Jake: “She thinks that you’re helping me with the wedding planning. Haha. You know, if it were you walking down the aisle, I wouldn’t feel this horrible. I’m not meant to be with Tamara. We both know that.”
It had moved so far past flirting. And it had become clear to me — this wasn’t a crush. This was their plan to erase me.
I kept scrolling, my eyes blurring as I moved through their betrayal and confession. And then I found exactly what I was looking for.
Jake (after forwarding my Pinterest board): “What do you think about this for our wedding, my love?”
This was their plan to erase me.
Maddie: “This is it. This is perfect! Rustic and cozy, I adore it. We just have to figure out what we’re going to do about… her.”
Her. Me.
I was nothing but an obstacle to them.
And they didn’t even hide it.
I kept scrolling, desperately wanting to stop, but terrified of missing vital information if I did.
I was nothing but an obstacle to them.
There was another message from Maddie, sent the same night she and I had sat on my couch, sipping wine while I showed her the bridesmaid dress options.
Maddie: “She showed me more dresses again, Jake. I feel bad but also… this is kind of her thing — being clueless.”
Jake: “Well, at least she’s good at planning and spending her savings. We’ll get all the benefits at the wedding of our dreams, Mads.”
I had to set the iPad down. My palms were sweating. I walked to the kitchen, poured a glass of water, and couldn’t even bring it to my lips.
My palms were sweating.
How long had this been happening right in front of me? And what kind of person do you have to be to let your best friend plan the wedding you’re stealing from her?
A moment later, a message popped up in real time.
Jake: “Emily at the venue is asking too many questions. I think she feels bad for Tam. We’ll just keep everything under my name until it’s done. She’ll understand at the wedding… we just need to rip the Band-Aid off.”
