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“His assistant stopped taking my calls, so I went ahead and organised a costume party. But it appears they decided to change everything behind my back without telling me.” I decide to skip over how it was most likely a retaliation, because that doesn’t feel super important to me right now. “I wanted to do something fun for you. I know how much you love dressing up.”
Presley hugs me, not seeming to care if she gets white face paint on her cheek. “Can I say I’m glad that I didn’t come in costume, because I think you would have kicked my butt. This might be your best work ever.”
“Maybe I can pretend to be the entertainment?” I cringe. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Annaleigh, Sherilee and Pauline. Poor Sherilee looks like she’s about to faint. “I don’t want to ruin your fancy night. I’ll head home and change.”
“After you putallthat effort into your costume? No way!” Sincerity shines out of my sister’s eyes—she has something sparkly and gold dusted all over her lids and each time she blinks it’s like staring at a cloud of fairy dust. “You look amazing.”
“I’m an embarrassment.”
“You stand out.” She pressed a hand to my cheek. “You havealwaysstood out in a way that I could only hope to.”
I snort. “Yeah, right.”
Mike storms toward us and he looks royally pissed. “What the hell is going on?”
“There was a mix-up,” Presley says. “It seems there was a miscommunication with your cousin. Where is he, by the way? I’d like to finally meet him so I can give him a piece of my mind.”
“He’s running late. Work.” Mike rolls his eyes. His face is red and splotchy, like he’s battling to hold in what he really wants to say. Seriously, what the hell does my sister see in this guy? “But this is unacceptable.”
“Excuse me?” I’m tempted to see how much it will hurt if I swing my chunky, studded boot into his groin. Knowing how much Presley wants to have kids is the only thing that stops me.
“Are you trying to embarrass your sister?” Mike looks at me as though I’m something slimy that he’s accidentally stepped on. “You’ve got quite the reputation for doing that.”
“What? I’m not trying to embarrass anybody.”
People have gathered closer now to watch the drama unfold. Presley’s eyes are shimmering as if she’s about to burst into tears and I am one more nasty comment away from punching Mike in the nose.
“No? You fly in and fly out whenever you please, always with a sob story so people pay attention to you.” He shakes his head. “You can’t even behave like an adult when it comes to your sister’s wedding. Oh, no, you have to turn it into a competition by trying to change everything behind my cousin’s back.”
So he knows. I wonder if my missing invite was an accident after all. Of all the spiteful, nasty things...
Presley looks at me. “Did you do that?”
Shit. “I wouldn’t have had to if Flynn—or rather, his assistant—would even listen to a single thing I said. I was trying to give you something that you wanted.”
“She didn’t want a costume party,” Mike spits out at me. “This is another instance of you thinking about yourself.”
Of all the things that could possibly hurt me, that statement was at the top of the list. It was a cherished thing between us, harkening back to our childhoods. “Is that true, Pres?”
My twin sister avoids my eyes and it’s like a knife to the gut.
“Okay, wow.” My face fills with heat, shame burning like a bright flame inside me. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“You were so excited.” She wrings her hands. “I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”
“She’s worried you’ll go off the rails and leave again if there’s an argument.” Mike stands close to Presley in a way that makes me want to shove him. But I know that’s my own issues rearing their head—I’m jealous of her. I always have been.
But the costume party was something Igenuinelythought she wanted.
“Can you speak for yourself, Pres?” I ask. The hurt is pouring off me now. “Or are you giving up your voice along with your name?”
Curse my big, bloody filter-less mouth. I regret the words the second they come out of me, because I know they land hard. Her lip quivers and she looks at me like I’ve kicked her puppy. But Presley doesn’t bite back in an argument—she always shuts down when there’s conflict. Every single time.
I wonder if it’s the same with Mike. Does she let him overpower her in an argument?
I love my sister, but I willneverbe like that with a man. It’s why I didn’t go back to Vas no matter how many times he called after the breakup. It’s why I won’t ever get into another relationship with a powerful, strong-willed guy like that ever again.
Presley pulls herself up, straightening her shoulders back and sucks in a breath. “I know you’re lashing out because you’re hurt. But that was really unkind.”
