It was saturday, and Massie had exactly seven days to make amends with the people on this list before her party. If anyone was more stressed about her wedding, it was her mother. What the fuck? Shouldn't Massie be the one worrying? Ugh, whatever. It shouldn't be hard, considering everyone on that list had been her best friend at some point in time. The last one on the list, though, was Derrick. She'd most definitely leave that one for last.
Standing up from her vanity where she had finished applying her normal routine of full coverage foundation, a warm bronzer and a coat of Chanel matte lipstick in deep red Luxuriant along with her le volume de Chanel mascara. Massie walked to her mirror, triple checking her chosen outfit once more to make sure it wasn't too much. Her grey MIUMIU off the shoulder sweater with white Seven Brand skinny jeans and black Tory Burch wedges was a good balance between mall casual and sushi date night, and her Chloe small faye backpack in black and gold brought the wedges into the outfit further.
She shook out her hair, still in waves from when she curled it the night before, and took a look at her face in the long mirror. She was happy, really. Massie had everything a girl could want, but something felt empty inside of her. Was the egg white and spinach omelette Inez made her not satisfying? No, that wasn't it. Maybe it was the loneliness she felt on the inside because she wasn't fully sure her friends actually wanted to see her? Yep, that was probably it.
Tristan was at work today with her father, doing what they do. Balancing accounts, hedge funds, business lunches. She'd much rather be in the office than here right now, but she didn't have that luxury. Her family thought it was better this way, Tristan doing the hard work and if she needed to, she could assist. She did have her bachelors in business administration, but that didn't mean she wanted to use it yet. The family agreed her only job for now was the wedding, and this was part of it.
Gathering the rest of her belongings into her purse, Massie shuffled down the plush white-lined stairs towards the front door, then out the driveway to where her black audi r8 was waiting for her. Isaac already started it for her, and her seat was already being warmed up. The spring air was brisk still, and she momentarily debated going back inside for her coat before ignoring the thought and pulling out of the long stretch of driveway.
"Hola!" Alicia's voice came ringing through the car's stereo system, as Massie made a quick left turn. "Are you on your way?" Her voice echoed, and Massie could hear a little bit of movement on the other line.
"That depends, are you?" The amber-eyed beauty asked accusingly, thinking the noise on the other line sounded a lot like Josh.
"Welllllll, I'm leaving in a minute! Come on, you know you live further away from Espresso Expresso than I do!" She could hear the pout in Alicia's voice.
"Yeah yeah yeah, Leesh. I'm about four minutes away," the alpha warned and heard a giggle come out of Alicia's mouth.
"Leaving now!" Massie heard the door slam on the other line, then the line went dead.
Rolling her eyes again, Massie turned up her radio to the new Chainsmokers song as her mind went a mile a minute.
"I'm from the east side of America, where we choose pride over character, and we can pick sides, but this is us, this is us, this is,"
The lyrics rang through her ears, and she mulled them over. It was true, from her end. Massie's past decisions always came from choosing her own pride over her character, even when it made her look bad. She would rather be right than be nice, which may explain why she has no one but her Pretty Committee (did the name explain it, as well?) for her wedding party. She was rattled by her thoughts when she came up to the street the small town cafe was on, and parked as soon as she found an open spot.
"Eh Ma Gawd!" Alicia yelled, running to meet Massie as Massie climbed out of her car. Tight hugs, air kisses, and giggling erupted between the two of them as they made their way inside the cafe. There may have been tears shed on both sides as well, but the alpha and beta both know better than to share those details with anyone else. Still, Westchester is as cut throat as it was when Massie left.
After ordering their lattes, they perched on a seat in the window where they had ample viewing of the entire shop. The girls saw familiar faces, pretended not to see some other familiar faces, and shared all about their lives since the last time they saw each other. Massie was relieved at how easy it is to talk to her Beta, but knew it wouldn't be this easy with all the other girls.
"Mass, you're the first one I'm telling. Josh doesn't even know," Alicia spoke softly, her voice going down about four notches. Being the local news broadcaster, everyone knew Alicia, and so everyone was always trying to find out her business.
Massie's eyes lit up at this.
"You're pregnant, aren't you?" The alpha whispered back, studying her friend's face.
"Eh ma god, can you tell?! Am I showing?!" Alicia squealed softly, throwing her hands over her stomach as quickly as the words came out of her mouth. The alpha shook her head no, with a grin over her lips.
"No, but when you lead into it like that, it could only be so many things." Massie explained, sitting back in her seat. Alicia nodded her head, raised a finger to represent 'point!', and looked down at her latte, then back up at her alpha. "I didn't tell Josh yet, mainly because I don't really...know how to? We said not for another two years, but when I was late, I knew something was up." The raven-haired beauty explained, playing with the sleeve on her hot drink.
Massie pursed her lips. She wished her life was this easy. Marrying her high school sweetheart, being supported by said sweetheart, closing on a house six months after the wedding. Being able to have the picture perfect relationship, not have to start over with someone new. Not having to ever be alone because your husband is involved in things that don't involve you. She shook her head to rid herself of these thoughts, and looked at her best friend.
"What do you need me to do?" Massie asked Alicia, looking at her and seeing how confused and complicated Alicia's face looked. She seemed like she hadn't a clue what to do, like she was lost. It's okay though, because in this crazy world, Massie was just as lost.
"I need you to help me through this. I need to tell him, but I need to make sure it's happening from a doctor, and make sure I'm not gonna lose this." She spoke softly, gesturing to her stomach. "I know how easy it is to lose, Mass." The tone in her voice made Massie think she had some personal experience with that, but she wasn't going to push her to talk about that right now.
"I can make you an appointment with my obgyn, so Josh doesn't suspect anything. I'll go with you, and hold your hand through it all." This Massie promised, knowing Alicia would do the same for her, even though they hadn't spoken in ages.
And just like that, one bridge was rescued and amended. Not that it really needed to be, because Alicia at the end of the day would always be on Massie's side. The other girls, not so much. Massie valued them because they needed her, but it seems like between their new careers and new lives, they aren't the insecure little girls they were in high school.
"The only thing I will ask from you, is you help me mend things with the girls before Friday when my parents throw this lavish party. I need to make sure everyone is on good terms, and doesn't ruin this." The alpha retorted in her levelled, leaderlike voice she hadn't used in years. Alicia nodded her head in agreement and a silent promise, before sipping her latte.
"Who's first?" she asked, a raised eyebrow indicating that she's ready to play too.
No matter what, a Beta always has their Alpha's back.