“Y’all just got engaged just over two weeks ago for Christ sakes!” Ari said shaking her head.
Brad had asked Amanda to marry him on Thanksgiving right in front of his whole family. She of course said yes and they immediately started planning a Valentine’s Day wedding. Classes were out for the semester and I finally felt like I could relax. When Amanda called and asked if we could go check out the Driskill Hotel we jumped at the chance to go and do something different.
Jeff was with Brad helping him fix something on his father’s boat and Gunner was planning on meeting his cousin Shannon’s fiancé James, who was flying in a day earlier than Shannon to catch up with Gunner. I guess Shannon and James were high school sweethearts and he went out to the ranch often. Gunner had not seen either of them in a few years. They were getting married that weekend.
“Okay ladies. So here is the drill. We’re going to look at two different ball rooms. I’m trying to keep this small but I have a feeling Brad’s mother is going to give me an invite list a mile long. So keep that in mind. I’m thinking no more than three hundred people.
“THREE HUNDRED PEOPLE!” Ari and I both said at the same time with equal amount of shock in our voices.
“I know…. . I would like to keep it at one hundred fifty and that’s my goal but not sure the future monster in law feels the same way. So just keep reminding me that while we’re looking. You’re my bridesmaids…. . this is your job. ”
I had to giggle because Amanda was the type of girl who would have just ran off to Vegas to get married but Brad’s mother…. . she was something else. It shouldn’t take her long to figure out that Amanda was not going to put up with her shit.
We toured a few different banquet halls and I knew Ari was just as bored as I was. I was in charge of note taking and I swear to god if Amanda says “Did you write that down Ellie?” one more fucking time to me I am going to jam the notebook up her ass!
ARGH, the dude giving us the tour was a stick in the mud. . …. he was an older gentleman and he just kept talking about servers, bartenders, chairs, linens, votive candles, china, silverware, flutes, dance floors…. OH MY GOD! I couldn’t take it anymore! Ari had walked ahead and was peaking in the doors to the kitchen.
We walked over and he was talking about catering …. .
“Ellie, did you get that written down?” I just looked at her.
“Yes. Yes I did……” I said with a forced smile.
I saw Ari walking up to another door that led to the hotel rooms, that is what I wanted to see! I heard they were super romantic and Brad was planning on staying the night at the hotel before they flew out to Barbados. Just then I heard Ari suck in a deep breath of air.
“Holy fucking mother of all good, oh fucking shit. ”
Our tour guide instantly stopped talking and looked at Ari. Amanda gave her a dirty look and I tried to hide my giggle. Ari walked up to me and grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the door to the hallway.
“Thanks that was the most excitement I’ve had all damn day!”
“I thought you said Gunner was with his cousin’s fiancé today. ” Ari said as she kept looking back at the door that lead down to the rooms.
“He is. ”
“Yeah, I don’t think so…. . ” She pulled me up and made me duck down and told me to look through the window.
Gunner? He was standing at one of the room doors. Just then the door opened and I heard a girl shriek. She instantly jumped into Gunner’s arms and wrapped her legs around his waist.
Oh. My. God. This was not happening…. . no…….
She looked so happy to see him and he looked so happy to see her. Then she kissed him. Not a deep kiss but a quick kiss on the lips. Then he walked her into the room and they shut the door.
I collapsed to the ground. That mother fucker was cheating on me. I was about to cry…. I looked up at Ari who grabbed my arm and pulled me up to my feet.
“Oh no you don’t…. not here…. let’s go. AMANDA! Code blue……NOW!”
Amanda spun around and looked at me and then looked at Ari.
“WHAT!!!!” she turned and apologized to our tour guy. “I’ll be back in touch with you but I loved everything! Thank you!” Amanda called out as she was running to catch up with us.
She finally caught up to Ari as we made it to the lobby and Ari sat me down in a chair. I looked up at them both.
“Go” they both said at the same time.
I lost it…. I had never cried so hard in my life. I was rocking back and forth and all I could hear was my mother……You will never be wanted by anyone……. I threw my hands over my ears. She needed to get the fuck out of my head! I wanted to scream…. . it was Bryce and Ryan all over again…. .
“I knew it…. I told you Ari…I told you that I had a feeling something was going on! I TOLD YOU! He has probably been trying to figure out a way to get rid of me. Even Emma and Garrett were acting strange over Thanksgiving! He probably told them he was going to be breaking up with me!”