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She saw me and waved herself. I ducked back into the bedroom, putting away the last of the laundry and sighing.
As I went into the living room, I saw Allison was popping open a bottle of wine and pouring a glass. I laughed and took it when she offered it to me. After she poured another, we had a silent toast, and I sat down across from her.
“So, what’s on the docket tonight?” Allison asked. “I was thinking rom-com, because nothing goes with Sandra Bullock movies like wine, and I get such rare chances to do both at the same time that I want to take advantage.”
“Sounds good to me,” I laughed. “Ryan not a big rom-com guy?”
She rolled her eyes and took a sip.
“I love that man with every fiber of my being,” she said, “and I would do anything in the world for him. Anything, except, I believe, watch one more Marvel movie this week.”
I laughed and took a sip myself.
“This is really good,” I said.
“Right?” she replied. “Melanie got it for me. Said that the distributor sent it to them to make up for some supply chain issues. She got a bunch of it and said it was delicious and I should try it. She wasn’t lying.”
“Not at all,” I said. “Is she working tonight?”
Allison nodded.
“Just you and me tonight, kid,” she said, laughing. A few weeks ago, we found out she and I shared a birthday, two years apart. She liked reminding me of it. “Mallory has all the kids. Carmela and Mark are on a date night, and Melanie and Vic are at a work event. Since our boys are out together, that leaves just you and me.”
“I feel bad with Mallory having all the kids, though. Shouldn’t she have the wine?”
“Melanie sent her a bottle,” she laughed. “She gets to drink it after all the kids go home.”
“Fair enough,” I said. “So pizza? Chinese?”
“Chinese food and wine? That sounds like a terrible decision. Let’s do it.”
I laughed and pulled open my phone, finding the closest place near us, a shop that had opened in the strip of new buildings near the Brewer grocery after it was rebuilt. After putting in an order, I sat back and took down part of the glass of wine in one gulp.
“So,” Allison said, swirling her newly poured second glass around and taking a sniff. “What’s this I hear about massive changes to the wedding?”
I smiled. Someone was going to have to ask first. Allison drew the short straw, I guessed.
“Honestly, the whole thing is getting pared down,” I said. “Both of us just got too stressed with the planning.”
“Really?” she asked. “It’s just so wild to me. Camden has to be one of the most traditional men left on planet Earth, and he doesn’t want to do a traditional wedding?”
I tried not to take it as an attack because I knew that wasn’t what it was. People were genuinely curious why we would make this decision, and I had to realize that it was natural for them to ask questions about it.
“He was the one who suggested it,” I said. “He said it didn’t matter what happened, so long as we were married at the end. I agreed.”
“Amen to that sentiment,” Allison said, taking another sip. “Being married is the important part. No doubt. But as your friend, I want to make sure you aren’t giving up something you want.”
“No, it’s fine. I really never did any of the dream wedding stuff. I mean, I had a dress in mind, but who doesn’t? But other than that, no, I never really had an idea of what I would want. And when I hit thirty, I kind of figured I’d be lucky to get married at all.”
“Then you met one of these crazy boys,” Allison said. “God, I love them.”
“Me too,” I agreed. “I never met anyone that was as close as they are, and considering they all lived apart for so long, that’s incredibly impressive.”
“It is,” she agreed. “But they all have each other’s backs. So we should too. We all want you to have the wedding of your dreams too, and we want to help both you and Camden as much as possible. He’s done so much for all of us, we just feel like we have to help however he needs us.”
“Well, you can ask him, but I am pretty sure I know what he will say,” I said.
“I got it,” we both said in unison, in a mock impression of his soft, Texas accent, then laughed again.
