The Work Wife

My Best Friend's Wedding

"You did what?" My sister Emma gasps as I call her on my way home. I've got a half-hour commute on the train, so I usually ring her when I leave Union Station. It's just enough time to catch up on our days, though I know I'll be doing most of the gabbing during this gossip sesh today.

"I'm an idiot," I mutter, praying no one sits next to me as the train fills up. We got the project in by three, and I told Chase I'd spend the rest of the afternoon going bridesmaid dress shopping. I didn't even give him a chance to argue, just announced it with one foot out the door.

"Why are you doing this to yourself?" Emma asks the same way she did when I agreed to be the planner.

"Do you know how hard it is to say no when three people are looking at you like you're their last hope?" I ask, glancing around to see if anyone's heading my way. Emma, of course, is a pro at saying no. Her kids even call her "Auto-No."

I drop my head against the cool glass window, relieved when the train starts moving and the seat next to me stays empty. I adjust my AirPod as my long ash-blonde hair tangles around it.

"Stella, Stella, Stella..." Emma mutters, and I can practically hear her shaking her head. "When are you going to drop this crush? I know you did it for Chase."

I sigh. Emma's the only one I've admitted my crush to. I figured my secret was safe with her. She lives forty-five minutes away and never shows up to my work functions. She met Chase once, at a Rockies game we went to as a company. Chase splurged for a suite, and my sister begged me to come as her date because we were playing the Cubs. She immediately understood why I found Chase's messy dark hair and those round brown eyes attractive. But she also thought he was goofy and a bit pretentious. I told her I liked that he was silly with his dumb jokes and, of course, professionally driven.

"He said I was his best friend today," I tell her, then add, "So, it makes sense to be in your best friend's wedding."

"Oh my god, is that what this is?" Emma gasps. "Are you trying to My Best Friend's Wedding this?"

"What?" I scoff loudly, glancing around to make sure no one's hearing me.

"He doesn't end up with Julia Roberts at the end, Stel. So, I seriously hope you weren't planning on sabotaging this Mexico trip to show Chase you're his one true love."

I don't tell her that's exactly what I was planning to do.

"That's...no. No, I am just...I am a master wedding planner. You know this, I worked for you. Why wouldn't I lend my expertise to my best friend?"

"I somewhat understood when you took on that role. You're an amazing event coordinator. I just don't understand why you took on this horrific idea?" My niece interrupts her rant and they deal with a Play-Doh fiasco while I quickly check my emails. I see Ainslee already sent me several links to dress sites and I notice the dresses are all in the two-hundred dollar range. I had already bought a fabulous tropical dress from Anthropologie last weekend that I was planning on wearing so I am just oh-so stoked to spend more money on this wedding. Emma finally gets back to me and says, "Sorry, Mads stuck a whole wad of dough in her hair. Look I just don't want you to get hurt out there. Unrequited love is brutal."

"It's not unrequited love, it's just...it's you know? Whatever, I have to dress shop so I'll let you go."

"Are you going to buy a blue dress?" She mocks and I glare at her even though she can't see me. I told her one time I gravitate towards blue clothing because it's Chase's favorite color.

"No, I unfortunately have to buy something pink."

"Stella, you are not a pushover. Honestly, you can be a bit scary and intimidating, but for some reason, you're a melted marshmallow when it comes to that man. I just don't want him to crush you or make things weird for you at work."