***
“Slow down, Briana.” Tanesha looked confused as she sat up on Ty’s bed on Sunday morning. “Are you pregnant or something?”
“No, I’m not.” Briana laughed.
“So what happened to waiting till after college to have your wedding? I thought you decided to wait like your dad suggested.”
“Well, we’ve decided not to wait anymore. Are you at Ty’s?” Briana sounded like she was driving.
“Yes.”
“I’m on my way there. As my maid of honour, you’re going to help me choose what to wear.”
“Oh my God, you want me to…” Tanesha’s breath hitched in her throat.
“Who else is sexy enough to be my maid of honour? Helloooo?”
Tanesha giggled, and then went quiet suddenly. “But I’m pregnant, Bri.”
“And yet you still have the hottest body. When are you going to start showing by the way Tanesha? ‘Cause that flat tummy of yours… Sure you’re pregnant?”
“The doctor said something about it being because it was my first and all. She said I’ll probably remain this way till after my third month. Which is just next week anyway.” She sighed. “I feel heavy though.”
“Ow come on Tanesha, you’re not even eating much. How can you possibly feel… Oh, before I forget, I need your help, Tan.”
“You mean besides my having to be your maid?”
“Very funny. Listen, you know I’m on break. All my close pals are already away on vacation. I need to find three bridesmaids to pair up with our man-loving trio, Kyle, Chris and Damon. Cole’s kid brother is going to be the best man and your partner. We therefore need three hot chics. You have to help me, girl.”
“Oh…”
“You guys will be breaking on Wednesday right? Meaning your friends are still around. That crazy friend of yours…Catherine? I met you two the other…”
“Caroline.” Tanesha began to smile. She knew Caroline would love to have some fun.
“Caroline, yes.” Briana gushed. “I liked her. Don’t you have other close friends?”
“I do actually.” Tanesha laughed, thinking of her other best friend. “Queenie will be pissed if I asked Caroline and not her. This way, I don’t get murdered by either of them. I’ll talk to them.”
“We need a third person, Tanesha.”
“How about Thea?”
“Perfect. You’re a lifesaver, darling. Well, better find something to eat before I get there because when I do, it’s going to be all work. See ya.” Briana hung up.
Tanesha groaned when her phone began to ring again immediately. But her groan turned into a grin when she realized it was Kayla. “Hey, sexy Mama.” She laughed. It was always great to talk to Kayla.
“Hello, chica. How are you doing?” Kayla laughed.
“I’m great. How’s Raby?”
“Getting naughtier and naughtier by the day.” Kayla groaned, drawing laughter from Tanesha.
“What did you expect? She’s Dean’s daughter.”
“I know right.” Kayla chuckled. “Heard the news?”
“If it’s Briana’s wedding, then yes. She just called to tell me she wants me to be her maid of honour.”
“Probably said something about wanting your sexy self beside her huh? The traitor!” Kayla hissed, making Tanesha laugh. “Anyway, we have to make it real good. That’s the only way we can make her dad less angry. Apparently, the family has been planning her white wedding since she was a kid so…”
“Really?” Tanesha gushed. “I didn’t know Briana wanted a white wedding too. That’s always been my dream.”
“Well, you have to wait your turn chica. Now, we have to make sure we do exactly what Briana wants because that would be what her parents would accept. We’ve shared the planning amongst ourselves. Because of your condition, I don’t want you to stress yourself. Your only job is to make sure that whatever style of dress Briana chooses is on point.”
“Kayla, I’m not sick, you know.” Tanesha chuckled. “I can do more.”
“You’re pregnant, Tanesha. I remember how easily I used to get tired when I was at your stage. Besides, school is still in session so you don’t have the time.”
Why all the fuss over her condition, Tanesha sighed. What would they do if they knew she was carrying twins then? They would probably have kept her out of the whole wedding. She was happy she’d decided to keep the part about being pregnant with twins to herself.
“Alright, Kayla. I’ll help Briana choose a wedding gown that will knock everyone’s socks off.”
“Great. Oh and Tanesha?”
“Yes, Kayla.”
“Wedding is on Saturday. We have just a week.”
“What?” Tanesha screeched but heard only the dialing tone. Kayla had hung up.
Tanesha stared at her phone in shock. What was going on? Why the rush? Were those people for real? Were they only pulling her legs? She began to dial Cole’s number.
***
“He obviously doesn’t know shit,” Ty muttered as he watched Senator Jim Mathieson’s confused face in the interrogation room, through the one-way mirror. The senator had been there for the past three hours, undergoing intense interrogation. “I suggest we do a quick polygraph just to be double sure.”
“I think so too.” Karen Hart, the Deputy Director of the FBI who stood beside Ty responded with a sigh. She’d aged more than her fifty years, overnight. It definitely wasn’t an easy feat, questioning a United States Senator about the possibility of him being a financier for a notorious group such as ZONKAI. “Let’s get this over and done with.” She said as she signaled another agent. “Set it up.”
Ty sat down and reached for his bottle of water. He’d been back to base for the past two days. His colleagues had already gone home but as the leader of the crew, he had to wait around till the FBI completed their job, of which the most important was interrogating the Senator whose advisor had turned out to be one of the financiers of ZONKAI. Ty had virtually not had any rest. Meanwhile, his wedding was in just two days. He planned on going home immediately after they were done with the senator, to have a good sleep.
He would probably sleep till the morning of the wedding, he thought amused. He knew that wouldn’t be possible though as the squad was throwing a bachelor bash for him in Las Vegas on Friday night. The Arrowheads and some other friends of the squad, including his brother Theo and Tanesha’s brothers, Leon and Jamal, were all going to be there. They were going to have a blast. All the more reason why he needed his sleep, Ty groaned.