8. Suki
“Istill can’t believe you’re getting married and having a baby, friend. This is your year,” I told Eris as we walked the mall with security behind us.
She held up her hand with that massive ass rock, and I had to pull my Dior’s down because that bitch gets brighter every day. Rhea sipped on her slushie, barely saying anything.
“Rhea, you’re quiet. What’s up?” I asked her.
“Girl, nothing, just tired. That’s all.”
“You could’ve stayed home. You know we wouldn’t have minded,” Eris told her.
“I miss my girls. Besides, since I wasn’t there for the proposal or the announcement of the pregnancy, I had to come see for myself.”
She said it like she didn’t believe it.
“We told you to come to Rayzor’s the other day, but you didn’t. And you missed the FaceTime call for you to see it, so that’s on you,” I retorted.
“It’s cool. We can’t be everywhere at once. I was busy anyway.”
Eris saw the look I gave and nudged me.
“It’s fine though. We’re here now.”
“Right.” I upwardly rolled my eyes.
“Anyways. You have any plans for the wedding?”
“Girl, we’ve been talking about it. I don’t want nothing too big.”
“Why, when Rayzor’s got big money?” Rhea asked with her nose tooted.
“Because she fucking don’t. You know big on big is my thing. E just like chill, romantic, cute shit.”
“Yeah, I know. That’s why I’m still confused on how her and Rayzor are even a match.”
“Because that nigga loves the hell outta me. I can pop my shit whenever I wanna, but I like keeping it cute.”
“That’s the fuck right, friend. You ain’t gotta be lavish. You can make whatever lifestyle look good,” I said matter-of-factly.
“I’m just saying. Why go small when you got a man that’ll spend it. Besides, after all the shit he’s taken you through, I’d blow bags every day,” Rhea said.
“Rhea, don’t do that. You act like he was out there cheating on me.”
“Shit, I wouldn’t put it past him.”
Eris threw her hand up, waving us off. “I’m not doing this with you. I love mine and he loves the fuck outta me. Whatever happens in the beginning, middle and end ain’t nobody’s fucking business.”
“Yeah, he do. I told you a long time ago that he loves the drawls from the crack of your ass down to the polish on ya toes.”
“And I love him to the moon and back. Girl, I’m so happy.” Eris smiled, and it made me smile too. Fuck what Rhea’s salty ass was saying. This was her moment.
After the mall, we all took a black car to the bridal shop down the block. Eris wanted to get a head start on her wedding dress shopping, and honestly, I couldn’t be happier for my girl. If nobody else deserved this win, it was E.
“Champagne for our guests,” the bridal consultant said as she brought over multiple glasses and a bottle of Dom on a glass tray.
“Now that’s how you start this off,” I nodded, tipping my glass to my girl.
Eris looked sad as Rhea and I began indulging in the libations.
“Girl, what’s wrong?” I asked.
“No, thank you,” she told the consultant.
I popped myself against the forehead. “She can’t drink. The bride-to-be is about to be a mother-to-be.” I placed my glass back down.
“Suki, don’t stop on account of me.”
Rhea, on the other hand, was almost finished with hers and reaching for Eris’s glass. I reached out to stop her.
“What?” she asked with attitude.
I zipped my eyes in Eris’s direction.
“What? She’s pregnant, not me,” she stated, tilting her head back.
I shook my head.
Eris was going back with the consultant because she had already seen a couple dresses online that she wanted to check out. I got up, heading over to the display, running my hands across some of the material, and my mind started drifting.
I’ve never been the girl that had dreams of the white picket fences, the dog, and the kids running around the yard.
Life started dealing me a different deck of cards than my family at an early age, and well, wedding bells had never been in my foreseeable future.
Matter of fact, I’ve never been with a man that’s even made me think about carrying his name and doing all the wifely things for him.
“It makes you think of your own life, right? Like, will this ever be my turn?” Rhea said as she walked the aisle eyeing the pieces with her glass to her lips.
She wore this smirk that didn’t reach her eyes.
It was something about her comment that didn’t sit right with me.
I wasn’t going to address it on a day that was meant for our girl.
But it did shake some shit up within. These dresses, the soft music, the all-white, ivories, décor, the wedding ensemble in general felt like a sore spot I didn’t fucking know I had.
Ding.
My phone went off, it was City.
City: What you on tonight?
It’s like he always found a way of contacting me in my most vulnerable state.
Ever since our secret was exposed, we’ve both been keeping a low profile.
I couldn’t tell if he was shaken up or me.
His text wasn’t a surprise; I knew eventually he’d text.
I wasn’t reaching out first, though. It’s our cat-and-mouse game. Always have been.
Me: I don’t know yet. Have a few things to do, and once I’m done, I might go have a drink or go home. I’ll see.
City: Damn, so you ain’t tryin’ to fuck with a nigga tonight?
Me: It depends. What you trying to do?
…
The three dots popped up, but the curtain to the back dressing rooms opened. I quickly dumped my phone in my purse to give my girl my undivided attention. Rhea came and stood next to me.
“Here she comes, ladies, and oh my. I’ve never seen such a beautiful bride.”
“I’m nervous, but in a good way, ya know?” I whispered to Rhea.
She shrugged.
Eris walked out, and I immediately started crying.
My girl looked the fuck good, and I wasn’t saying that because she’s my friend.
She was breathtaking. That chocolate skin and that satin ivory gown with a sweetheart neckline with a vintage lace draping around it met with the diamond necklace and cathedral veil flowing against it.
“Eris, girl. You look…”
“Is it too much?” she asked, slowly walking over to the center stage. All eyes in the building fell on her. Other brides-to-be and families watched her in awe.
“It’s you. This dress is all you.”
She turned around to see herself, and the tears flowed effortlessly like the gown.
“I knew it was the one when I saw it.” She sniffled.
“It called out to you and it’s not a bad choice at all,” the consultant exclaimed.
“Doesn’t she look good, Rhea?” I nudged her. When she didn’t budge or say anything back, I glanced over at her and saw a hard look in her eyes and on her face. It wasn’t hard to miss. While the entire shop was complimenting E, she wasn’t.
“Rhea,” I called her name.
It took her a minute to snap into force. “Hmm. Yeah, she looks cute.”
She typed away on her phone like she was mad at it.
I walked away from her as she quickly downed the glass.
“I can’t believe I’m getting married, Suk.”
“I can. You and Rayzor are meant to be.”
“Suk, I love that man so much it scares me.”
“And he’s given you every reason to not be.”
Rhea came over. “You’re tripping, girl. You’re already in the dress and you’re already pregnant. You might as well put a ring on it.”
She made it sound like a punishment.
Eris hugged me. “I’m waiting for the day you’re standing here finding your forever dress.”
I opened my mouth to say something but somehow, the damn words wouldn’t come out.
“I know it’s not your thing. It will be, though.”
“Look at you.” I released her. “Even while having your moment, you find a way to think about others.”
“I have forever with Courtland. I want you to know it can be you too.” She winked.