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Kit pulls out Piper's chair for her then he takes a seat next to her. He's in all black-collared shirt, slacks, dress shoes. His hair is that same mass of curls and he's still rocking the eyebrow piercing.
She pushes their chairs closer together. Her blue eyes—they're just like Mal's, but a little lighter—take in the room. "Mom and Dad are running late. How unusual."
Mal shoots her a stern look.
She folds her arms, and turns to face me. "Kit told me all about the video. It sounds really fun. And you're organizing that whole thing?"
"Some of it. The producer is dealing with a lot of the practical details," I say.
"Tell me the truth. You came up with that entire concept to get the guys naked," she says.
I laugh. It doesn't do enough to diffuse the tension. "Just Mal, but I figured while I was there…"
"I saw your other video." Her face scrunches with distaste. "Sorry, that's my ew, that's my brother reflex. You look good in it. All sweet and innocent. Just like the kind of girl who would break Mal's heart."
"Does Mal's heart break?" I ask.
"I think so." Her eyes get sympathetic as she takes in her older brother's expression. "But never from a woman." She looks back to me. "Do you need any extra background people? I'm an actress. I know a lot of people."
"No, but… well, we were going to cast the first person we found as the bride." I should really clear this idea with several people, but I don't care. "Do you want to do it?"
"Really?" Her eyes light up. She turns to Kit. "You don't mind?"
"Depends who the groom is," he mumbles.
"Oooh, can Bella do it!" Piper smiles.
"I'll ask." Mal pulls out his cell and taps a text. There's no emotion in his voice. "You do realize you'll never hear the end of it if you kiss Joel's wife."
"It's a stage kiss," Piper says.
"Still." Mal's voice lifts. "Fuck, I don't want to think about the shit he's going to say. I'd put good money on him inviting you to a threesome."
"Over my dead body," Kit says.
"Over Bella's dead body," Violet says. "But I'm guessing he'd just offer to watch you and Bella… which, I don't see that happening. And I don't want to."
"It's acting. You're all perverts." Piper looks to me. "If you need someone. If not, I have plenty of Netflix to watch."
"Baby, you make your plans sound so exciting," Kit teases.
"Netflix is exciting." Piper looks to me. "You must agree, Lacey. All those movies and TV shows at your fingertips—what could be better than that?"
Finally, Mal's eyes light up.
He looks to me with a smile that screams I know exactly what could be better than an infinite supply of entertainment.
My cheeks flush.
Piper makes that ew face.
Violet laughs.
Then all that joy falls from Mal's face. I turn to follow his gaze. A couple in their 50s steps into the restaurant. The woman is wearing a printed maxi dress. The man is in khakis and one of those Tommy Bahama kinds of shirts.
They have the same blue eyes that all the Strongs do.
Those most be Mal's parents.
