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Suddenly, the sound of the helicopter taking off drowned out the DJ’s music. Everyone stopped dancing to watch it rise into the air, hook around the resort, and head out to the speck of light that was the Bellerophon out on the water.
Carly came storming over to me with her new husband at her side. “Seriously, Mel? In the middle of the fucking reception?”
“Pierce had an emergency,” I said. “He wouldn’t have left if it wasn’t important.”
“Oh, okay,” Carly said sarcastically. “As long as it’s an emergency, it’s okay that he ruined my wedding day.”
I flinched like I had been smacked. “Ruined your wedding day? Carly, you’re being dramatic.”
“That was uncalled for,” Dad told her. “Carly, what has gotten into you?”
She pointed her finger at me. “Mel’s selfishness is what has gotten into me!”
Next to her, Landon crossed his arms and nodded in agreement with his new wife.
“Selfish? How have I been selfish?” I demanded.
“You haven’t been around for any of the wedding planning. I’ve needed my big sister, and you’ve been gone.”
“You know I didn’t want to miss any of it. It has broken my heart to be gone for the past few months…”
“What about the bachelorette party last night? You missed that, too!”
“We didn’t arrive until this morning. Pierce had work in Boston last night.”
“In the Red Sox owner’s suite. We know, because you sent us photos on the family chat,” Carly said. “I’m really glad you missed the bachelorette party for that. Which Ashley had to plan since you’ve been absent.”
I realized Ashley was standing to the left, glaring at me and nodding along.
Carly pointed out to the water. “Then you park that hideous yacht right off the coast, where everyone can see. It’s the only thing anyone has been talking about since they arrived.”
“You can barely see it…” I argued, but Carly was steamrolling over me.
“Not to mention when you did show up your hair and makeup was already done, even though you agreed to get it done with us.”
“I told the stylist I would still pay for it!”
“And look at all that jewelry!” Ashley said. “It probably cost more than this wedding. You overshadowed the bride. You looked like a chandelier standing next to Carly. A crying chandelier.”
I rounded on her. “I was emotional! My little sister was getting married.”
“The crying wasn’t the problem!” Carly jumped back in. “Then there was the speech Dad made. He went on and on about Pierce.”
Dad’s mouth fell open. “Oh, pumpkin…”
“I can’t help it if Dad likes my date!” I said.
“He was supposed to be talking about me and Landon! Instead, he made fun of my new husband and gushed about Pierce Benning the wonderful billionaire that everyone loves. Why did you have to ruin today?”
“You think I ruined your wedding? You’re overreacting, Carly…”
“Oh! And Pierce’s wedding gift!” Carly held up a check. “He gave us ten thousand dollars for our honeymoon. And he put the check in the same bowl with all the other gifts. Landon’s parents were the ones who first saw it, and it made them feel awful for not giving enough.”
“So now you’re complaining because he’s generous?”
Carly turned and walked over to the edge of the tent, where a photographer was holding up a camera. She snatched the camera away and tossed it out of the tent. The photographer started shouting, but Carly ignored her and walked back to us.
“And those paparazzi have been scurrying around in everyone’s way. They shouldn’t even be here, but every time we try to chase them off, they reappear!”
