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Eleven fifty-five…
I was not going to say yes. I was not going to call Patrick just to hear his voice. I wasn’t even going to think about it.
I took off my watch, dropped it in my desk drawer, and slammed it shut.
Minutes later, my phone buzzed, making me jump.
A three-word text stared up at me:I said yes!
I clicked, and a blinding boulder filled the screen.
Light flashed off a thousand facets. I blinked to clear my vision. I was either looking at the biggest diamond in the world, or the shiniest close-up of one.
It took a minute to sink in, and by then my phone was already ringing. I pulled myself together enough to give the right response when I picked up: a long squeal.
“Alexis! I’m so happy for you!” I gushed. “Oh my God, Daniel proposed? When?”
“Just now,” my sister sighed. “I’m so happy too, Christina. There aren’t even words. I wanted you to be the first to know.”
My big sister was a better person than me. When I talked to her, I wanted to be a better person too.
“That means everything to me. Tell me all about it.”
“He reserved a barge,” Alexis began. She always sounded like she was telling you the best kind of secret, and there was no else in the world she wanted to be talking to more. “I should have known he was planning something when we went up the walkway. There were candles absolutely everywhere. They were so beautiful, and he asked if I liked them. But I didn’t have any idea…”
I listened as she gave the blow-by-blow. It was clear that Daniel Villarreal, her adoring med-student boyfriend, had put together a lavish proposal and she was going to be completely humble about it. She was embarrassed about the size of the ring, and Daniel had spentwaytoo much. But he gave her the diamond with so much pride, it melted her heart.
I sighed at the right times, caught up in the magic of my sister’s story. I didn’t say that when she graduated law school next year, she’d be out-earning Daniel’s ass during his residency, so this was his chance to prove his manhood. My parents were puffed up with pride about law school, of course.First lawyer in our family. Did you know she got a full scholarship?No one had any doubt that Alexis would be the nicest lawyer in existence, and also the most successful one.
“I’m so happy for you,” I repeated. “You guys are the sweetest couple.”
“You’ll be my maid of honor, right? And plan my bachelorette party? You always plan the best parties.”
“I’m on it.” I opened my laptop and googledwildest bachelorette party.Alexis wouldn’t want that, but I could entertain myself.
“Thank yousomuch. And put June 24th on your calendar, girl.”
“Alexis?” My fingers paused on the keys. “That’s…fast.”
“It’s more than five months away. Plenty of time to plan a beautiful wedding. You know us, Christina.” Her voice lowered, laughing. “We just can’t wait.”
“Because you’re saving yourselves for marriage?”
“Oh, you. You’re too much.”
It wasn’t a joke. Alexis had held out all these years, waiting for her husband and disappointing legions of boys. As far as I knew, she was still a virgin.
“By the way,” Alexis went on, “Daniel has this cousin. He’s the sweetest guy,sohandsome, and I think you’d really like him—”
“It’s okay, Alexis,” I gritted though a smile. “You don’t need to set me up with your fiancé’s cousin.”
Her voice turned consoling. “I know, honey. It hasn’t been that long since you broke it off with Dexter. He adored you.”
“I’m over Dexter.” I balled my hand in a fist so I wouldn’t see Patrick’s number. “It wasn’t meant to be.”
“Then think about it, okay? Daniel would love to introduce you. You deserve a man who treats you like a queen, Christina. Don’t settle for anything less.”
“Don’t worry,” I told her. “I won’t.”
