Chapter 20
Twenty
Jasmin
The only positive thing about this dress is buying it off the rack. Daniela didn’t need any alterations so we took it home the day we bought it. Now, it’s filling my entire backseat because it’s so freaking puffy.
“Dating one of the owners of the winery has its perks.” Daniela laughs. “I don’t know where I’d get ready if your boyfriend’s sister didn’t offer her house to put on this monstrosity.”
“In the bathroom like you would at most other places. Unless we wanted to pay the massive fee for a room to get ready in.” It’s one of the reasons I’m glad she didn’t choose a botanical gardens in the area. Their bridal rooms for pictures were way out of her budget.
She scrunches up her nose and shakes her head. “Yeah, there’s no way I’d be doing that. Can you imagine the germs that would collect on the bottom of the dress? No, thank you.”
Parker is waiting at the front of the winery as I pull up. He motions for me to stop and I roll down my window.
“Do you want to follow me to my sister’s house? It’s not far.”
“Sure.” I give him a quick kiss as he leans into the car. “Lead the way.”
My sister is holding her hands to her heart and smiling when I glance her way as I wait for Parker to get in his truck. “I’m so happy you finally found someone who makes you happy.”
I did, and that’s the part that sucks because I know it’ll end soon. Especially after his comment at dinner a few weeks ago about being friends after all of this is over. I don’t know if I can only be friends with him. Not when I know what it feels like to be adored by him.
“Yeah. Happy ever after’s all the way around.” I force a smile on my face as we follow him up the driveway.
It only takes a couple of minutes to get to Piper’s house. He was right about her living closest to the winery buildings. A part of me wonders if they were given specific plots or if they chose what piece of land they wanted to live on.
Piper is on her porch bouncing on her toes when we put the car in park. She’s too bubbly for this early in the morning. Or, maybe my coffee hasn’t kicked in yet.
“I can’t wait to see the dress.” She claps before pulling me into a hug, and then doing the same to Daniela. “If you want to store the dress here until the wedding, that’s totally fine. I have an empty closet in the guest room.”
“That’s so sweet, and I’d love that.” She points to the massive bag in my backseat. “It takes up so much room.”
“It’s settled then.” Piper nods. “I’ll help you with the dress, Jasmin. My brother will take you to the guest room where all the things are.”
The smile on my sister’s face makes all of this worth it. Even if it means I’ll leave the wedding broken hearted. Daniela grabs the bag holding her makeup and hair tools and follows Parker inside.
“Thank you for this.” I open the back door and grab the hanger. “It’s one less thing for her to worry about.”
She waits for me to pull the top part of dress out before grabbing the bottom of the bag. The dress is heavy and I have no idea how my sister is going to be able to carry it by herself.
“It’s no problem.” She starts walking us toward the house. “I’m glad it’s making things easier. I sent my boyfriend to the winery to grab one of the golf carts. Parker will get another one when we’re situated. It’ll make getting around the property easier for us and Daniela.”
“You are an angel.” I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to fit her and her dress in the backseat to get pictures at the gazebo in town. Unless she does photos at the one by the pond. I’m hoping that’s the case. There’ll be less chances of her dress getting something on it.
“I do my best.” She laughs as we walk into the house and the first room we see.
“I’ll be back in a bit.” Parker gives me a quick peck before rushing out the door. Clearly, he doesn’t know how long it takes my sister to get ready. But, she does have me and Piper to help her today.
Daniela is already sitting at the vanity plugging in her hair tools for them to heat up. Her makeup is spread out on the top. I hang the dress on the closet door for easy access.
“I’m so happy I get to be a part of this with you. My sister will eventually get married, but she likes to keep things simple. My family will be sick of me when I finally walk down the aisle.”
I can’t help but laugh. “You can’t be that bad.”
“Pfft. You should ask my brother’s. I have a tendency to be dramatic when the situation calls for it.”
“A woman after my own heart.” Daniela giggles.
“Please tell me you’re coming to game night.” Piper directs her question toward me.
“I planned on it after I take my sister home.” It’ll be a nice break from all things wedding.
“Daniela, you’re invited too. Bring your fiancé. It’ll be a blast.” Piper looks between the both of us.
“I don’t think we have any plans tonight. Let me text Jacob. Then I can ride home with him. And it’ll be fun to blow off some steam after pictures.” She looks at me through the mirror. A silent message that she’ll do anything to ensure me and Parker have more alone time together.
“Perfect.” Piper beams. “Now, let’s get you dolled up and ready to take some amazing bridal photos.”
“I’ve got the pizza!” One of Parker’s brothers comes through the front door. Piper’s house isn’t large and I’m surprised it fits so many people. I have no clue how I’m going to keep everyone’s name straight.
Every available seat is taken and some people are sitting on the floor. I guess I didn’t realize how crowded it could get with people bringing their partners. I think one couple even brought their teen. Not that I’m complaining. I’m a guest here.
Daniela and Jacob are off talking to everyone like they are old friends. They only knew three people coming into this. Now they are speaking with someone I don’t even know. I’m tucked away in a corner.
“Are you okay?” Parker moves beside me and wraps his arm around my waist. “We can leave if you want.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just…overwhelmed.” Even at my family functions I stay off to the side.
It can all be too much. Though, I’m more comfortable there because I know my family.
This room is full of strangers. Well, mostly.
I’ve met a good chunk of the Summers siblings.
But I don’t know them well enough to have a conversation.
“If it makes it easier, you can walk around with me and I’ll introduce you to them so it’s not a huge amount of information to keep up with. Lucky for you, most of them will be in their wine glasses by the end of night.”
That makes me smile. Between the loudness and drinks, they are a lot like my family. I hope it doesn’t go until the early hours of the morning though. I do like to sleep at some point.
The first person I meet is the brother who brought the pizza. Peter came with his girlfriend, Callie, and her teenage daughter, Alexandra. That was the most important introduction since he has food and I’m starving. Who knew helping adjust the dress for my sister would be so exhausting?
All I need to meet now are the partners of some of the other siblings.
Beau, I met briefly at the festival. Parker and I rode in the golf cart with him while Piper drove my sister and the photographer.
I don’t know how we managed to get all the shots my sister wanted before the winery opened, but we made it happen.
Paula is talking with Daniela about the band her boyfriend, Tristan, works for.
I didn’t realize Crooked Halo was based here in Asheville.
It must be weird to have musicians that constantly sell out venues to live in the same small town as you.
I’m shocked more people don’t flock to the town for that reason.
“Do the band members have to walk around in disguise when they want to go to the grocery store?” I ask Parker while listening in to their conversation.
“Nope.” He shakes his head and waves at Tristan. “Asheville is pretty protective of their own. They put some of the rabid fans in their place when they need to.”
“Wow. A whole town of protectors.” I laugh and lean against Parker. “That’s pretty amazing.”
“It’s part of the smalltown hospitality. We may gossip about each other, but we also take care of each other when we need to.”
I can’t imagine having a community like that. We take care of our neighborhoods of course, but I can’t tell you about anyone who lives outside of it.
“Holy shit.” Parker mutters and nods to the door. “I can’t believe Pierce is here. He rarely shows up.”
“Be nice.” I whisper. “If you don’t make him feel welcome, he’ll never come again.”
“As long as he isn’t an ass, I won’t be.” I’m pretty sure that’s the best I’m going to get from Parker when it comes to his big brother. Not that I blame him, I’ve seen it in full force.
Piper is pulling out two decks of a card game. It’s one I’ve played with my brother and sister. We only ever had to use one deck, but I can see why they need two.
All of us squish together around the coffee table in the living room. If the family keeps growing, Piper is going to need a new table. Or do game night somewhere else.
“Where’s Phillip?” I hear Parker ask his little sister.
“I have no clue. He said something came up and he wouldn’t make it tonight.”
“That’s not like him.” Parker shakes his head. “I guess you’ll meet him some other time.”
I hope everything is okay with Phillip. Usually if something is out of the ordinary, it’s not good. It can’t be too serious if he gave Piper a heads up. Either way, I’ll meet him soon enough. Or, not at all. This relationship with Parker has an expiration date.
Piper deals the cards and sets the discard pile in the middle of the table. It’s been years since I’ve played Phase10. I hope I remember how to do this. Luckily, Piper has a bunch of the phase cards. They look handmade, but it helps because the decks only come with a few of them.
Everyone is laughing and sharing childhood stories.
It reminds me of my family, and eases some of the nerves I had when I got here.
It’s like being home. The Summers family is so much like ours in some aspects.
I only hope they don’t start a game of spoons.
Based on what Parker said, I’m sure there would be destruction in this small space.
“You’re cheating.” Piper points her finger at Pierce. He has more phases than anyone.
He holds his hands up in surrender. “How can I be cheating? I’m playing the game like the rest of you.”
“Because you’re winning.” Piper rolls her eyes.
“Don’t hate me because I’m paying attention.
” He laughs and it’s nice to see this side of him.
He’s not abrasive like he was the day in the parking lot.
He seems to be at ease and I think all of them needed this.
To be somewhere that isn’t winery to blow off steam and relax.
I hope they see him in another light than the grouchy big brother.
The change is abrupt enough for me to see and I’ve only met him once before tonight. Surely, his siblings see it as well.
“This is going to be a long night.” Parker groans. “Piper doesn’t like losing.”
“That’s fine. I don’t have anywhere to be tomorrow. I can hog your bed all day.”
“That’s what you think.” He winks at me.
He doesn’t realize how much he’s come to mean to me in the short amount of time we’ve been together. The day after the wedding is going to hit me like a ton of bricks and I’m not sure I’ll be okay when the rubble is cleared away.