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“Seriously? That’s what this is about?” My twin sister looks incredulously at her future husband.
We’re at the rehearsal dinner and Joe and I have done our best to avoid each other. My sister seems to have noticed. And from the look on her face she’s not happy.
“Any idea what that’s about?” Greg asks. I shake my head but am getting the feeling it has something to do with me and the best man when my sister stalks toward me.
“Come with me. Now,” she says before turning to face Joe. “You too.”
Every pair of eyes is on us, and I feel heat rising in my cheeks. I get up and follow her. I mean, what option do I have? She’s the bride, and she’s clearly upset.
I do my best to ignore Joe, who falls into step beside me.
We walk down the hall, out the back door, and into the yard. When we’re well outside of the view of prying eyes in the house, sheltered by the low light of the setting sun, Gwen turns and glares at both of us.
“For two intelligent people, the two of you are incredibly stupid. Have you talked about what’s going on?” she asks.
“I don’t think—”
“Believe me, it is my problem. Because it’s affecting my wedding. Let’s not even mention that both of you promised us this wouldn’t happen.” She holds up her hand when both Joe and I try to speak. “I’m going to say my piece, and neither of you will interrupt me.”
I nod, still doing everything I can to ignore Joe. It’s what’s keeping me sane. Pretend he doesn’t exist. A few more weeks and the movie will be done. He’ll go back to California, and I can go back to my comfortable old life.
“Joe, I’m going to tell you this, because my sister is too ... I don’t know what she is. Scared, maybe? Nevermind. We saw pictures of you taking that actress from your movie out to dinner. The two of you looked pretty cozy.”
“Alice and I are friends. She needed someone to talk to.”
Gwen’s hand flies up again. “I know that. Greg told me. But Fiona doesn’t. All she knows is that you’ve spent less and less time with her. Since she didn’t bother confronting you, she’s been imagining the worst. Right?”
My sister looks at me. I don’t know what to say, and she’s told me to stay quiet. It’s a copout, but it’s all I’ve got. I want to leave. Hide. Crawl under the thick comforter on my bed and hide from the world.
“Is that why you’ve been so distant?” Joe asks. His words cut through the fear and panic.
“My work here is done. Don’t even think about coming back inside until you’ve worked this out. And don’t make me come back out here.” Gwen stares first at me, then at Joe before stalking back inside, shutting the door behind her.
Joe turns to look at me, and the urge to run becomes stronger. “Is it true? You think Alice and I have something going on?”
“I don’t know what to think. And what does it matter? You and I don't work.” I turn to leave when a gentle hand on my shoulder stops me.
“Alice is having a hard time being away from home. Away from her fiancé. His name is Micah.” His voice is soft.
“She’s engaged?” I feel sure I would have heard something about that. She was an up-and-coming actress who was getting plenty of press lately.
“She is. They are getting married next year. Her agent wants her to keep it quiet. Keep up the image of the girl next door. It’s a big part of the trouble she and Micah are having.”
“That’s ridiculous. She should be able to make an engagement public. What does he expect her to do? Keep the marriage quiet too?” I turn to look at Joe, my indignation making me forget about our issues.
“I have no idea. We’ve been talking. I tried to get her a few days off to go see him, and we’ve smuggled him in for a day.” He smiles, no doubt involved in some complicated cloak-and-dagger scheme to get the fiancé in and out of town without the press or anyone else—me included—getting a whiff of it.
“That’s what those pictures were about?” I ask.
“I haven’t seen them, but yes, I had dinner with Alice one night. She got a call from Micah on set, and I could tell she was upset. It’s when we started talking. I didn’t realize anyone took pictures.”
“I want to believe you ...”
“I can call her.” Joe pulls out his phone. The sincerity in his eyes convinces me that I don’t need some sort of proof.
“I believe you. Why didn’t you talk to me? Tell me about what’s going on with Alice? I could have helped.”
“She told me in confidence. I wasn’t going to break that, and honestly, I’ve been too exhausted to realize something serious was wrong with us.” He shoves his fingers through his hair.
