She had approached me as soon as Mrs. Beckett walked away. For a second, I thought she read my mind.
“Why does that familyinsiston talking about him? Like, who cares? He’s not here, boo freaking hoo. But they’re obsessed.”
Before considering who I was talking to, I agreed. “Seriously.”
The overhead light caught the glittering white makeup above her eye. “His brother is getting married, and he’s off doingGodknows what, with God knowswho. Just... give me a break. Right?”
An image of Ryder with another man flashed in my head, and my stomach twisted. “Fuck that.”
“I mean, they try to play themselves off as these wholesome people, but then shower so much attention onhim? If it were my family, we’d go out of our way not to bring him up. Why shove it in people’s faces? Why remind everyone?”
It was the first time I saw Bree smile with her entire face. I was mad at Ryder, but if I understood what she was saying, that was some fucked up shit. “I… uh…”
A waiter approached and asked us to take our seats, as dinner would soon be served. Bree gripped my arm and said, “Gotta go make sure they set up the camera right, but the next time they ask, just be firm. You don’t know where he is, and you don’t care. He’s not even in the bridal party, anyway.”
I was a little dazed when I found my seat, a little nauseous, and just tired. Then, I zoned out during dinner. Bree’s parents gave speeches, going on and on about how wonderful she is, how much they love her, how proud they are of her, and how she brings her faith into everything she does, including her business.
“If I had to hear him talk about his precious little princess one more time, I was gonna puke,” Tyler said.
He was standing at the bar alone, the first one there once dinner drifted into dessert. I had come up to get another champagne, but decided that I didn’t want to drink any more. I knew for a fact that thought had never crossed Tyler’s mind since I’d known him.
“Yeah, her dad likes to talk.” I laughed.
He rolled his eyes. “I just wish Miles didn’t look like he was gonna blow chunks all night. He’d better get it together by tomorrow. Bree won’t love his sour puss all over her posts.”
“You can say that again,” I said, before ordering a Dr. Pepper.
Connor and Jason found Tyler and me. They hadn’t even ordered a drink yet when Bree and her sister came over. Bree wasn’t sober, but her sister was obviously drunk. Not hammered, but a few past one too many, and wouldn’t leave me the fuck alone.
Annabelle, or Bell for short, was like a carbon copy of her older sister, only softer. She spoke more quietly and didn’t look as camera ready. I had met her that day, but didn’t give her any thought. Not until she was drunk, and spoke to me with an open palm on my chest. Then let it drift to my arm until she was holding my hand. It was uncomfortable, and I had to disengage.
Had that been a year ago, and I was with those guys, I’d have felt incredible pressure to sleep with her. Not to mention the best man and maid of honor thing. They’d tell me that since we were both single and she was hot and interested, I should hit it that night or the next.
But I wasn't single. Or was I? I didn’t know or care. About what I was, or where Ryder was, or if he was in a ditch… he wasn’t in a ditch. Right?
He could’ve been in some dude’s bed, plowing away.
No. Fuck no. No, he wasn’t. I didn’t know where he was, but he wasn't anywhere doing that. That was for damn sure.
I don’t think I was supposed to see it, but I looked over at the exact moment Bree realized what her sister was doing. She had been talking to the other guys, flipping her hair and giggling. I couldn’t place the look on her face when she turned to talk to her sister and me.
“Bells, babe, why don’t you go find some water. You’re supposed to drive me back to the hotel, remember?”
“Okay.” Bell nodded.
“And, uh...” Bree lifted her face by her chin and inspected it. “Why don’t you take a sec in the bathroom, yeah? Give it a once over.”
“Okay,” Bell said and walked away.
Once her sister was gone, Bree said, “It’s so great to see you two getting along!”
“Yeah, she’s cool.” I tried to sound as disinterested as I could.
Her smile flattened. “Best man, maid of honor…?”
“And your legal witnesses.” I managed a small grin.
Bree touched me, not unlike her sister, but only on my shoulder and arm muscles. “Any, uh… spark? Between you two?”
