, I’m referring to…the bride.” I bite my lower lip, knowing that I sound like a complete bitch. Who wants to upstage the bride on their wedding day?
Me, that’s who.
“Whose wedding are you going to?”
“Doesn’t it feel like there are a lot of weddings happening lately?” Amelia asks no one in particular. Everyone nods their answer, including me. “God, it’s like a disease.” Amelia had a nasty breakup with her ex, but has now found true love with a younger man who seems totally into her. It’s actually really sweet.
“Theo was invited to his ex’s wedding,” I admit.
The protests immediately start. They all hate this Jessica person, thanks to me complaining about her. Eleanor complained about her too. She’s the one who kept up contact with Theo first. After their disastrous first date—that I helped arranged via the Rate a Date app and Theo’s best friend, the eternal jackass Paul—Eleanor met with Theo, and he eventually became her financial planner. He’s also now Eleanor’s boyfriend’s financial planner, which is a huge deal. Mitch Anderson makes bank. He’s worth a fortune.
So yeah, we all hate Jessica. She broke Theo’s heart.
“I can’t believe that bitch would invite him to her wedding, after she broke up with him like she did,” Caroline says with absolute disgust.
“She’s marrying Theo’s cousin, so in theory, he deserves an invite,” I say, wincing when they start protesting all over again.
“He shouldn’t go!” Amelia says. “Who cares about that chick?”
“Theo feels like he has to go,” I say. “Plus, his brothers told him he should.”
They all know about Theo’s family. Specifically the brothers, and how pushy they all are.
“He asked you to go with him then?” Stella asks.
I nod. “Of course, I said yes. I want to be there for him, and honestly? I’m really curious to see this Jessica. I want to know what all the fuss is about.”
“I bet she’s gorgeous.” This is from Caroline, who has a bitter expression on her face.
Jealousy stabs me right in the heart, and I tell it to take a hike. Seriously, why would I be jealous of a gorgeous Jessica? Who cares what she looks like? She broke my friend’s heart. Stomped all over it with sky-high stilettos.
I have no idea if she wears stilettos. I’m just assuming.
“It’ll be difficult to outshine the bride at her own wedding,” Stella says, ever the honest friend. “But out of any of us at this table, I have faith in you the most that you can do it.”