Chapter Three

Violette

My drive home passed in a blur as these thoughts filled my head, and before I knew it I was pulling into my apartment’s underground parking lot.

I turned my car off and got out.

As I opened the door to my apartment, the familiar sight of Aria greeted me sitting on the couch, her MacBook open in front of her and her phone pressed to her ear. She was nodding along to whatever the person on the other end was saying, her eyes fixed on the screen as she typed away.

"Hey, girl!" she exclaimed, holding up a finger to signal that she'd be a minute. "I'm almost done with this project, and then we can catch up," she said into the phone, her eyes flicking up to meet mine.

I smiled and dropped my bag on the floor, feeling a sense of relief wash over me as I kicked off my shoes. I walked over to the couch and plopped down beside her, peeking at the screen to see what she was working on. It looked like some kind of coding project, and I did not know what any of it meant.

Aria wrapped up her call a minute later, closing her laptop and turning to me with a smile. "Hey, how was your day?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

I shrugged, feeling a sense of exhaustion wash over me. "It was long. ICU days always are."

Aria nodded sympathetically, getting up to grab me a glass of water from the kitchen. "You deserve a break after that," she said, handing me the glass. "What do you want to do tonight?"

I took a sip of the water, feeling grateful for my friend's company. "Just relax, I think. Maybe watch a movie or something."

Aria nodded, smiling. "Sounds like a plan to me."

She settles back on the couch, picks up the remote and turns on the TV

“So…” she hesitates. Aria never hesitates.

“What?” I say, glancing at her, and the sympathetic look on her face tells me I might not like what she is about to say.

“My sister Alessia…” she pauses waiting for me to give her a go ahead, which I do by arching an eyebrow.

Aria’s sister Alessia, we met last three years on my twenty-third birthday trip to Thailand with Aria. 

Actually Aria invited her, she said she wanted to make it memorable for me and her sister is know to be the life of the party.

I had fun; it was the best birthday I have ever had.

“Her wedding got moved to February”

Aria's eyes locked onto mine, a mix of excitement and apprehension dancing in them. "She wants you to be her bridesmaid.” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why me?" I asked, setting my glass of water on the coffee table.

Aria shrugged. "You're one of her favorite people, and she thinks you'd be perfect for the role. Plus, she only has one friend, her best friend Mia, and she's her maid of honor."

I chuckled. "That's a pretty good reason, I suppose."

Aria nodded enthusiastically. "I know she'd love to have you there. She's really excited about the wedding, and I know she'd be thrilled if you said yes."

I thought about it for a moment, weighing the pros and cons. Being a bridesmaid would mean dedicating some time and effort to the wedding preparations, but it would also be a great opportunity to reconnect with Alexis and spend more time with Aria.

"What do you think?" I asked Aria, seeking her opinion.

Aria grinned. "I think you should do it. You'd be an amazing bridesmaid, and it would mean the world to Alexis."

I smiled, feeling a sense of decisiveness wash over me. "Alright, I'll do it."

Aria squealed with excitement, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug. "Thank you, Violette! I'll let Alexis know, and she'll be over the moon."

As Aria pulled back, a thought occurred to me. "When is the wedding again?"

Aria's face lit up with a smile. "February. We'll have plenty of time to get everything sorted out."

I nodded, feeling a sense of anticipation building. Being a bridesmaid in Alexis's wedding would be an adventure, and I was ready to take on the challenge.

I quickly freshened up and joined Aria in the sitting room. She was already settled on the couch, surrounded by snacks and drinks.

I plopped down beside Aria on the couch, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "You know, being a bridesmaid might just be the excuse I need to take a break from work," I said with a grin.

Aria's eyes lit up with amusement. "Exactly! You deserve a break, Violette. You've been working non-stop in the ICU. A month off wouldn't hurt, if you ask me."

“Yeah, it’s been two years since I last took a break”

Aria nodded in agreement. "This wedding is the perfect opportunity for you to take some time off and recharge."

I nodded, feeling a sense of excitement at the prospect of having some time to myself. "You're right. I could use a break from the hospital chaos."

Aria smiled mischievously. "And I'll make sure you take it easy. No checking work emails or taking calls during your bridesmaid duties."

I laughed, feeling grateful for my friend's understanding. "Deal."

"So, what's the plan for tonight?" I asked, nodding towards the TV.

"We're binge-watching Gilmore girls” Aria replied, holding up the remote. " And I've got the snacks covered." She gestures to snacks piled on the coffee table.

I grinned, snuggling into the couch. "Sounds perfect to me."