Three

"So she's going to pay you to be besties with her?" Rosalie asks, shocked.

"Actually I kind of dragged you into it as well," I pry apart two hangers as I study a dress on the rack.

"Wait. What?" She glares at me.

"She needs a bridal party," I shrug, "Rose she was so sweet. Besides, imagine this being an actual business. Helping women who never quite fit in feel like they actually do have someone in their corner for their big day."

"But it's all fake," Rose shakes her head.

"To everyone else it isn't. We study her, take her to different places and fudge some photos. A grad cap and gown costs next to nothing from party city," I shrug, "we all make fake personal profiles like say you guys met at a yoga class, but you travel too much to keep in touch."

"And why would she have never told her soon-to-be husband about us?" Rosalie questions.

"She didn't think we would be able to come. She underestimated our love for her," I shrug, "I still need to iron out some creases."

"Who else are you going to ask?" Rosalie asks.

"Well maybe Angela from across the hall. Do you have any friends you could ask? I'll be the comforting one, Angela the shy one, you the hot bitchy one," I say, "what are we missing?"

"I know just the girl," Rosalie smiles at me, "but I have a condition."

"Okay go for it," I say.

"You need to let me flirt and/or jump whatever groomsman I want," she begins.

I start to answer but she holds her hand up.

"You must do the dishes for a month and next time you see that hot guy you need to flirt harder," she points at me.

"You said A condition," I growl.

"You want me to be the fierce protective bridesmaid or not," she shrugs a shoulder, "I'd be everything she needs to stop drunk uncles from embarrassing the couple or asshole exes from showing up."

"Fine deal," I roll my eyes.

"What colour are the bridesmaids dresses?" She asks.

"She's a fashion designer so she's going to run us through it if we all agree to help her. Can you make sure your friend can make it?" I say, "I'll talk to Angela."

Angela is happy to help. She comes over at 7pm sharp, boxes of pizzas in her arms.

"Oh my god. The line was insane," she huffs stumbling into our apartment.

We lived upstairs from a pizzeria. We're friends with the owner so he usually chucks in a free pizza whenever we place an order. Angela had been our neighbour for six months now and she's sweet. She sometimes joins us for a glass of wine to gossip about our other neighbours. We have a feeling downstairs has a sex dungeon going on.

I help her to the kitchen bench, placing the boxes out, opening the lids.

"Did you tell your friend, Rose," I yell down the hall.

Rosalie hadn't mentioned who 'just the girl' was yet. I was hoping I could trust her with this.

"Yeah," she shouts back, "when's the bride coming again?"

"Any minute," I call out, as I pick up a slice of pepperoni pizza.

"This is a real nice thing you're doing," Angela says, "I can't believe she offered to pay you."

"I know. I would have done it for free, but she insisted and I have no job," I say, "but I relate. I didn't grow up with a close girl group. Movies like Sisterhood of the Travelling pants made it seem like all girls should have a group of friends. It's just not realistic."

"It makes you feel lonely when you don't have that," Angela agrees, taking a seat at our island bench.

"Do you want some wine? I saw Rose stash a nice looking red," I smile at Angela.

"Oh yea," she nods eagerly, "work has been a bitch today. I need it."

"What patient drama did you have today?" I smile at her.

"A grandpa with like two cavities. He doesn't believe in my medical abilities but. He thinks I'm a government plant," she sighs.

I pour her wine and look at her incredulously.

"You're a dentist," I scoff, "you placing trackers on our teeth?"

"No. Your gums," she laughs, taking the glass from me.

"Hey babe," Rose waltzes into the kitchen wearing jeans and a red sweater.

Casually beautiful.

"You look pretty," Angela smiles at her, "I hate you when you wear red."

"You should see her waltz around in her towel," I say dryly, "makes me want to do crunches into oblivion."

"Stop it," Rosalie shakes her head at me, "I'm not the one with some fancy CEO wanting to bang me."

"Fuck you," I laugh at her, "he essentially knocked me down onto the street and was an ass about it."

"Isn't that how most romantic movies start? Guy bumps into girl," Angela smirks at me.

"Don't encourage her Ange," I shake my head.

"Every time I come in here it's as if I'm at a married couple's house. The way you both bicker is hilarious," Angela laughs.

"We're seeing someone about it," Rosalie teases, "the make up sex makes the fights worth it."

"Rosalie Hale," I huff out, "don't make me ask you to shut up for the 15th time today."

A knock at the door pulls me away from their giggling. With my glass of wine in hand I walk to it and pull it open. Alice awkwardly stands there, nervously tugging at her coat.

"Hey," I smile excitedly at her, "our bride is here."

Rosalie and Angela clap and whoop from behind me.

"Come in. Dinner is here," I say, "come meet your bridesmaids."

"You actually did it?" She steps into the doorway, shrugging her coat off.

I take it and hang it on the hook by the door.

"I can't thank you enough," she shakes her head, "I can't believe this."

"Alice," I smile at her warmly, "you deserve the best day in the world and I am going to make sure you get it."

With an emotional huff she steps into me, pulling me in for a hug. She's shorter than me, but her grip is deadly. I hug her back until I can feel my body struggle.

"Alice," I cough slightly.

"Sorry," she jumps back and lets me go, "this just means everything."

"Come on," I smile at her, "let's get you introduced."

Taking her hand in mine, I guide her into the kitchen, where Rosalie is already racing toward us with her arms out. She pulls Alice into a mammoth hug.

"Omg. You're here," Rosalie gasps out, "congratulations bride!"

Alice glances at me grinning like she has won Christmas.

"Alice, this is Rosalie," I laugh.

"It's such a pleasure," Alice smiles as Rose steps back.

"I'm Angela," Angela steps forward offering her a hand instead of a tackle, "you'll make a beautiful bride."

"Thank you," Alice gushes.

"Wine. Red or white?" Rosalie asks.

"Actually I don't drink. It's actually a dry wedding," she says.

We all stop, glance at her in a shocked silence. Rosalie's mouth opens and shuts slightly. Like she wants to be rude, but knows I'll kill her if she says something upsetting.

"Oh my god," Alice laughs, covering her mouth, "I'm sorry. I had to do that. I'm totally kidding. Red please."

"Shit," Rosalie laughs glancing at me, "I almost murdered my roommate. I need some bubbles in me at a wedding!"

"I like you," Angela laughs nudging Alice's arm playfully, "come tell us more about Jasper. How'd you meet? Do you have photos?"

Alice glances at me, impressed they know his name. Impressed that I remembered.

Stunned she follows the girls, taking a seat beside Rosalie as Angela fixes her a wine. I grab Alice a plate and motion for her to eat.

"He's my brother's buddy," Alice smiles, "he came to a 4th of July party last year and I kept flirting with him. At first, it was to bug my bro, but he was so cute it became less about that and more about me liking him. We ended up sleeping together. We reconnected a few months later while I was in New York. At first it was so awkward, but then we got past that. We kept dating and I fell head over heels."

"That's so cute. I'll need to go through it all with you," I say, "My speech will need to include all the details to be flawless. I'm sure I can make everyone cry."

"Here's a photo," Alice holds up her phone to show us her lock screen.

She stands in a bikini beside a shirtless, blonde man. He wears a cowboy hat while they stand on a tropical-looking beach. Alice kisses his cheek as he grins at the camera. His happiness is almost tangible. The love in his eyes is so distinct.

"Wow. He looks so in love," I smile, "you make a gorgeous couple."

"That was our anniversary this year," she says, "we've been together for a year. It seems quick but he's the one. I know it."

"So he's smart to know to lock you down," Rosalie grins, "woman you've hit the jackpot. Does he have single, smart friends?"

"A few actually. I'll hook you up at the wedding," Alice smiles at her.

"Bella. You've brought an angel into our lives," Rosalie gasps wrapping an arm around Alice's shoulder, "this is going to be so fun."

"Rosalie's a bit of a whore," I explain.

"You might think I'd take offence to that, but she's not wrong," Rose shrugs.

"Where's the other bridesmaid Rose?" I ask.

"She texted me saying she was in a cab," Rose glances at her phone.

There's a knock at the door. Rosalie jumps up excitedly.

"That's her," Rosalie claps.

Tanya Denali. That's who's bounding through the front door ahead of Rosalie, giggling and chatting away.

Let me begin by saying I don't hate her. I could never hate a person.

But seeing her was the last thing I had expected or hoped for.

Regardless I smile and hug her in welcoming. I introduce her to the bride, offer her pizza and laugh at her jokes.

Rosalie had invited 'the party'.

Here's hoping she hadn't made my job harder by doing it.


Thanks for reading!!