Page 21 of Shared By my Ex's Best Friends
But I didn’t. Because I stop breathing for a second.
“Thank you,” she says quietly. Sincerely.
I glance at her, heart skipping a beat that has nothing to do with wedding prep and everything to do with her.
For just a second, I forget we’re drowning in Danielle’s drama. I forget we’re surrounded by crumpled printouts, spreadsheets, and cold coffee. It doesn’t feel like a wedding war room anymore. It feels like… something else.
I clear my throat and look back at the board, needing something solid to latch onto before I start thinking with anything other than logic again.
“Alright,” I say. “Let’s wrangle some romance.”
Chapter nine
MAYA
The day’s barely started, and chaos has already claimed the venue like a wildfire. The lobby is buzzing with early arrivals and catering staff rushing about, but personally, I’m freaking out.
I’m gripping the phone, my knuckles white as the coordinator’s voice trembles on the other end. Then she drops the bomb.
“I’m so sorry, but there’s been a mistake. The venue’s been double-booked. Your wedding and another event are scheduled for the same day.”
“How are we only now hearing about this?” I demand. “The wedding is just a few days away!”
“I’m really sorry,” the woman replies. “This has never happened before, but it seems there was a glitch in the system and oneof the events didn’t appear on the calendar when the other was scheduled. We only just realized the mistake.”
My heart sinks. Danielle’s standing beside me, clutching her designer tote like it’s a lifeline. Her voice cracks, high and fragile. “This can’t be happening. Not now. Not after all the months of planning.”
I squeeze her arm gently, forcing calm into my own voice, though inside I’m scrambling for solutions. “Hey, breathe. We’re going to fix this. I promise.”
Before panic can take over, Jake appears beside me, that cocky grin already in place. He, Ethan, and Liam have been ever-present with Danielle and I as we prepare the venue. “Let me talk to them,” he says quietly, confident.
I arch an eyebrow. “You? What exactly do you plan to do?”
He shrugs with the ease of someone who’s done this kind of thing before. “Negotiation. Charm and chaos. I’m a master of both.”
I’m not sure if that’s reassuring or terrifying, but with Danielle nearly hyperventilating, I’m willing to try anything. “Fine. I’ll back you up.”
The coordinator’s office is tiny and cluttered—stacks of paperwork threaten to topple over, and the stale scent of old coffee lingers in the air. The phone rings constantly, andsomewhere beyond the thin walls, I hear the faint whirr of a blender from the catering prep.
Jake leans forward, flashing that disarming smile, his voice smooth as silk. “Look, we know it’s a mess, but this day means everything to Danielle. Help us make it right.”
I step in, putting on my best calm and friendly face. “We’re willing to work with you, but we need a solution. Something that keeps everyone happy.”
The coordinator swallows hard, overwhelmed but clearly searching for a way out. As she rummages through a drawer overflowing with half-labeled folders and stained Post-its, Jake and I both reach for the same form lying on the cluttered desk.
Our hands brush.
It’s brief—barely a second—but electricity zips up my arm like I grabbed a live wire. I glance at him reflexively, and he’s already watching me with that damned twinkle in his green eyes. He winks.
I scoff and roll my eyes, trying to play it cool, but my cheeks betray me. Heat rushes under my skin, warm and impossible to ignore. Not now, brain. Not here.
Danielle’s hanging by a thread, the coordinator’s about to combust, and I’m one bad decision away from losing control of the whole weekend. I focus on the form like it might save me from myself.
“So,” Jake says smoothly, turning back to the frazzled coordinator like he didn’t just short-circuit my brain, “I think what we’re all realizing here is that you’ve got a real opportunity to be the hero of this story.”
She blinks at him. “I—what?”
He leans in slightly, voice dropping enough to make it feel like a secret. “Two bridal parties. One venue. Sounds like the start of a horror movie, right? But imagine… one happy bride, one glowing review on your business site, and no Yelp rants about flaming macarons or emotional breakdowns in the tasting room.”
