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Crazy.
My best friend has to hear this. I have to tell her about this entire fake wedding thing, I know she’ll get a kick out of it.
“Hello, hello!” Raven’s smooth voice breathes from the other end.
“Ray, I gotta tell you about my date last night.”
“Another beautiful evening designed to trap you in your parents’ house during dinner with someone from church?” she guesses, and it brings a smile to my face how well she knows me.
“Actually, no.” I tell her about meeting Carter and the fact that his mom is putting him through a similar situation, before getting to what Heidi said.
“Okay, a fake relationship, maybe. But a fake marriage?” Raven asks when I finish my story.
“Right? It’s outrageous!” I laugh, but I also don’t want to lie to her. Raven’s been my confidant forever, and maybe she will have some advice. “But…I couldn’t help but think about it. It kinda sounded like a good idea. Get our parents off our backs, show everyone that we don’t need their help to be happy? I don’t know, Ray, I considered it.”
“What? You did?” I have to pull my phone away from my ear when she screeches at me, and I cautiously return it to answer.
“I mean, a little? Just to help us both out.”
Raven lets out a deep sigh on her side of the phone. “Okay, babe, listen. As your best friend, I’m obligated to tell you when you are talking foolishly. And you are acting bonkers right now!”
I roll my eyes. “Ray, come on.”
“No, no, listen to me Jada. Your last relationship was difficult as hell. You might have been sucked in, but you fought your way out, and you came back to the surface ready to be single. You’ve wanted this for a while, so why on God’s green Earth are you considering being some stranger’shusband?”
She has a point. It’s true, I don’t think I could handle being a man’s anything. I mean, especially now that I finally feel free for the first time in years.
“Look,” Raven continues. “You’re in your mid-twenties. Why do you want to be married? Stay single, andenjoyit! You have years to settle down, find the perfect man. But right now isyourtime to be a badass.”
That makes me laugh. “Okay, okay! You’re right, I surrender!”
“I wish you could see the victory dance I’m currently doing. I’m so glad I could make you come to your senses, you wild child.” Raven lets out a victory laugh. “Go forth with this knowledge I have bestowed onto you, and just enjoy your time, okay? I gotta go, but I’ll text you later.”
“Okay. Love you, Ray.”
“Love you too, babes.”
I get to work a few hours later. Heidi is already setting up.
I decide to get back at her – jokingly – for yesterday.
“Heidi, how many times do I have to tell you to stop offering me to strange men for marriage? I told you they need to have at least six chickens, four cows and a pile of gold coins in a pot.”
Heidi bursts out laughing. “Oh, forgive me madam! I thought it was four goats and seven dogs you were looking for!”
I join in with laughing, glad that Heidi gets my humor.
“I’m sorry, Jada, I got carried away last night. I shouldn’t have been so intrusive, especially when that’s exactly what you and Carter are dealing with. I thought it was a good idea, but I see that probably wouldn’t have fixed anything.” A grin spreads on her face. “Although, it would have been a great wedding, and I would have made sure the backstory wasflawless.”
I throw one of the rags at her. “You’re fine, I promise. I know you were doing it because you get the predicament we’re both in. Wasn’t the worst idea I’ve ever had, but I’m not looking to rush into anything.”
Heidi pours herself some water and looks at me. “Was your ‘non-date’ fun at least?”
“Carter really is great,” I find myself agreeing. “But I don’t think I can rush into something as serious and important as a fake marriage just to please my parents. I just have to deal with it, I guess.”
Heidi grabs me a water as well, and we toast. “To being happy and single.” We clink the waters and laugh as we keep setting up for the shift.
On my break, I take a seat on a nearby beach hammock and take a breather. I only relax for two minutes before Mom’s name flashes across my phone screen. I roll my eyes, but pick up anyway. “Hi, Mom, what’s up?”
