The restaurant is warm and loud as the hostess leads us to a private room in the back where I can already hear Olivia’s laugh carrying over everyone else’s voices.
This is it.
Rodriguez squeezes my hand once. “Ready?”
My nod is jerky even though I’m absolutely not ready at all.
We walk in and everyone turns.
Olivia squeals and rushes over to us, pulling me into a hug that smells like her perfume and hairspray. “You’re here! Oh my god, you’re finally here!”
“Hi, Livi.” I hug her back and she feels thinner than I remember. “You look amazing.”
“You too! And this must be him.” She turns to Rodriguez with a smile that’s all Olivia, bright and genuine and impossible not to return. “Hi! I’m Olivia, the bride and also the better sister.”
“Great to meet you.” Rodriguez shakes her hand, then gets pulled into a hug because that’s just how Olivia treats everyone.
Owen appears next to her, tall and quiet and smiling in that calm way he has. “Hey Jules. Good to see you.”
“You too, Owen. Congratulations.” I hug him and his shirt is soft against my cheek. “This is Rodriguez.”
They shake hands and do that guy assessment thing where they’re definitely sizing each other up. “Thanks for coming all this way,” Owen says. “I know it’s a long trip.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” Rodriguez is already in full charm mode. “Jules has told me so much about you guys.”
My parents are here, and my Aunt Yvette, and a few cousins I haven’t seen in years. Everyone wants to meet Rodriguez, ask questions, welcome us. I make introductions and he remembers everysingle name, makes conversation with everyone, laughs at my uncle’s terrible jokes.
He’s perfect at this. Completely natural.
And then Garrett walks in.
I feel it before I actually see him and there’s Melissa next to him, clinging to his arm.
She’s beautiful. Blonde, petite, the kind of pretty that looks effortless. She’s laughing at something Garrett said, her hand on his chest, completely comfortable.
They look happy.
My knees feel weak.
Garrett sees me and he looks briefly surprised, or maybe it’s guilt. But then he’s smiling, walking over with Melissa in tow.
“Jules. Hey.” He stops a few feet away, suddenly uncertain. “You look good.”
“Thanks.” I’m using the fake smile. I can feel it on my face, tight and painful. Rodriguez notices it, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“Garrett, this is Rodriguez. Rodriguez, this is Garrett. Owen’s best friend.”
They shake hands and I watch Garrett clock the fact Rodriguez has at least five inches on him and broader shoulders and the kind of presence that makes other men either respect him or hate him immediately.
Garrett is clearly landing somewhere in the hate him category. When he glances at me, there’s something almost accusatory in his expression. Like I brought Rodriguez specifically to make him feel small.
Which, okay, maybe I did. A little.
“Rodriguez,” Garrett says. “That’s an interesting name.”
“Yeah, kind of a hockey thing, you know.” Rodriguez’s voice is friendly but there’s an edge underneath. “You must be the famous Garrett. Jules told me about you.”
I definitely have not, but Garrett doesn’tneed to know that.
