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“I got it.”
“Good. Now, don’t forget…” Theo inhales a big breath, then opens his mouth to speak.
Nothing comes out.
His mouth is moving, but there’s no sound.
Frowning, I lift up from his shoulder. “I–I can’t hear you, Theo…”
“And there you have it. You won’t forget, right?”
No! This is maddening! “Say it again,” I beg. “Please, Theo! I couldn’t hear you.”
“It’s time!” Caroline announces, ushering us out the doorway as she floats over the threshold. “You look absolutely lovely, June. Just wait until he sees you.”
Theo jumps up and follows. “Speech time!” he says, then prances ahead of me.
He truly frolics.
“Wait, I’m coming!” I’m suddenly wearing a leotard with an extravagant skirt made of tulle, silk, and shimmering gems. A rainbow train follows behind me as I make my way to the ballroom I’m compelled to be at and somehow know the way to.
I’m stopped at the entrance by Wendy, who looks to be crying. Mascara tracks down her cheeks as she pulls the tiara from her own head and gifts it to me. A watery smile greets me as she secures it into place, my hair magically curled and dusted with glitter. I touch it with tentative fingers. “Thanks,” I murmur.
“It looks better on you, anyway.” She shrugs. “Congratulations, June.”
The doors open all by themselves, revealing my friends and family waiting in diamond-crusted pews. All eyes are on me as I step into the ballroom. My heart sputters with nerves, my fever heightening. I’m afraid I might pass out.
My mother dabs her tearstained cheeks with a handkerchief, smiling brightly as I walk down the colorful aisle. Dad gives me a thumbs-up, hollering over at me, “You look remarkable, honey!”
I nibble my lip, looking on both sides of me. Theo looks to be practicing his speech, Grams is knitting an ugly sweater, my school friends are blowing noisemakers, Aunt Kelly has an armful of cats, and even Yoshi is perched on a pew with a biscuit in his mouth, tail wagging.
And Brant…
Wait. Where’s Brant?
I spin forward in a panic, only to be stopped short by a unicorn.
Rupert neighs. I lurch back.
And when I trail my eyes upward, I finally find Brant. He’s perched atop the unicorn with two stuffed elephants in his lap. One is Aggie, and the other looks to be his old stuffed toy…Bubbles. I wonder where he found Bubbles. Smiling fondly, dreamily, he holds his hand out to me. “Ready, Junebug?”
“What?” I croak out.
He’s still dressed in his vibrant blue tux, and there’s a streamer floating from Rupert’s tail that reads JUST MARRIED.
Mortification rockets through me when I realize…
Brant is my groom!
“Y-You’re the one I’m marrying?” I stutter as the room starts to spin.
“Of course.” He frowns with a sprinkle of confusion. “Who else would it be?”
Anyone! Anyone else!
“You’re my brother,” I say, disoriented. Dizzy with confusion. “Take me home, Brant! Please!”
“Calm down, Junebug. I’m not really your brother.”
