Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Seventeen
Amber
A whole week has passed since Eddie and I lost ourselves in the rain.
It’s been a week of endless bliss, even with Pippa death glaring me from across the living room half the time.
Honestly, she had a few reasons to hate me.
I was rather braggy about my night of endless sex with Eddie, and the ring, I couldn’t wait to share it with Poppy the second I got home, flashing my mother’s familiar diamond to her with more pride than I ever have.
Poppy was ecstatic for me, but Pippa just sat there looking bored, glaring at my ring like it was made of venom.
I guess that’s why her sudden change of attitude this morning has me on edge. She’s actually whistling and smiling. Two things she hasn’t done in weeks. Especially towards me.
“Good morning,” she sing-songs, grabbing a jug of juice from the fridge. “Amber, would you like some orange juice?”
Staring up at her in shock, I question, “Is it poisoned?” because it’s the only explanation for her offering it to me without words dripped with disdain and hatred.
She giggles. “Of course not, silly. I just bought it. See?” She opens the cap for the first time, pouring the juice into a glass before handing it to me.
“This feels like a trick.”
A sly smile moves across her face as she takes a sip of her drink. “No trick. I’ve just realized what a colossal bitch I’ve been lately, and instead of tearing you down like I have been, I should be supporting you and Eddie more.”
The way Poppy looks at me is exactly how I look at her, dumbfounded, disturbed, and completely caught off guard.
“So, are you going to tell me about your wedding plans? What are the colors going to be? Can I pick out my maid of honor dress?”
“Oh,” I reply, shooting another panicked look at Poppy. “I kinda asked Poppy to be my maid of honor.”
She frowns, but then that smile is back, bigger and wider than the last. “You know what? That makes sense. Why would you want a bitch for your maid of honor? I sure wouldn’t. Can I at least be in your bridal party?”
“Of course. Eddie’s dad is going to be his best man, and Rich and Wesley will be his groomsman.”
“Oh, Poppy, you should definitely walk down that aisle next to Wesley,” she goads, knowing that Poppy hates him.
Poppy rolls her eyes. “Absolutely not. I’m walking with Eddie’s dad. Mallory is walking with Wesley. Poor girl.”
Pippa laughs maniacally. “When are you gonna give the poor guy a break, Poppy? He’s crazy about you. Everyone can see it but you.”
Pushing her glasses up her nose, Poppy goes back to reading her trashy romance novel, ignoring the conversation.
“Well, can I at least plan your bachelorette party? We all know which twin is the party twin, and it sure isn’t bookworm Jane over there.”
“Sure,” I say reluctantly, not liking her enthusiasm. Something’s off, but I don’t have the heart to call her out on it. I’ve missed my best friend. She can be the biggest bitch in the world to me, but I still love them both like they’re my sisters.
“Amazing! I already started planning something epic! Just wait, you’ll see! Oh, let Mallory know not to make any plans next Saturday.”
“Why?”
“That’s when we’re having your party, silly!”
“Why so early?”
“Because I have something extra special planned. Something you’ll never forget.”
Poppy briefly looks up from her book, assessing my reaction. It’s the same as hers, cautious and curious at the same time.
“As long as it has nothing to do with strippers, I’ll be fine.”
She crosses her heart and grins. “I’m not promising anything. Anyway, I’m going to start planning this shindig. We need to make this the most epic bachelorette party ever! I’m thinking dick straws and pussy shaped wine glasses. Yup, this is going to be amazing!”
She dances from the room, and the second she’s gone, I shoot her sister a confused look. “Is she on something?”
Poppy shrugs. “She may be doing speed again. One can’t be too sure.”
“That was weird, right? Tell me I’m not reading into this wrong.”
“Oh no, that was definitely weird. She’s up to something, but what she’s up to, I have no clue.”
A long silence filters between us as I mull over everything that just transpired. Something is off, my arm hairs are raising, and that only happens when I get a bad feeling about something.
“You’d tell me if you knew she was planning something awful, wouldn’t you? I know you two are sisters and twins, but you’d tell me if she was planning something not so great, right?”
Poppy places down her book and sighs. “Amber, you know how I feel about being brought into the middle of you and Pippa. But yes, if she’s planning anything nefarious, and I know about it, you’ll be the first to know.
I’m not going to let my sister ruin your wedding day.
I do have a moral compass that mostly points north. ”
We share an awkward laugh. Still, I can’t shake the strange feeling that Pippa has something planned—something more than just a fun party celebrating my last night as a free woman. The fact that she wants to have it three weeks before the actual wedding is even more unnerving.
What does she have planned?
Why is she suddenly being so nice?
And why does that creep me the fuck out?