Whatever It Takes

Pre-Ceremony Jitters

I bustled into the bridal suite, arms full of extra baubles and bags for Nancy and her big day. She turned to me, her eyes wide and panicked and I dropped the bags immediately.

"What's wrong?" I asked. She looked like she was on the verge of tears as she held her hands up.

"They're like bubble gum," she whimpered, her lips quivering. I smiled, taking one of her hands and studying her nails.

"They are a ballet slipper pink, at most," I assured her. She sniffled, blinking her eyes hard as I set my hands on her shoulders. "They're perfect, Nance, I promise."

She let out a shuddering breath and nodded, finally smiling at me. She threw her arms around me for a hug.

"I feel like I'm going insane today – I have been so normal up until today," she sighed, making me laugh. I pulled back, grinning widely at my best friend.

"You've barely been a bridezilla – I've been telling you to cash in on that," I teased. I dropped her and went to pick up my bags and things, setting them on the counter in the room. She laughed brightly.

"I have been cashing in on it," she replied.

I raised an eyebrow, watching her as she traipsed over to one of the parlor chairs that the venue had set up in the suite. She spun in it, her curlers bouncing as she grinned at me. She grabbed a glass of champagne that she had poured earlier for herself. She cocked her head to the side, flashing a smug smile.

"Oh, you thought all of those tasks I assigned you and Ed over the last couple of weeks were just for fun? That I didn't know that you would feel too guilty to say 'no' to me?" she questioned. I felt my face bloom with color and started fidgeting with my curlers.

"Well, I wouldn't have minded working with him, we're friends now," I stammered, refusing to make eye contact with her. She let out another sparkling laugh.

"Oh, come on – I'm desperate to talk about anything besides the wedding. You don't think I know that there's something going on?" she exclaimed. I smiled at her, shrugging at her.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I quipped, wanting to torture her a bit. She raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, you don't?" she retorted. She leaned forward and flicked my ear, making me yelp. She pointed right below it. "You know, I taught you how to cover hickeys when you first started dating Ricky Wilson junior year – you think you'd do a better job than that."

My jaw dropped and I slapped my hand over my neck. I turned back to the mirror, studying my neck.

"He swore he wouldn't leave anymore hickies!" I hissed, trying to find what she was talking about. I furrowed my brows as I searched and searched, unable to find the hickey she had pointed to. I finally looked back at her, noticing her shit-eating grin.

"I knew it," she said victoriously. I groaned and sat in the parlor chair next to hers, crossing my arms.

"Eddie's right – you are a witch," I snapped. She squealed gleefully.

"Oh, my God, this is so exciting!" she chirped.

She took my hands, squeezing them tight, and I couldn't help but smile back at her. My chest tightened at the memories of Eddie and I over the last couple of days, and a large part of me was excited to finally share my joy with my best friend in the world. I scrunched my shoulders together and let out an excited squeal to match hers, and she soon joined me. She crossed her legs, still keeping my hands in hers.

"Okay, okay, okay – I know you're going to feed me some bullshit about how it's my day and you don't want to talk about yourself or whatever, but, please, give me something!" she begged. I took in a deep breath and tried to hold back how big my smile was.