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Brock and Rory arrive, so I’m spared further rumination on the ultimate fate of Brianna’s and my relationship.
Rory sits down, a smile on her face, until she looks at Maddie. “Mads, are you all right?”
Maddie simply shakes her head.
“What’s wrong?” Rory asks.
“Ask your brother,” Maddie says.
Rory scowls at me, and once Brock is sitting down next to Rory, I clear my throat. “We have some news for you guys.”
Brock raises his eyebrows. “It’s good news, I hope.”
“I certainly think so,” Brianna offers, her lips in a smile yet still trembling a bit.
I take Brianna’s hand.
And Rory’s jaw drops.
“What exactly is this?” Brock demands.
“Brianna and I… We’ve fallen in love.”
Rory jumps out of her seat and comes around to the table, pulls me into a standing position, and gives me a big bear hug. “Jesse, this is amazing! How did I not see this coming?”
I pull back a bit, my eyebrows raised. “You’re okay with it?”
“Of course. I just want you to be happy.”
At least Rory is taking it well. “I didn’t see it coming either, sis. But it hit me like a freight train.”
Rory pulls Brianna up from her chair and hugs her too. She whispers something in Brianna’s ear, but of course I can’t hear it.
Then I move my gaze to Brock. His expression is different from his fiancée’s.
The Steels… They don’t like anyone touching their women. Well, too bad, how sad. Yes, Brianna’s young, but the Steels took two of my sisters.
Once Rory is done effusing over Brianna and me, she glances toward Maddie again.
Our youngest sister isn’t as thrilled about this match as Rory is, and Rory’s noticing. She glances to me and then back to Maddie. For a minute I think Rory’s going to say something, but she doesn’t.
“When are you going to tell Donny?” Brock asks.
“Donny has nothing to say,” I say. “He started things off with my sister.”
Brock says nothing.
I know he’s seething inside, despite the fact that he’s with my sister and Donny’s with another.
He knows there’s nothing he can say.
“My brother will be just fine,” Brianna says.
“And I think Callie will be thrilled,” Rory offers.
Our server comes by and takes our breakfast orders, and once tea is poured for everyone, silence ensues.
“This is a happy occasion,” Brianna finally says. “Everything is going to work out just fine.”
