chapter 1: champagne and chaos

TIANAH POV

I should be happy. I should be giddy, overwhelmed with excitement, basking in the glow of my upcoming wedding.

Instead, I'm gripping a wine glass a little too tightly, watching my bridesmaids bicker like a bunch of schoolgirls over the most ridiculous thing—colors.

"Pink and gold is elegant," Blair insists, flipping her sleek black hair over her shoulder. She's perched on the edge of my couch, her legs crossed, nails tapping against her phone screen like she has better places to be.

Serena rolls her eyes. "Pink and gold? Come on, Blair. That's so overdone. We should do something more unique, like emerald and champagne."

"Oh please," Kaylor scoffs, tossing a handful of popcorn into her mouth. "Emerald screams Christmas. This is a bridal shower, not a holiday party."

I press my fingers against my temple, sighing. "Guys—"

"Okay, but gold goes with everything," Blair cuts in, ignoring me completely. "It's timeless. Unlike green."

Serena's face twists in frustration. "Tacky gold is not timeless."

"Tacky? So now I have bad taste?"

"Ladies," Leah interjects, her voice carrying a rare edge. "We could sit here all day and argue, or we could—oh, I don't know—ask Tianah what she wants?"

All four pairs of eyes turn to me. I take a slow sip of wine and set my glass down before I say something I regret

"Thank you, Leah." I exhale, straightening my posture. "Honestly, I don't care what colors we pick as long as it looks beautiful and we don't kill each other before the wedding."

A tense silence lingers before Kaylor bursts out laughing. "Okay, fair. But seriously, Serena, emerald?

"Whatever." Serena crosses her arms. "Tianah should get the final say."

Before I can respond, Leah's phone buzzes. She glances down and smirks. "Oliver just texted. Wants to know if we're still alive."

I roll my eyes. "Tell him barely."

They all laugh, but beneath the laughter, I feel it—that undercurrent of something deeper. The tension between Blair and Serena is so intense, something happened a year ago that caused strain to their friendship. I've had a lot to drink, so I'm probably overthinking things. Or maybe it's the stress. I take notice of how Serena avoids my eyes, how Leah stays too neutral, how Blair and Kaylor bicker over the smallest things.

Or maybe… it's something else entirely.

"Fine," I say finally. "Let's go with champagne and gold."

Serena's jaw tightens, but she nods. Blair smirks, victorious. Kaylor shrugs. Leah looks relieved. Just like that, the war is over.

I take another sip of my wine, determined to steer the conversation somewhere less volatile. "Work's been busy for everyone, I'm guessing?"

Blair exhales. "Busy isn't even the word. I'm drowning. Running a boutique sounded glamorous in theory—designing, dressing influencers, going to events. But in reality? It's dealing with suppliers who ghost you, manufacturers who send the wrong fabrics, and customers who think 'handmade' means 'Amazon Prime shipping.'"

Serena tilts her head. "Welcome to business. Creativity gets you in the door, but logistics keep you in the game."

Blair raises an eyebrow. "Are you agreeing with me?"

"Shocking, I know," Serena says dryly. "But I get it. In finance, I deal with the same unpredictability. Markets fluctuate, clients panic, and one bad decision can ruin everything. The stress is insane.

Leah leans forward. "Doesn't it get exhausting, always having to keep up?"

Serena shrugs. "It does. But the challenge keeps me sharp. It's the only reason I haven't quit yet."

Blair smirks. "Well, at least you have job security. Unlike Kaylor, who's just out here making money by being pretty."

Kaylor laughs, unfazed. "Hey, pretty pays. And before you start, yes, I know influencing isn't a 'real job' to some of you, but the checks are real enough. Brands throw money at me to market their products. I'd be stupid not to take advantage of it."

Serena nods. "Fair. But do you ever think about what happens when this phase ends? Social media moves fast."

Kaylor waves a hand. "That's why I'm branching out. I'm launching a skincare line. Using my platform while I have it."

Blair looks genuinely impressed. "That's actually smart."

Leah nods. "If you're thinking long-term, you're ahead of most people."

Kaylor smirks. "I know. I let people think I'm just a pretty face, but trust me, there's a plan."

Boyfriends and Tension

Leah's words linger, and the shift in the conversation is almost natural when Blair, always the instigator, grins. "Speaking of plans, let's talk relationships. How are everyone's boyfriends treating them?"

Kaylor immediately perks up. "Daniel's great."

Serena raises an eyebrow. "Still unemployed?"

Kaylor folds her arms. "He's between jobs. It happens. He's trying, and I believe in him."

Blair snorts. "Of course you do, he must really be good in bed seeing you're keeping an unemployed man as your boyfriend for so long".

Kaylor narrows her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Blair shrugs. "Just that love doesn't pay bills."

Kaylor's jaw tightens. "Daniel will find something. And unlike some people, I don't measure love by paychecks.

The air shifts slightly, but Leah clears her throat. "Well, for me… I'm seeing someone, but I'm not sure where it's going. I don't even know if he wants something serious."

Blair leans in. "You? Uncertain? That's new."

Leah sighs. "It's just… complicated."

The room falls silent for a moment until Blair turns to Serena, smirking. "And what about you? Oh wait, you're still single."

Serena's expression remains neutral, but there's something unreadable in her eyes.

Blair, never one to leave well enough alone, tilts her head. "I mean, I guess it's better that way. At least until you find someone new to steal."

The words hang in the air like a slap. Serena visibly stiffens, sucking in a sharp breath.

The room goes still.

Kaylor stops chewing. Leah's lips part slightly as if debating whether to step in. I stare at Serena, watching as she schools her expression, but I see it—the flicker of pain.

"That was unnecessary," Leah finally says, her voice quiet but firm.

Blair shrugs. "Was it? I just think it's interesting how Serena never seems to keep a boyfriend, but she's always great at taking someone else's."

Serena's knuckles whiten where she grips her glass, but she says nothing. Just inhales slowly. Composes herself.

"Wow," Kaylor mutters, looking between them. "So we're doing this?"

"No," Serena finally speaks, her voice steady but cold. "We're not."

Blair smirks, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes.

The tension is suffocating, thick with unsaid words.

Leah exhales. "Well. That got awkward fast."

I clear my throat. "Yeah. Let's, um, talk about something else, it's my bridal shower so you guys should please get along for my sake".

Kaylor lifts her wine glass. "To Tianah and Oliver. May your wedding be less dramatic than this conversation."

They all burst out laughing.

The moment of levity fades when Serena turns to me with a knowing look. "Alright, we've covered business. Now, let's talk about you, how are you and Oliver taking the whole marriage preparation?"

I take a measured breath. "He's good."

Serena isn't satisfied. "That's vague."

"He's busy," I elaborate. "Between work, wedding planning, and making sure I don't spiral into stress-induced madness, he's got a full plate."

"Do you feel like you have a full plate?" she asks, voice careful.

I hesitate. "I mean, sure. Weddings are stressful."

Serena watches me, her expression unreadable. "You sure it's just wedding stress?"

I force a smile. "What else would it be?"

She doesn't answer right away, but the way she looks at me—like she sees through me—makes my skin prickle.

Blair, sensing the tension, jumps in. "Marriage jitters are normal. It's a huge commitment. You're allowed to feel overwhelmed.

Kaylor nods. "Yeah, but if you're having second thoughts, now's the time to be honest with yourself."

Leah speaks up, voice softer. "We just want to make sure you're happy, Tianah, even though you're getting married to my brother you're my friend so I definitely want you to be happy."

I swallow, setting my glass down. "I am happy."

A beat of silence. Then Serena leans back, crossing her arms. "Alright. If you say so."

But the look in her eyes tells me she doesn't believe me.

And the worst part?

I don't know if I do either.