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I faked my smile in one photo, ruined two others out of sheer spite, kicked the happy bride in the shin when no one was looking, hissed in her face, and returned to my seat.
He had a fresh drink for me when I returned to his side.
“Was it terrible for you, Petra?”
“Less than you’d think and directed more at my sister. I mean, come on.” I watched Ava slap away Kevin’s hands as they posed again. “I get his motivation but didn’t get hers.”
“How can you not? She wanted to do one thing before you did. Wanted to be better than you in some way.”
I took a long sip of my much-needed alcoholic beverage. “Eventually, I probably would have married him because I was bored and tired of getting the questions about a husband. Witnessing my sister give it to him in the ass saved me from myself.”
Jack choked on his drink and I slapped him on the back.
My mother appeared at my side. “Darling, come with me for five minutes. I apologize, Jack.”
“No need.” He stood with a small bow. “I see where Petra gets her exceptional beauty, Ms. Andreadis.”
“You charming man,” my mother murmured.
It was a rare feat for a man to make me speechless. “Thanks. I-I guess I’ll see you later, Jack.”
“I’ll wait.”
My eyes widened and I gestured to the party. “Shouldn’t you mingle or something?”
“Absolutely not.”
When he said nothing else, I gave him a smile and followed my mom. “Is something wrong?”
“Yes, Petra. I know your sister snipped off your straps and I couldn’t get the seamstress here until a few minutes ago.”
An older woman smiled as we entered the bridal suite. “Hello, miss. I’m going to quickly sew in a halter for you. It will give you a lot more confidence.” She made a face. “There’s nothing I can do about that color or cut.”
“Keeping my boobsinsidethe bodice is a huge plus. Thanks.”
It took her ten minutes to affix a life-saving bit of fabric that looped around my neck and attached to either side of the top seam. The moment I stepped back in the dress, I felt better.
Mom pressed her cheek to mine. “We’ll try not to return the favor when you marry one day.”
“No promises,” I murmured.
“Understood.” She smoothed my black hair that the stylist twisted into a complicated up-do earlier. “You’re striking no matter what you’re wearing. Go have some fun.”
I tilted my head. “Have you talked to Jack before?”
“Briefly. Don’t keep him waiting, darling.”
Stepping back into the ridiculously high heels I loved, I returned to the main floor. Jack sat a few feet from where I left him at a small table.
He stood with a smile when I approached. “Ah. A precaution against wardrobe malfunction. Not one I’m certain Ipreferif my male lizard brain is being entirely honest.”
He pulled out a chair and bent to say at my ear, “I’ve bribed the wait staff to keep them coming. You were in the middle of telling me your reaction to our siblings’ dreadful behavior.”
More than a little flustered, I watched him settle in the other chair. We were close enough to speak privately.
“Where was I?” I smiled as the waiter placed fresh drinks between us and sipped mine gratefully.
“That you’d have married my prat of a brother out of boredom but watching your sister peg him saved you from choosing a life of supporting his worthless ass.”
