“Love is a beautiful thing.”
---
— Cecile —
“Hey, how were your lectures?”
I had just stepped out of my grueling three-hour-long lecture when Joel’s text came in. My lips curved into an uncontainable smile, the kind that makes you feel like a teenager in love again.
“It was okay,” I replied, trying to suppress the grin that lingered on my face. Before I could tuck my phone away, his name popped up on my screen, a FaceTime request I wasn’t entirely prepared for.
“Hey,” I greeted, feeling heat rise to my cheeks the moment his face appeared on the screen. He looked as dashing as ever, his dark hair slightly tousled and his eyes sparkling with that mischievous charm I could never resist.
“Hi,” he replied with a grin, clearly enjoying my flustered state.
“Is that your studio?” I asked, my eyes catching the scattered sketch boards, paintbrushes, and canvases in the background, each adorned with half-finished acrylic paintings that hinted at his creative process. I felt super proud of him in ways I still can’t put into words.
“Yeah…” Joel began, but before he could elaborate, a cheerful voice chimed in from behind him.
“And we can’t wait to have you, Sister-in-law!”
I blinked, caught off guard. The voice belonged to someone I hadn’t seen before. As the camera shifted slightly, a young man with braided hair tied in a neat bow came into view. His brown skin glowed under the studio lights, and his delicate features gave him an almost ethereal beauty.
“And you are?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Simeon Anderson. Your husband’s best friend and personal advisor,” he replied, his voice exuding confidence and a playful hint of pride.
I shot Joel a look of confusion. He wasn’t the type to interact with many people, let alone have a best friend. Picking up on my surprise, Joel shrugged. “We met recently and hit it off.”
“Nice to meet you, Simeon,” I offered. “I’m Cecile Gray—” I stopped abruptly as I noticed their amused expressions.
Simeon burst into laughter. “She forgot she’s married now!”
My cheeks burned as I tried to recover. “It’s not funny!” I protested.
“It’s hilarious,” Simeon countered, still grinning. “Nice to meet you, Cecile Osteen.”
“Same,” I replied, grateful when Simeon left us to give Joel and me some privacy.
“So… have you eaten anything?” Joel’s voice softened, carrying the kind of warmth that always melted my heart.
“Not yet,” I admitted, right as my stomach growled in betrayal.
He chuckled, his tone teasing. “You should grab something soon.”
“I will. I’m meeting Bernie for lunch.”
“Good. Simeon and I are heading out for food too.”
We exchanged a few more words before he sighed. “I should’ve reminded you to eat before you left this morning.”
“It’s not your fault,” I reassured him. “I was running late anyway.”
“Well, we need to make some lifestyle changes,” he said, his tone serious yet gentle.
“Massive changes,” I agreed.
Just then, I spotted Bernie waving at me from the hallway, her teasing smile instantly putting me on edge.
“Bernie’s here. Let’s talk more when we’re home, okay?” The word “home” still felt foreign to me, even though we’d been married for over a week.
“Sure. See you soon, love.”
“Same,” I said, quickly ending the call before he could make me blush any further.
“Someone looks like a ripe tomato,” Bernie teased as she reached me.
“Whatever,” I muttered, trying to ignore the heat creeping up my face.
---
Over lunch, I twirled spaghetti around my fork while Bernie dug into her pancakes and milk tea. “So, how were your lectures?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“Good. Yours?” she replied, sipping her tea.
“They were okay. The professor was a bit tough at first, but it smoothed out.”
“Did he comment on your short story?”
“Ugh, don’t remind me,” I groaned.
Bernie grinned, her cheeks tinged with pink. I narrowed my eyes. “Wait… is there a guy?”
“What?” she stammered, clearly caught off guard.
“Tell me!” I urged, leaning closer.
She sighed, her blush deepening. “His name is Michael Jordan. He’s British. We met on the flight to Las Vegas… for your wedding.”
“Hold on. While I was panicking about getting married, you were meeting your soulmate?”
“It’s not like that!” she protested. “We just exchanged numbers.”
“And have been chatting non-stop since?” I teased.
Before she could respond, a smooth voice interrupted us. “Good afternoon, ladies.”
I looked up to see a man who could only be Michael Jordan. His British accent was as striking as his appearance—tall, polished, and undeniably handsome.
“Hi,” I said, smiling.
“I am Michael Jordan, Bernie’s—”
“Friend,” I cut him off quickly before he could finish. I wasn’t sure what he was going to say, but I wasn’t about to miss the opportunity to introduce myself. 
“I’m her best friend, Cecile Gray—Osteen.” I offered him a smile as I shook his hand, feeling a bit flustered but trying to mask it with a light laugh.
“Newly married?” he asked, his expression warm and curious.
“Yeah, just a week,” I admitted, still adjusting to the new title.
“Oh... congratulations,” he said sincerely, his tone filled with genuine kindness.
“Thank you,” I replied, feeling a small blush creep up my cheeks.
“My pleasure,” he said smoothly. Then, gesturing to the seat between Bernie and me, he asked, “Mind if I join you?”
“Sure,” I said, and he slid into the chair effortlessly.
“I met Bernie on a plane,” he began, glancing briefly in her direction. “I think she said she was heading to a wedding... yours?”
“That’s right,” I confirmed, watching as realization dawned on his face.
“Oh, great,” he nodded, a thoughtful smile playing on his lips. “Doesn’t feel like a coincidence, does it?”
“Probably not,” I said, returning the smile. Then, with a mischievous tone, I added, “Although, I never expected her to be bonding with someone new while I, her best friend, was busy stressing over getting married early.” Under the table, I nudged Bernie’s leg gently, earning a startled glance from her.
“It happens,” Michael said with a grin, his confidence radiating effortlessly.
For the next several minutes, we fell into easy conversation, exchanging stories and teasing Bernie just enough to make her blush a shade of red I hadn’t seen before. By the time the small talk faded, two things were abundantly clear:
Michael was definitely interested in Bernie, and she was just as smitten—though she tried her best to hide it.
Too bad for her.
I wasn’t going to let them hide behind the “just friends” excuse for long.
Payback time, I thought with a sly grin.
---
A/N: What do you think, guys?