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“It’s okay. I’m happy for you.” Mandi smiles at her older sister.
Everyone else offers their congratulations and hugs Nikki.
“Good, while we’re sharing the good news, I wanted to let you all know that I’m bringing someone to the wedding.” Chevelle smiles wide.
“Who did you meet?” Mandi asks.
“Tell me it’s not Cam?” Posey says.
“Of course it’s not Cam. That’s just a childhood infatuation,” Nikki chimes in.
“There’s no infatuation with Cam.” Chevelle inhales a deep breath and turns her head so her sister can’t see her cheeks. When she looks up, our eyes meet, but I try to act unfazed, as though I don’t see the truth in her sister’s words.
“Anyone else have any other big news?” Mandi asks.
“Anyway, Noah, I wanted to tell you… if you’re not moving in with us because of me, I’ll have you know I’m a very good roommate.” Chevelle stares me down.
“Oh, yeah, as long as you don’t mind her taking your clothes out of the dryer before they’re dry so she can use it and don’t care that she doesn’t wipe down the cups after the dishwasher, so they always come out of the cupboard with a little water in the bottom,” Posey says to me.
“That does bring up a good question. Why is Noah staying at the inn? He should be with you at the apartment.” Nikki looks between the two of us.
“He not Noah!” baby Noah screeches. “Me. Noah.”
“Of course, sweetheart,” Nikki softens her voice.
“I’m at the inn all the time anyway.” Mandi shrugs, trying to play it off.
“But when I went over there the other day, you referenced Noah’s room. Wouldn’t he just stay with you?” Posey’s eyebrows rise.
“What? I don’t know. Why are you asking all these questions?”
“I mean, she went for an off-white dress, so it’s not like she’s saving herself,” Dori whispers loudly enough that we all hear her.
“Well, thank you. Noah, did you get that?”
“He not Noah!” Baby Noah screams.
“I think we should go,” I say.
Mandi puts up her hand. “No, let’s just finish this.” She turns to Posey. “Sorry, you’re pregnant, but you’re my sister and you’re in the wedding, looking like a blueberry or not. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll have the baby before the wedding and we can alter the dress.” Then she turns to Nikki. “Yes, you might look like a flapper girl, but it flatters your figure, so deal with it. And lastly, Chevelle…” She picks up a pair of scissors from a nearby table and hands them to her. “Have at it. Is everyone happy now? Thank you all for making this so easy on me. As if there isn’t enough stress with planning a last-minute wedding.”
Mandi stomps out of the room. I slide off the table, picking up Noah, who I swear tries to kick me in the nuts. I hand him to Nikki, then run after Mandi, who’s already at my truck by the time I reach her.
“Hey, you okay?” I click the key fob and she opens the door.
“I’m fine. It’s just all too much.”
I start the truck and we both buckle up. “Tell me where you want to go.”
“Go toward the mountains. There’s a ledge that looks over the bay that I go to a lot.”
I follow her directions, and we end up on a rock ledge near the top of one of the mountains that looks out over the bay. After she gets out of the car, she screams at the top of her lungs, her fists clenched, her mouth wide open as she lets her frustration boil over.
I lean back and watch her, loving that she’s letting me see this side of her. The one that doesn’t have it all together. The one that gets as nutty as the rest of us. And damn if I don’t want to fuck her more than ever right now. This whole display has provided me with a new fantasy—one where we’re fighting one minute and our mouths are smashed together, clothes ripped off the next.
Her head falls back, and she stares at the sky. “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have to see this.”
I approach her and stand beside her. “I feel guilty for asking you to go along with this fake marriage. It’s too much stress, added onto the stress you already had with your business not doing as well as you want.”
