“That’s a vision.”
“Just say the word, Princess.” He bumped his shoulder to mine.
Sensing our presence, Craig’s eyes landed on Ransom and me. His face clouded. His friend pulled him toward his awaiting bride.
“There we go, bud. One step at a time.” Golden Douche grinned.
Hera tramped toward them, crashing her bouquet against the groom’s chest.
“You’re an hour late, moron!”
Dad grunted, rubbing his eyes. “Get me Graham on the phone. I’m going to have to make sure this doesn’t get leaked to the press.”
“I wasn’t feeling well,” Craig said cagily.
“Yeah, well, maybe you should lay off the beer every once in a while,” my sister bit out.
“Get off my case, would you?” Craig flung his arms, weaving his fingers through his combed hair. “You’ve been on my ass for a year now.Lose weight, whiten your teeth, smile for the cameras, clap, monkey, clap. I can’t take this anymore. I can’t takeyouanymore!” He rubbed at his cheek, as if he’d been slapped. “If I’m not good enough for you, just say the word and—”
“I can’t believe you have the audacity to clap back!” Hera cupped her mouth, clearly devastated.
“I can’t believe it took me this long,” Craig retorted.
His friend slinked toward the bar, which wasn’t open yet, desperately searching for someone to serve him. I’d have almost felt sorry for Craig if I didn’t hate him so fiercely.
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news.” A woman in a green suit appeared from under one of the arches, clutching her iPad to her chest. “But we’re on a time crunch here, and we need to wrap up the shoot in less than an hour.”
“Looks like your meltdown’s gonna have to wait.” I pouted to Hera from the safety of being next to Ransom.
“You.” Hera pointed her finger at me, while dragging her future husband toward where my parents were standing. “I’m going to make sure you pay for this. Someone call the photographer.Now.”
The rest of the wedding was surprisingly bearable, everything considered. Even though I didn’t know anyone, people were nice to me. My parents introduced me to their friends and colleagues, proudly presenting me as their philanthropic daughter. But that could’ve been just to save face.Unemployeddidn’t sound quite as charming.
Whenever I felt out of place, I retreated to one of the rooms of the museum with a napkin and a pen and doodled. Doodling slowed down my heart rate. Helped my hands stop shaking. More than anything—it organized the mess in my head.
Ransom was always in my periphery, but never too close. He orbited around me, giving me space and keeping an eye on me at the same time.
After the ceremony came the unrehearsed dinner, and with it, my speech. The couple’s families sat in a row over a long, chiffon-covered table. Candlelight flickered across the garden. Hera looked regal with a crown of flowers in her hair, smiling up at me with admiring eyes. She played the part so well. Only difference was, these days I didn’t envy her for it. I pitied her. Pretending full-time must be exhausting.
I stood up, clinking my fork against my champagne glass. I had not touched a drop of alcohol throughout the wedding. I was proud of myself. Drinking had been my go-to strategy to survive family functions. Today, I was oddly present. I let myself feel, even when it wasn’t pleasant.
Ransom was sitting across the garden on an antique white bench, casually conversing with a man I was pretty sure was from the CIA. I still couldn’t believe I’d made this man break one of his rules and have sex with me.Kissme. A powerful buzz shot through me.
“Hello, all.” I smiled to the audience, peppering the gesture with a little wave. “Truth is, I’ve had a whole speech prepared and memorized for the occasion, but of course, me being me, now that it’s time to say something, I’m going to take a page out of my eyeliner’s book and just wing it.”
Chuckles erupted from across the table, accompanied by light claps.
I turned to look at Hera, whose tight smile collapsed like a poorly-constructed LEGO tower.
“Hera and Craig, Craig and Hera.” I sighed, knowing how stressed out my sister must be. “So perfectly matched, I couldn’t come up with a more fitting couple even if I tried.”
So far, not even one lie, and a very minimal dose of passive-aggressiveness. I was sure the unhappy couple could read between the lines. My hand shook slightly while clasping the champagne glass when I felt Craig’s eyes burning a hole through my cheek. My gaze stumbled to Ransom on instinct. He gave me a curt nod.
Continue. You are standing up for yourself. Fuck them.
“Hera is a woman of many facets. Daughter, sister, doctor, fiancée, a philanthropist. Craig is…you know, Craig.” I hitched one shoulder up. Everyone laughed, well-aware he was not as decorated and celebrated as my sister. “Some of you may wonder—how does a couple stay together for so long? Fifteen years and counting. People are dynamic. They change, evolve. Well, not these two!” I toasted the champagne glass in the air. “Craig and Hera have stayedexactlythe same as they were when they first met. Which is why their relationship works.”
Hera shifted uneasily. Craig wrapped an arm over the back of her chair, shooting my dad an unreadable glare. Maybe he hoped Dad would cut me off. Surprisingly, he didn’t.