Page 81 of The Plus One Pact

"Who will guess mine?" She tries to play it off as a lighthearted comment, but there's sadness in her voice. She misses Dad. She always does.

Thankfully, she doesn't take the opportunity to pontificate on the beauty love, or love after death, or marriage.

There's more time for that later. After all, the entire day is filled with silly pre-marriage exercises.

And more tomorrow.

Or is it actual wedding planning?

There isn't too much to plan. The ceremony is family in the backyard. But knowing Cynthia, she probably hasn't picked out a dress, or shoes—whereas Daniel probably has his outfit moodboard framed.

Mom planned most of the ceremony. She has the time and the inclination. No doubt Daniel helped—he’s far more detailed oriented—and Cynthia happily let him take charge. What does she care about the exact shade of flowers in the bouquet? That sort of obsession is my brother’s domain.

But he’d never pick a dress for her. Too untraditional.

Can Ivy help her with that?

Is Ivy a clothes and makeup kind of girl? She's pretty and stylish, in her way, but she's not one of those women who draws a lot of attention to her looks.

Better than Mom's help though, no doubt.

"Why don't we all guess each other's," Cynthia offers. "It will be more fun that way. Keep things exciting. Besides, that's the only way I'll have something to guess. I know all Daniel's secrets."

"Is that what you think?" he asks.

"I'm not sure your 401k balance counts as a secret," I say.

"She knows that," Daniel says.

Cynthia laughs. "Not that I ever remember." She looks to the backyard with starry eyes. I need a cigarette eyes. Yes, she smokes, well, vapes nicotine too. The woman loves her substances.

"I'm sure he's got a few things up his sleeve," Ivy says.

Daniel looks to Cynthia and raises a brow dramatically.

She laughs and leans in to kiss him.

It's disgustingly cute.

And not a version of them I recognize.

Since when is he affectionate?

Did he take mushrooms and suddenly see all the love in the universe? Or whatever she said.

Maybe she was right. Maybe I don't know as much as I think.

He whispers something in her ear in Spanish.

She replies in kind.

I only catch half of it and it's dirty as fuck. That's really not like them.

What the hell?

Whatever. That's not what I'm doing here. I'm playing my part. I move a little closer to Ivy. I wrap my arm around her.

She leans into the gesture and looks up at me with a hazy smile. It's sweet. So sweet I forget it's pretend.