“Bridget said not to invite him,” Max pipes up.
“I don’t think he wants to help party plan”—Bridget looks guilty—“but you like to plan things. You’re superorganized,” she tells me. “And I think Mom and Dad would be happy if we all planned it together.”
“Get your girlfriend involved.” Sean snickers.
“I see what you’re doing,” I warn him.
“She’s organized.” Hannah shows me Dani’s Instagram, where she’s got way too many posts about planning her brother and friend’s wedding.
“She’s so fucking weird.”
“You like her.” Ryan grins at me.
“No, I don’t!” I yell back.
My half brother gives him an odd look.
“Then why are you with her?”
“I mean, I do like her. It’s just… none of your business.”
“Two weirdos in a weird pea pod.” Bridget shakes her head.
“Anyway, what do you think?” My siblings look at me expectantly.
“About?”
“What Hannah just said?”
“I wasn’t paying attention,” I admit.
“Awww, were you thinking about Dani?”
“No!” But I can feel a flush creep up under my collar.
“I told you,” Claire says.
Hannah squeals. “He’s in love!”
“Oh, the wedding is going to be spectacular!” My half sister swoons.
“We’re not getting married.”
“Mmm. Well, let me know if you change your mind—I have always dreamed of going ring shopping with a seven-figure budget.”
“I just don’t think”—I try to redirect my siblings—“Mom wants an anniversary party. I mean, we all know how she and Fran—Dad—met. They never do a lot for their anniversary. There’s probably a reason why.”
“Yeah, but it’s been over twenty years at this point,” Hannah argues. “They have a bunch of kids. A house. Dad wrote several books. Mom’s got her business.”
“I mean,” Ryan says, “maybe he’s right. Maybe we should ask them?”
“Then it’s not a surprise. It’s not like we’re making it kidnapping themed.”
“Isn’t it weird—if she didn’t get kidnapped, we wouldn’t be here,” Max muses.
“Yeah. And Graham in a different way,” Sean adds.
Ryan glares at him.
