Chapter Eleven
Poppy
My sister sits on the corner of my bed, giggling at something on her phone. It’s been a few days since I saw Wesley up at Parr, and ever since then, I’ve been in a horrible mood.
“Gosh, Poppy, why don’t you cheer up? It’s not every day your best friend gets married. Help me plan her bachelorette party,” Pippa suggests.
“I’ve never been good at planning parties, and you know it.”
She laughs. “True. I have been the mastermind behind most of our birthdays. You’ve just always went along with whatever I wanted.”
“It’s easier that way.”
Looking up from my book, I see her studying something on her phone screen, her smile pulling evilly. “Oh, this is going to be epic,” she mumbles under her breath.
“You’re up to something.”
Her head shoots up. “I am not.”
“Yes, you are. I know you, Pippa. You only get that look on your face when you’re up to no good.”
She shrugs. “I’m just planning something special for Amber.”
“The girl who’s currently dating the guy you’re head over heels for.”
Her eyes roll before they narrow into slits. “Don’t remind me. I’ve tried everything to break them up and nothing works.” She sighs dramatically. “Their relationship exhausts me.”
“Whatever happened with you and Daniel? Haven’t you two been kinda seeing each other these past few years?”
Another shoulder lift of indifference is all she gives me. “He’s a nice guy, but he’s not Eddie.”
“How dare he be a decent guy with morals and good intentions,” I retort, mocking her. “Please tell me you at least let him down gently?”
She looks at the rug.
“Pippa! Please tell me you aren’t leading him on!”
“Well, not exactly. It’s kind of nice to have someone obsessed with me, and he’s not that bad in bed, either.”
“You shouldn’t lead him on like you are. The poor guy thinks the world of you for whatever reason.”
Pippa smirks. “He has impeccable taste for a guy. He’d make a great partner for you, actually. Maybe…”
“Don’t even think about it, Pippa. After the last disastrous date I had, I’m done with dating.”
“Or you’re just saving yourself for a certain felon.” She winks, and my urge to strangle her increases.
“Absolutely not! Wesley’s going to rot in prison right where he belongs.”
“Then why did you go see him?”
I freeze.
How does she know that?
When I don’t say anything, she laughs. “Admit it, Poppy. You would’ve fucked him at prom had you had the chance.”
I did have the chance… but nobody knows it.
“It sucks that he won’t be here for the wedding. I would’ve loved watching him try to convince you to dance.”
Thinking about Wesley only makes me hate myself more. It’s because of me that he’s even in there. My eyes instantly migrate to the picture on the wall, needing a release.
No, Poppy. Stay strong. You don’t need it.
“Anyway, so I was thinking about a major spa day. We can invite that nerdy girl from her work, Mallory, I think is her name. Maybe even her mom. I’m also inviting Devony and Katie Lyn.”
“Why would you invite them? They don’t get along with Amber, and you know you can’t invite her mom; they aren’t even talking right now.”
Pippa nods. “Devony and Katie Lyn love a good spa day. And as for Amber’s mom, I think it would be good for both of them, Poppy. Maybe it will bring them together and mend their relationship.”
“She doesn’t want her mom there, Pippa. Please don’t invite her or those two bitches from your sorority.”
She barely wants you there, I silently think to myself, watching my sister’s expression change from unbothered to overly excited within seconds.
“Just trust me on this. She’ll hate you for it. Stop trying to make this awful for her.”
Pippa glances towards Amber’s door and grins. “I promise I only have her best interest at heart, Poppy. She’s going to have an amazing time. What I have planned after the spa and salon is going to be fucking epic! It’ll all be worth it.”
Did I mention that my sister is a very bad liar?
Even I see through her fucking bullshit.
“Oh no,” I grumble, the second we walk through the doors of the spa and see Amber’s mom and Devony and Katie Lyn standing there.
“What’s up?” Mallory questions, following my gaze.
“My sister. That’s what. She invited two girls who hate Amber and her mother to this. Even though I advised her not to.”
Mallory frowns. “Doesn’t Amber not really talk to her mother?”
I nod. “Yup.”
“Well, this isn’t going to be fun, is it?”
I shake my head. “Nope, not at all.”
Amber looks at her feet, shifting uncomfortably when Devony and Katie Lyn look her up and down and scoff.
They’ve never liked Amber, mainly because they are Pippa’s friends from college and me and Amber decided not to join their sorority with her.
Their campus reputation was not the greatest, and I personally didn’t want to be associated with a bunch of mean girls.
After a very uncomfortable rundown of what we need to do in the clay baths, I settle into one next to Mallory, ready for some much needed relaxation. I try to block out everything else the best I can, only picking up bits and pieces of conversations here and there.
“So, Amber tells me you like to read. Have you ever read Omen House Five by JJ Heppicoat?”
Instantly my ears perk up. “Is it out already?”
Mallory nods. “Yup, I just finished reading it. It was such a trip. Have you read the rest of the series?
“Oh my gosh, yes, I absolutely devoured it. I love me a good horror inspired thriller.”
“Me too!” Mallory exclaims brightly, her red hair slightly bouncing.
We continue chattering about the series until I hear Amber laying into Katie Lyn.
“Hey, I get that you two make being a bitch your entire personality, but speak to my mother like that again, and I’ll get them to throw you out,” Amber yells, her voice carrying in the strange, empty room.
Both Mallory and I look over at her at the same time, sharing an equally perplexed look.
Katie Lyn instantly pipes in, “You can’t do that. We were invited by Pippa.”
“Yeah, but you weren’t invited by me. This is my wedding, not hers,” Amber adds, the hatred for them evident in her wavering vocal cords.
“A wedding that should’ve been Pippa’s,” Devony mutters under her breath.
I’m not sure what they were even talking about until Mallory speaks up, trying to break up the hostility.
“I always pictured I would have a big, extravagant wedding, too. Maybe not as big as the ones you guys are planning, but one where my dad walks me down the aisle and there’s a whole church full of guests staring at me like I am a queen or something.
My mom would be crying, using a Kleenex to blot her eyes, and my dad would have tears of his own as he hands me over to my future husband. ”
Amber’s expression changes; somber tears appear in her eyes, her vulnerability showing.
My eyes cut to my sister, who picks up on it and chimes in before I can stop her. “Who’s walking you down the aisle?” Pippa questions.
“Nobody.”
Pippa knows exactly what she’s doing. Amber’s dad passed away a long time ago, and bringing him up messes with her. Pippa’s doing this on purpose. “You can’t walk down the aisle by yourself.”
“Sure, I can. It doesn’t feel right for anyone else to walk me down with my dad being gone.
Amber’s mother hangs her head, wiping a tear from her eye.
Shit, if I don’t say something, this is going to get really bad.
“Where are you going on your honeymoon?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Actually, I booked us tickets to Italy,” Amber answers, though there’s no real excitement to it.
“You’ve always wanted to go there.” My smile doesn’t quite reach my eyes. I hate seeing her like this, especially on a day that’s meant to be special.
“I know. I’ve been saving up since Eddie asked me to marry him. Then I just booked us a full week there. It’s going to be amazing! I plan on visiting Tuscany and seeing my favorite sculpture, the Apennine Colossus, in person.”
Amber’s mother’s head shoots up, voice slightly trembling. “That’s your dad’s favorite sculpture.”
“I know,” Amber whispers. “That’s why I want to go.”
Her mother quickly wipes away her tears, doing her best to stay strong even though she’s emotionally losing it.
This isn’t good at all.
“Eddie’s not gonna like that shit,” Pippa interjects. “He’s going to only want to eat Italian food and stay in to watch soccer or something. He’s going to be a fucking drag the whole time.”
“Do you always have to talk shit about Eddie? You used to be friends,” Amber snaps, unaware of just how close Pippa and Eddie really are. This would be a perfect time for Pippa to say something, but of course, my sister doesn’t.
“Used to be. Once he started dating you, he wasn’t interested in being friends anymore.” Pippa uses some pretty cynical air quotes and looks to Devony and Katie Lyn for support. They both roll their eyes… typical mean girl behavior.
“Well, I’m sorry he pushed you away, Pippa. That wasn’t my intention. I’ve always been supportive of your friendship.”
“Speaking of which. I overheard you having a heated conversation with him the other night. What was that all about?” Pippa prods, trying to get under her skin even more.
“He admitted to fucking another girl the night we broke up.”
“Did he? Did he say who it was?” Pippa pretends to act innocent, but I see through her. Amber somehow doesn’t.
“I didn’t care. We were broken up.”
Now it’s Pippa rolling her eyes.
“Why are you asking?”
Just tell her, Pippa! Goddamn it, she deserves it.
“Oh, I just wondered if it was Jinafer again? That’s all.”
Amber looks at the clay sticking to her. “I don’t think he’s that stupid.” There’s an uncertainty and uneasiness in her tone, but it’s obvious that she’s not picking up on anything, so I do the only thing I can… lie.
“He’s pretty fucking dumb. I wouldn’t put it past him.”
“He’s an asshole, Amber. I’m just sad you can’t see it yet,” Pippa adds, her smile spreading condescendingly, her tone a bit too cruel.