Page 9 of Shared by my Ex’s Best Friends (Twisted Desires #2)
Chapter nine
MAYA
T he day’s barely started, and chaos has already claimed the venue like a wildfire. The lobby is buzzing with early arrivals and catering staff rushing about, but personally, I’m freaking out.
I’m gripping the phone, my knuckles white as the coordinator’s voice trembles on the other end. Then she drops the bomb.
“I’m so sorry, but there’s been a mistake. The venue’s been double-booked. Your wedding and another event are scheduled for the same day.”
“How are we only now hearing about this?” I demand. “The wedding is just a few days away!”
“I’m really sorry,” the woman replies. “This has never happened before, but it seems there was a glitch in the system and one of the events didn’t appear on the calendar when the other was scheduled. We only just realized the mistake.”
My heart sinks. Danielle’s standing beside me, clutching her designer tote like it’s a lifeline. Her voice cracks, high and fragile. “This can’t be happening. Not now. Not after all the months of planning.”
I squeeze her arm gently, forcing calm into my own voice, though inside I’m scrambling for solutions. “Hey, breathe. We’re going to fix this. I promise.”
Before panic can take over, Jake appears beside me, that cocky grin already in place. He, Ethan, and Liam have been ever-present with Danielle and I as we prepare the venue. “Let me talk to them,” he says quietly, confident.
I arch an eyebrow. “You? What exactly do you plan to do?”
He shrugs with the ease of someone who’s done this kind of thing before. “Negotiation. Charm and chaos. I’m a master of both.”
I’m not sure if that’s reassuring or terrifying, but with Danielle nearly hyperventilating, I’m willing to try anything. “Fine. I’ll back you up.”
The coordinator’s office is tiny and cluttered—stacks of paperwork threaten to topple over, and the stale scent of old coffee lingers in the air. The phone rings constantly, and somewhere beyond the thin walls, I hear the faint whirr of a blender from the catering prep.
Jake leans forward, flashing that disarming smile, his voice smooth as silk. “Look, we know it’s a mess, but this day means everything to Danielle. Help us make it right.”
I step in, putting on my best calm and friendly face. “We’re willing to work with you, but we need a solution. Something that keeps everyone happy.”
The coordinator swallows hard, overwhelmed but clearly searching for a way out. As she rummages through a drawer overflowing with half-labeled folders and stained Post-its, Jake and I both reach for the same form lying on the cluttered desk.
Our hands brush.
It’s brief—barely a second—but electricity zips up my arm like I grabbed a live wire. I glance at him reflexively, and he’s already watching me with that damned twinkle in his green eyes. He winks.
I scoff and roll my eyes, trying to play it cool, but my cheeks betray me. Heat rushes under my skin, warm and impossible to ignore. Not now, brain. Not here.
Danielle’s hanging by a thread, the coordinator’s about to combust, and I’m one bad decision away from losing control of the whole weekend. I focus on the form like it might save me from myself.
“So,” Jake says smoothly, turning back to the frazzled coordinator like he didn’t just short-circuit my brain, “I think what we’re all realizing here is that you’ve got a real opportunity to be the hero of this story.”
She blinks at him. “I—what?”
He leans in slightly, voice dropping enough to make it feel like a secret.
“Two bridal parties. One venue. Sounds like the start of a horror movie, right? But imagine… one happy bride, one glowing review on your business site, and no Yelp rants about flaming macarons or emotional breakdowns in the tasting room.”
The woman eyes him warily. “Are you threatening me with a bad review?”
“No,” he says, all innocence. “I’m offering you a glowing one. From this lovely lady here.” He gestures toward me. “And trust me, she can be very persuasive.”
I raise my eyebrows at him. “I can speak for myself, thanks.”
The coordinator—Heather, according to her name tag—narrows her eyes at us. Her bun is crooked, mascara smudged under one eye, and she’s muttering to herself while punching numbers into a calculator like it insulted her.
Jake flashes his signature grin, all dimples and disarming confidence. I let him take the lead with the charm act, but underneath I’m vibrating with a mixture of frustration and anger that such a colossal mistake has taken place and fallen on me to fix.
“Heather, right? You’ve got a very calming presence. Really, it’s like being in a spa.”
She finally looks up, eyes narrowing. “Look, I already told the maid of honor—”
“Heather,” I interrupt smoothly. “We’re hoping to clarify a few things. Like, for instance, how our wedding—booked eight months ago—got bumped for someone who confirmed last week.”
Heather groans, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Look, they offered to pay the premium rush fee. You guys didn’t.”
Jake leans on the desk like he owns it, tipping his head. “But we did give you three five-star reviews from the bridal party’s social media accounts. That’s worth something, right? Influencer-adjacent energy.”
I bite back a smile. “Not to mention the groom’s grandmother baked five dozen lemon bars for your staff. Out of the kindness of her arthritic little heart.”
Heather looks caught—like she knows we’re technically right, but she really doesn’t want to deal with the fallout. “Still, they’re a high-profile couple. Blogger. Destination-themed wedding. Custom gelato cart.”
Jake sighs. “Gelato. Of course it’s gelato.”
I jump in before he gets on a full rant. “Heather, listen. We know things got messy. But this venue has been part of the vision since day one. The couple coming in—they can pivot. They just booked. Their Pinterest board isn’t even solid yet.”
Jake nods sagely. “You can’t trust a wedding plan without Pinterest battle scars.”
Heather sighs, rifling through some papers before tossing them back down. “You don’t get it. If I bump them, they’ll threaten legal action. The bride’s dad is apparently a lawyer.”
“So is Danielle’s uncle,” I lie with shocking ease. “And unlike theirs, he actually knows how to weaponize family drama.”
Jake lets out a low whistle. “Damn. Remind me not to piss you off.”
Heather glares between us. “Even if I wanted to help you, the logistics—”
“We’ll cover reprinting the signage,” I offer. “And we’ll throw in an extra cleaning fee. If that helps.”
“And we’ll talk Danielle out of doing a spontaneous TikTok takedown,” Jake adds.
I need this win.
Heather’s mouth opens like she’s going to argue, but then she falters. I see the cracks forming. Her gaze flits toward the chaotic calendar taped to the wall, then to the blinking messages on her phone, and finally back to us.
“You two are way too good at this,” she mutters.
“Flattery will get you everywhere,” Jake says with a wink.
Heather exhales and shakes her head. “Fine,” she says finally. “Let me make some calls.”
I glance at Jake, almost not believing we’re getting somewhere.
“Fair,” I say, and offer my hand. “We appreciate it, Heather.”
She stares at my hand like it might bite her, then shakes it begrudgingly. “You’d better hope the other bride doesn’t cry.”
Jake clasps a hand to his chest. “I’ll bring tissues. And a gift card.”
Heather snorts and waves us off. “Out. I need silence to do damage control.”
We back out into the hallway, the door swinging shut behind us. I let out a shaky breath and lean against the wall.
Jake lets out a soft laugh. “That went better than expected.”
I give him an arched brow look. “She nearly banned us halfway through.”
“But she didn’t. ” He grins, stepping closer. “Because we’re unstoppable. Admit it—you were impressed.”
Before I can respond, my phone rings and I dig it out of my pocket. Seeing it’s Danielle, I quickly answer it.
“We’ve just about got it,” I tell her immediately, putting her on speaker.
“Really?” she gasps. “Please tell me you didn’t threaten her with bodily harm or bad karma.”
“No bodily harm,” I say. “Just guilt, strategic lies, and an offer to pay for printing.”
“You know, the works,” Jake adds with a wink.
“I don’t even want to know.” Danielle lets out a long breath. “You fixed it?”
“Almost. She’s calling the other couple now.”
Danielle lets out a small sob of relief. “You’re amazing.”
“She is,” Jake says, then looks at me, voice a little quieter now. “We make a hell of a team.”
I glance up at him, something unspoken sparking between us again, and for a second, everything else fades—the chaos, the stress, the wedding drama. It’s me, him, and the buzz of whatever this is simmering beneath the surface.
Then Danielle’s voice rings out, pulling me back to reality. “I owe you both so much. Seriously.”
Jake nudges me with his elbow, grin intact. “Told you. Hell of a team.”
I roll my eyes, but I’m smiling now too. Maybe this day isn’t cursed after all.