So I’ve been best friends with “A” since we were 13. We’ve done everything together. First boyfriends, heartbreaks, college dorms, the whole ride. I always thought we had the kind of friendship that was ride or die, like I’d be giving a speech at her wedding and our kids would be calling each other cousins. You know what I mean?

Anyway, she got engaged a few months ago and asked me to be her maid of honor. I cried. She cried. It felt like this big full-circle moment. We started planning things together, picking dresses, talking about bachelorette ideas. It was actually really sweet. Until I overheard something I wasn’t supposed to.

We were at her place, and she was in the kitchen with one of her other bridesmaids. I was in the guest room but the door was open. They didn’t know I could hear them. The other girl asked her why she made me the maid of honor instead of her college bestie.

“A” literally laughed and said, “Honestly? I just needed someone to keep an eye on him. She’s pretty and flirty. She’s a lot. If she’s busy planning everything, she won’t be all over him.”

I sat there frozen. She wasn’t complimenting me. She wasn’t joking. She meant it. She picked me not because I was her best friend, but because she saw me as a threat and wanted me distracted.

I didn’t say anything in the moment. I left the next morning and a week later I texted her saying I couldn’t be her maid of honor anymore. I didn’t go into detail. Just said something came up and I didn’t feel comfortable continuing. She called me immediately, crying, begging me to reconsider. I stayed calm and told her I heard what she said. She tried to deny it, then pivoted to “I didn’t mean it like that” and “you know how I get when I’m stressed.”

Now everyone’s calling me dramatic. Her mom even messaged me saying she’s been sick over it and I should’ve just talked to her privately. But honestly? I don’t think I owe her that. She didn’t respect me in private, so why should I keep pretending in public?

AITA?