My mind was racing. I didn’t understand where Jade was coming from. All I knew was that my chest had gotten heavy, and I was starting to feel anxious.
I was alone at home, and I decided to take a bubble bath and calm my nerves.
We had a pre-wedding event later that day — all the bridesmaids were getting together to have our nails done, with Jade deciding on the colors and patterns.
I couldn’t wait to it all week because it meant some time-out for myself, and also — I enjoyed just chatting with the girls.
But after our phone call, I didn’t know whether I should go.
Had something happened between James and Jade?
My husband would never do that to me, especially with my best friend.
I made a decision to pluck up the courage and drove to the nail salon to meet the other bridesmaids. Everyone was sitting around, sipping on mimosas.
Jade wasn’t there.
“Where’s Jade?” I asked Whitney, her cousin, as I sat down.
“No clue,” she said, putting her phone away. “And how are you holding up, Evie?”
What does that mean? I thought to myself.
“I’m fine, why?” I replied.
“Well, I heard that James had been uninvited to the wedding,” Whitney said. “I didn’t know if you would still be a part of the party when you heard.”
“What?” I exploded. “Why? What did James do?”
Whitney turned toward me with wide eyes.
“You didn’t know?”
“Jade called me this morning and told me not to bring him, but I didn’t know what it was about. I was hoping to see her here and clarify it.”
“I’ll tell you what I know,” she said.
Apparently, behind my backs, Jade had been disparaging my husband, claiming that he was unsuitable for me. And that she didn’t want him there to ruin her perfect day.
“She said that James drinks a lot, too,” Whitney said. “Does he have a problem? Because Jade said that she didn’t want him to make a scene and embarrass everyone.”
I was floored. I was sh0cked what I had just heard. It made absolutely no sense to me. Jade was the one who had been a tipsy mess at the dinner, demanding that my husband go and sort out her cravings.
“I’m here!” Jade said, walking through the door of the nail salon.
I confronted her, demanding the truth amid the hurtful rumors that were clearly going around.
Jade denied it all and claimed that everything was a misunderstanding, but the damage was done. Despite her assurances, the trust between us had fractured.
That evening at home, James and I ate pizza on the couch and I told him everything that had happened.
“I don’t get it, love,” he said. “Jade has issues.”
I couldn’t disagree.
“Did anything happen?” I asked James, hoping that my husband would be open and honest with me.
“During the s’more incident, she said that she wished that her relationship with Matthew was more like ours. That’s it. I think she was embarrassed when she realized what she had said. That’s about it.”
All of this just because of a drunken thought?
I was absolutely puzzled.
In the end, I went to Jade’s wedding by myself — it was a decision that weighed heavily on me. But James had encouraged me to do it.
“I know you’re hurt,” he said. “But you should go. At least go for the years of friendship that you guys shared. It’s important, Evie.”
I wore one of my own dresses, discarding the role of bridesmaid. Jade knew exactly what she had done. She should be grateful that I was at her wedding at all.
“Besides, your entire family is invited,” James said. “Go and gossip about people’s outfits with your gran.”
It was a beautiful ceremony, and although our friendship was on a steady decline, I was glad that Jade had found her person. Even if she wanted him to be a bit more like my husband.
Reflecting on the situation, I’m left trying to understand the dynamics of friendship and the pain of feeling betrayed by someone you thought knew you better than anyone else.
After the wedding, James picked me up and we went for ice cream and waffles.
“Are you glad you went?” he asked me.
“I’m glad it’s over,” I said.
Even now, I’m not sure if I was referring to the wedding or our friendship.
