Page 114 of The Wedding Favor

“Hi.”

“Hey.” His expression was unreadable.

I crossed my arms, then uncrossed them, then put my fists on my hips. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. Our eyes met.

“Did you need something?” My voice was soft.

“I think we should talk.”

I licked my lips. “Yeah, probably. We can go in the⁠—”

The door burst open and Mae stalked toward us, her eyes practically glowing.

“Oh, good. You’re both here. What is this?” She waved a copy of the Two Harts newspaper. It was mostly a vehicle to spread gossip with an occasional news story and a list of arrests for the previous week. (Not to brag, but my father had made an appearance on that list more than once.)

“The paper?”

“And?”

“Why don’t you just say what’s gotten you so upset instead of making me guess.”

Abe edged closer. His shoulder brushed mine as we stood side-by-side.

She snapped the paper open and handed it to me. “Right there.”

Before I could look at what she was pointing at, someone else entered the chat. Ali grinned when she saw the three of us and waltzed over. Her smile faltered when she got a good look at the thunder on Mae’s face. “Whoa. What’s going on?”

“Have you seen the paper?”

“Not yet. Why?”

Mae grabbed it from my hands and handed it to Ali. “Look.”

“What am I looking f— Ah.” Her eyes widened in surprise. “You two look great. Iris, you are wearing the heck out of that dress.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

Ali handed me the paper. Abe leaned in close as I scanned the page. I found the article immediately. A whole page about the movie theater opening in Randolph. With photos. One of those photos featured Abe and me on the red carpet, his arm around my waist, mine draped around his shoulders, and both of us were laughing. Even though it was one snapshot, there was a palpable connection between us. We looked happy, like we belonged together.

Abe audibly inhaled. Surprise, maybe? Or maybe he was also captivated by the photo.

“Yeah, well, she’s also wearing your brother.”

Ali snickered. “Nice one.”

Mae crossed her arms, her foot tapping double time. “This doesn’t bother you?”

“No. Why would it?” Ali gasped. “Think about it. If things worked out between them, we would be related to each other. All my best friend dreams would come true.”

“They’re all wrong for each other. Abe has to be ten years older than her.”

“Thirteen,” I said absently, still staring at the photo. I wondered if the paper had the original of this and would give me a copy.

“Thank you, thirteen years. She has a whole future ahead of her and Abe is… well, Abe.”

Ali’s head cocked to the side, staring down Mae despite the fact she was six inches shorter. “What does that mean?”

“They’re all wrong for each other. He looks like he spent ten years in prison and is out on parole. He’s got… baggage and he’ll only weigh Iris down.” Mae waved a hand around in frustration, talking as if the man in question wasn’t right there in the room with us. “We’re not even sure he’s going to stick around this time.”