I didn’t know the doubts that plagued Jessica’s mind the day of her wedding. The whole time she was planning her wedding, she seemed happy… but I guess people like her hide the truth until it just explodes.

Everything looked perfect on her wedding day, every detail planned down to the last pearl clip and dessert spoon. But no one knew it had become a source of anxiety. Was she really ready for this? What if someone sat in the wrong seat? What if something went wrong? What if…

A soft knock at the door interrupted her spiral.

“I’m coming in!” her maid of honor and best friend, Catherine, called, slipping into the room with a bright smile. “I bring mimosas!”

And of course, I wasn’t invited, but the second I heard mimosas, I knew I had to make my way in.

From down the hallway, I heard Jessica sigh. “I can’t start drinking this early! I’ll look all drunk in the pictures!”

Catherine rolled her eyes, completely unfazed. “It’s just one, girl. Plus, look at you, you’re all stiff. Loosen up! It’s your wedding day!”

“I just want everything to go well,” Jessica admitted, her voice heavy under the weight of her own expectations.

This wasn’t the moment to butt in, so I snuck into the corner of the room like a fly, hoping not to be swatted away.

Catherine set a hand on her hip. “Are you kidding me? You’ve planned every single detail. No one can even have a single strand of hair out of place because you’ve got it all covered. Ni se pueden tirar un pedo sin que lo tengas anotado.” She laughed, trying to break the tension.

Jessica managed a small smile, but her nerves flared again as she whispered, “I really think she’s coming…”

“Who?” Catherine asked, raising a brow. “Your other annoying cousin, the one you don’t like?”

“Don’t say it like that!” Jessica snapped, smacking her friend’s arm. Then she glanced at me. “Marisol’s fine.”

I rolled my eyes and took the drink Catherine had brought for her. I couldn’t say anything, not without setting something off, so I just waited to see who she was talking about.

Catherine took the glass back and handed it to Jessica instead.

“What? It’s true. You don’t talk about her often, but when you do, it’s never nice. You’ve always made her sound like your nemesis.”

Jessica shook her head, trying to explain. “No, it’s just… she stirs up drama every time there’s a family event. There’s a reason my mom practically begged me to invite her precious niece. I don’t want her, or her ‘boyfriend’, at my wedding. This is my day, and she’s going to turn it into another episode of her telenovela.”

That’s when I knew exactly who she meant: Christina.

Catherine laughed. “Okay, okay, I see you’re spiraling. If she shows up, then she shows up. What’s the worst that could happen? She has fun. I’m telling you; I’m not letting her ruin anything.”

“I know, Catherine. But this is more than what you can handle. Every time she shows up, it’s a bomb waiting to go off.”

Catherine cocked her head, intrigued. “Girl, what’s the story? You always mention them together, but never spill the full tea.”

Jessica hesitated, then sighed. “Arturo’s not just some guy. His parents and mine have known each other since they were teenagers. That’s why they’re here today, but I’ve never actually met him. He was born in Mexico, and my parents never took me on the trips there. I’ve only heard the rumors… about him and Christina. Their ‘affair,’ their wild rendezvous. It’s embarrassing.”

My mouth was this close to opening, to chime in with what I’d heard, but Jessica shot me a look that shut me right up.

Catherine, now fully hooked, leaned in. “Wait, but how does your cousin even know Arturo? Isn’t he in Mexico? And your whole family’s from El Salvador—?”

Jessica took a deep breath. She didn’t want to breathe life into our cousin’s drama. She reluctantly chugged her drink and muttered, “Our parents are siblings, and both families have been close forever. So they basically grew up together. But they’ve always had this toxic thing, at least, that’s what I’ve heard. I just don’t want my wedding to become another chapter in her ridiculous soap opera.”

Catherine, ever the ride-or-die best friend, picked up on her discomfort immediately. “Look, nothing’s going to happen. And if it does, I’ll drag her to the bathroom and have a nice little chat.” She winked. “But today is your day. Relax. You’re marrying Greg, the guy of your dreams. You’ve got your family here, your friends, your brothers, me… and… oh yeah, David.”

As if summoned by her words, the door flew open with a single loud knock.

“Speak of the devil,” Catherine quipped.

David strode into the room, grinning. “Aw, come on, Catherine, pretend like you like me. It’s a wedding!” He winked at me as he started ushering her out, and she pulled me along, knowing damn well Jessica didn’t want me in the same room with David.

“Hey, behave yourself with the bridesmaids, alright? It’s not Jerry Springer, it’s a wedding,” Catherine teased, before finally slipping out. “And I’m taking this one with me.”