A: If I told you I was going to be studying late…
S: I’d give you a drive home.
A: In that case, I’m studying late tonight.
Something inside me shifts. I don’t care about Jeff’s crazy plans for nanotechnology or mining or anything else. I just want my brothers—both of them—to be happy and do whatever they want in life.
For the last four years, I haven’t had that pleasure myself. At first, that was my father’s doing. But now, I’m my own worst enemy. It’s time for that to stop.
I look up at my brother. “I’m gonna try and live a normal life for the first time in forever.”
Will gives me a disbelieving look, but I don’t care. I’m already typing back a response.
S: Let me know when and where, and I’ll be there.
—nine—
Alison
I ignore Hailey’s busy-body stare. “I’m not telling you anything about Scott.”
“He used to be my bodyguard.”
“And now he’s not.” And I’m not telling her about what we’re doing. Which isn’t much. But I do have his phone number, and I use it, and it makes me happy. Even if all I use it for are nearly platonic late-night rides home.
She sighs. “You’re my sister.”
“That doesn’t give you unrestricted access to my inner thoughts.”
“Party-pooper.”
“Go get your makeup done.”
My sister’s getting married today. It’s a secret wedding of sorts—she only told me last week that it would be at a courthouse here, and the date. I thought they might elope to Vegas, but this is more them.
We’re getting ready at her place. Right now she’s getting her make-up done, and I’m in her room, staring at her wedding dress. It’s strapless and short, just to the knee, and it’s perfect for the urban setting. We picked it out in February on our trip to New York, and I love it more now than I did then—I’d wanted her to get something floatier, made of chiffon, but this is almost retro, with the stiffer silk.
I’m kind of overwhelmed by the fact that my sister is getting married today, but she’s going to look like a million bucks when she does it.
“Your turn,” Hailey says softly from behind me. I turn and look at her. Her hair is twisted in a princess-like updo and her makeup is flawless. Dark eyes, nearly nude lips with a touch of pink. She looks like a bride.
I want a minute alone with her. I smile. “Tell Tegan she can go next.”
Hailey’s friend from work is the only other person she’s going to have at her wedding. My chest goes tight at the thought, and I reach out my hand and wiggle my fingers at her.
She joins me on the bed. “No making me cry now that I’ve got my makeup on.”
“Okay.” But I can already feel the tears welling up. I make my eyes as big and wide as they can go and think of multiplication tables. When that doesn’t work, I get up and shove a few tissues into the secret pockets in my dress. Even if I can avoid the tears right now, when Cole actually puts a ring on Hailey’s finger, I’m going to be a mess.
I look at her matching big eyes and grab a few tissues for her, too. I don’t have many bridesmaid duties today, but making sure she has something to dab away the tears is one of them.
My other job is to make sure she’s wearing something borrowed. I brought three things with me, because I wasn’t sure what would be right. I dig the jewellery pouch out of my backpack and re-join her on her bed.
It’s hard to have family heirlooms when your family is creepy and gross, but our grandmother had been a wonderful woman…I was pretty sure. She hadn’t much liked our grandfather, which the more I discover about my family makes me think she must be a good person. At least a good judge of character.
I stifle a shudder at the thought of marrying and having children with such a bad person.
Like our own father. And mother.
I hold out the pouch. “Borrowed options.”
“Oh!” She beams. “I hadn’t even considered doing that. But it makes sense. And I’ve got blue panties on.”
“Too much information.”
She blows a raspberry at me and opens the pouch.
Inside is a strand of pearls from our grandmother, earrings of mine that I just really like, and a bracelet that Taylor gave me when I was nine. I explain each of them to her, and her fingers linger on the bracelet from Taylor, but finally she reaches for the pearls.
“Nana would like it if I wore these,” she says quietly.
I let it go for now, and besides, those are the most bridal of the choices. And they match her lips perfectly.
Tegan knocks on the open door. Her blue-striped hair is styled in a way to show off the stripes perfectly, and her face is made up in a similar way to Hailey’s. Funky elegance.
I’m digging this wedding.
“My turn?”
Tegan nods. “And then we can help the bride into her dress.”