Cure To Her Heart

4- Rip the Band-aid

Skylar

“Finally! Where have you been!?” Bethari exclaims as soon as Raph and I walk into the living room.

“We come bearing gifts.” I joke, raising my hands to reveal the take-away bags.

“Sushi!” Nour yells, running to me and snatching the bags from my hands.

I raise my head and laugh at my ravenous little cousin.

“Hey, bring the bags back. Those are not for you.”

Nour gasps and glares at me.

“You got me a yellow dress for the wedding. No sushi for you.” I smirk.

“Jeez! It was just a joke. I got you the best dress ever.” Nour reply while stuffing her face with maki rolls.

I glance at the girls in the room and see all my cousins and most of our close friends. Good, At least I will not have this painful discussion multiple times… There is a silver lining after all.

Yep, I am being bitter and sarcastic…

I feel eyes burning holes in my skull and twist my head to the right. My eyes land on Nathalie, Bethari’s future sister-in-law, who is glaring at me.

“You went to your job interview dressed like that?” she says, disdain in her voice.

In what do my clothing choices concern this b***h!

I clench my fists tightly, a futile attempt to reign my rage.

“None of your business, Nathalie.” I reply, my eyes blazing murderously.

There is no lost love between us. She never liked me, and the feeling is mutual. Ever since Erik proposed, she has stuck her nose in every single wedding organization detail. She even fought with Bethari to impose her ideas and tried to manipulate her brother to side with her. As Bethari’s maid of honor and sister-in-crime, it has been my duty and my pleasure, to dismiss and reject every single idea she proposed.

Rafael softly squeezes my shoulder, as if sensing my discomfort.

“Are you OK, sis?” Bethari asks me, a scowl adorning her beautiful face.

Shit! She is on me already.

I open my mouth and close it repeatedly. A lump in my throat makes it impossible for me to reply.

“I bet she did not get the job. Not surprising, though… She did not go to a top university and her grades are sub-par.” Nathalie says smugly.

It takes everything in me not to throat-punch her!

“Quelle peste!” Nour grumbles in French.

“Nathalie, get off my maid of honor’s back.” Bethari huffs.

“A maid of honor who missed the first bridesmaids’ fitting.” Nathalie hisses. “If you ask me, you should replace her but someone else. You have so many friends and cousins who are not part of the wedding party.” She adds, gesturing with her hand to the girls gathered in the room.

I want to ask her whose fault is it that most of Bethari’s friends are not in the wedding party. Oh right, it is because of you, b***h! She convinced her brother and mother that three bridesmaids and three groomsmen are enough. Sure, Bethari was not planning to have all nine of us, friends, and cousins, in the wedding party but three bridesmaids knowing that two of them “had to be” Erik’s cousin and sister…

I honestly don’t know how Bethari can stand Erik’s family… If I were in her shoes, I would have broken off the engagement a long time ago. But I am not in her shoes… and given my recent diagnosis, a relationship is not in the cards for me.

I look around me and smile at the tight-knit group of nine friends and cousins who are openly glaring at Nathalie.

“Unlike you, Nathalie, Sky has been working for two years and has an extensive portfolio of successful projects under her belt.” Emma, my friend, says.

“Working for Rafael, her cousin… Nepotism does not count.” She replies dismissively.

Nepotism? Says the spoiled brat who went to university just to nail a rich boyfriend!

“Nathalie.” Anne, her cousin, scolds her.

“Let’s stop discussing my career and focus on Bethari’s wedding planning. How was the dress fitting?” I say, steering the conversation to safer grounds.

The girls grin and they all start talking at the same time, describing all the dresses they saw and debating on which ones we should choose.

I feel guilty for missing out on this important outing. Everyone attended this fitting session except me! Whom am I kidding? I feel guilty for the shattering news I am about to lay on them all!

“You are a good sis, Sky. Nathalie has … well, Nathalie is just being Nathalie.” Bethari says, apologetically.

“But she is a b***h, and she should be dealt with.” Rafael grumbles to Bethari and me as he gives me a side hug.

“Look at the dresses.” Anya proposes as she projects on TV the photos they took during their bridal shopping.

I exhale a deep sigh of relief… Bethari deserves a drama-free night with her besties. And this is exactly what we do for the next hour, right until Raph nods at me and stands up.

“Nathalie, Anne, do you want to meet Brad Ryan?”

“Brad Ryannn!” They both shriek.

Brad Ryan? My cousin brought the big guns!

Raph glances at me and winks. I smile at him and shake my head. Brad is my cousin’s best friend and a very popular… and sexy rock star.

“When can we meet him?” Nathalie and Anne ask as they jump to their feet.

“He is in town and will agreed to meet up at my place in ten minutes. Want to join us for a drink?”

“Yes!” they both say.

Raph grabs their elbows and drags them out, not before giving me a tell-the-girls-everything look.

I smile at him, and mouth thank you before turning to face my friends and my cousins, still chatting about the wedding.

I feel someone gripping my hands tight. I look up and see Bethari sitting on her haunches in front of me. Her eyes filled with apprehension.

“What is wrong?” she asks me.

I smile at her, but the smile does not fool her.

“Skylar?” she insists.

“Girls.” I try to grab everyone’s attention, but the chatter still fills the room. “Girls, I need to tell you something.”

“Shut up!” Bethari yells, and everyone pipes down. She winks at me, and I roll my eyes at her.

“I need you to stay calm and not panic.” I tell everyone.

They all look at me, concern and worries already plastered on their faces.

I take a deep breath.

“I have breast cancer.”