Page 56 of My Big Fat Shifter Wedding

I really, really hoped so.

“So, like, is the whole menu disco-themed or is there a dance floor? Live music?”

“I guess we’ll have to wait and see. And don’t forget, no wolf stuff.”

He shot me a droll sort of smirk. “What, you mean I can’t discuss the drama of Bella getting her wolf form before Marc, who’s two years older and is soooo sure he’s gonna be an alpha?”

“Nope, none of that.”

“Darn. There go my hottest conversation topics.”

I was absolutely sure my brother wanted to keep on snarking, but a familiar large figure stepped out of the front doors, dressed in a fitted black button-down and flared denim pants that he’d had to do an astronomical amount of surfing the web for. Shopping as a plus-sized woman was difficult, but it turned out that being a plus-sized man and tall was damn inconvenient too.

Especially with biceps as big as some people’s heads. It was like the fashion world didn’t appreciate how fucking sexy that was.

“That’s gotta be him,” my brother said, striding forward before I could confirm or deny. “Hey there, if it isn’t the lumberjack himself!”

Ah, to have the unbridled confidence of a teenager again, I mused even though I was pretty sure I’d never actually felt that myself. No, I got the anxiety gene instead.

Lucky me.

“You must be Rolando. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Only good, I’m sure.”

“Exemplary, even, I’d say.” Keith said it with a wink. Although that would make me swoony, it just made my brother laugh.

“In that case, she’s exaggerating. My sister’s a softie.”

“Perhaps when it comes to you, but that’s her job, isn’t it?” Keith patted my brother’s arm and I watched, rather surprised, as he swung his arm around my brother’s shoulders as if they’d been pals forever. “Want to gossip about her while we go play darts? You can tell me all the embarrassing stories from her younger years that she refuses to let slip.”

“Oh man, would I ever,” Rolando replied as the two walked off ahead of me.

I knew they were teasing. It wasn’t like my little brother would let slip about the time I’d tried to dye my hair silver (I thought it was ironic, because, ya know… wolf stuff) only to end up crying in the tub when nothing happened since I needed to bleach my hair to near-white first, then tone it for it to work.

“Hey, what about me?” I called after them, but they were already inside of the doors.

Had I been third-wheeled?

I hurried after them to the dartboard in the corner. Well, I supposed I could let boys be boys, so I went to the hostess and asked for one of those little sensor things for a table.

“Oh, no worries about that, ma’am. Your husband already got you a table. It’s ready and waiting for you.”

“He did?”

She nodded, her ponytail bouncing. “Follow me!”

I did, expecting to get to an empty table, pull out my phone and entertain myself. Maybe I’d order an appetizer to tide me over.

But that wasn’t necessary. There was a pitcher of water on the table, glasses full of ice, a steaming cup of tea, a basket of bread, and an appetizer of fried pickles.

I loved fried pickles.

“Now, if you wanna make yourself comfy, Julianne will be your server, and I believe she has something for you.”

“She does?”

But the hostess was already bouncing off just like her ponytail, leaving me to get settled. I’d poured myself a glass of water from the pitcher when another bubbly, pretty woman arrived at our table, holding a truly massive drink.