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I let out a low whistle. “Jesus, Todd.”
He smiled at me. “That’s another good thing about not being involved in the planning. Just one more thing I didn’t want to know.”
I winced a little at that, thinking about what I’d told him about Evie. I’d never apologized to him about it.
“Todd, we never talked about that night again—”
“Jesus, James. Stop.” He looked at me, incredulous. “Not only is now not a good time, but speaking of timing—look, I’m here, right? I’m obviously over it. You should be, too.”
I laughed a little, and then I grinned at him, impressed. “Did you just out-big-brother me?”
“Yes,” he said, grinning back at me. “Yes, I did. Now shut up and let me get married, already.”
The music started. My parents had gone back and walked down the aisle first, followed by Evie’s mom. Then one after another, Evie’s sinewy cousins and friends came down the aisle. I was relieved and grateful that Todd had spared his groomsmen that tradition; we’d been able to enter through the side door and stand with him at the front. I could see Audrey in her pew. I smiled at her, fighting the overwhelming urge I had to wave.
She smiled back at me, making my heart stop. Cole saw us and grinned at me from farther down the bench—I really had to stop being such a little bitch. He was going to be relentless on this trip otherwise.
Finally, the wedding processional started. Everyone stood. Todd clasped his hands in front of him, looking expectant and happy. I admired him. He knew what he wanted, and he was going for it—no matter what I or anyone else had said.
My little brother had bigger balls than I’d thought.
Then came Evie, in an enormous crystal-encrusted dress. I was surprised she could lug it down the aisle, bony as she was. Her father walked beside her, tall and proud, ready to give her away to one of the richest families in Massachusetts.
Evie reached us and beamed at Todd from behind her veil. He clasped her hands. She looked absolutely thrilled. Maybe she really was sincere, I thought.
If Todd could forgive her, maybe I should, too.
The priest started speaking, and I turned my attention to him. Until a few moments later, when I saw a flash of pale yellow.
And I turned to see Audrey hustling down the aisle and out of the church just as fast as she could go.
Audrey
“Hey, Dre!” Jenny pulled me in for a hug.
I was relieved to be next to her, to be distracted by her gorgeous dress. “You are stunning,” I said. She was wearing a long, jewel-toned mermaid gown, fitted to every inch of all her luscious inches. Her hair was also up in a bun. Large emerald earrings sparked on her ears. She looked classy and almost regal.
“Aw, thanks Dre. I guess I clean up okay,” she said, beaming at me in pleasure. “Cole bought the dress for me this morning. And the earrings.” Her skin looked flushed and glowing, like she had a very good-looking fever.
They must have had fun shopping again.
“That was nice,” I said to him. He was looking sharp in a black suit.
He gave me a big grin. “It was my pleasure. Jenny looks beautiful.” They clasped their hands together, and Cole moved in for a quick kiss. I moved away from them a little; it was suddenly getting hot in our aisle.
When Todd and his attendants came out, I tried not to stare at James. Tried and failed. He was so handsome in that tux, his huge shoulders visible under it, his steel-gray hair tousled to perfection. At one point he smiled at me, and my heart stopped.
I was going to have to give him an answer about what I wanted to happen after our trip. And even though I knew exactly what I wanted, I still had no idea what the right answer was.
“I still can’t believe he ate that crab cake, Audrey,” Cole said, pulling me from staring at James.
“Huh?” I asked.
“The crab cake you fed James. That first night I met you,” he said. “He hates crab. Loathes it.”
“I didn’t know,” I said, sheepish. “He didn’t say anything.”
Cole looked at me for a beat. “He must be completely in love with you.”
