Chapter 6
There’s a pounding in my skull when I finally peel my eyes open the next morning. The sun shines in from the window where I must’ve forgotten to shut the curtains last night in my haste to fall into bed and sleep off all the champagne. Without consuming any kind of water first, apparently.
I blink against the brightness and reach for my phone on the nightstand to check the time, only to be met with a collection of messages. And by collection, I mean a handful from Lola asking how the night went and if I survived, and a few in the siblings chat about brunch.
Wait.
Jane: Wait, we’re still doing brunch today?
Kate: Duh. It’s Sunday
Charlie: We just saw each other last night
Kate: And now we get to see each other again.
Lydia: Yay!
Kate: So see you in an hour!
Lydia: ????
I delete the three sobbing emojis I had typed out and replace them with a thumbs up, then toss my phone and flop onto bed with a groan. This is so much family time for the week, and I have a feeling it will only increase from here the next four months.
Today when I stroll into the Sunshine Cafe—dry this time, albeit a bit hungover—I freeze halfway to the table when my eyes connect with the blue-gray ones I had spent much of last night glaring at.
Reid draws in a breath like he’s preparing for battle, which he very well could be considering how very little we seem to enjoy each other’s presence, and settles back in his chair. I pretend not to notice his biceps flexing in his navy blue T-shirt as he crosses his arms over his broad chest.
Dammit, why does he look good in every article of clothing he owns? Chef coat. Suit and tie. Basic damn T-shirt.
Nope, not acknowledging that today.
A server brushes past me with a tray of food, snapping me out of my intrusive thoughts, and I start walking to the table with purpose.
I stop beside Kate, slapping a hand on the table and propping the other on my hip.
She jumps in her seat and swivels her head to look at me, a hand pressed over her chest like I scared her.
“What is he doing here?” I hiss at Kate.
“He can hear, you know.”
I pretend I don’t hear Reid.
“He’s in the wedding party. I figured we could do some planning,” Kate says, an excitement in her voce that gives me momentary pause.
I don’t want to fight with her ever, let alone when she obviously wants to plan a milestone as big as her wedding, but Reid at something as sacred as Sinclair Sibling Brunch?
I cannot stand for it. Significant others weren’t allowed until after six months of dating.
Mom and dad weren’t even allowed to come along.
And Kate is just inviting Reid? Commandeering this entire brunch to be about her and her wedding?
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Kate asks.
I snap my mouth shut, just now realizing I was gaping at her like a fish. “I just can’t believe you want to plan at Sunday brunch.”
“Why not? We’re all together anyway.” She gestures in the air at Jason, who disappears under the table before producing a thick binder with colorful tabs.
She has a point, and I don’t exactly care to do Sunday brunch and a planning meeting, but still. I have principals to stand on here.
“First of all, it’s supposed to be family and significant others only,” I double down.
Technically it’s supposed to be family and fiancés, but Lydia had a very large public meltdown when Kate tried enforcing the rule and Elise helped us amend the rules to stop the tears.
She broke up with that boyfriend two weeks later so it was all for naught, but I digress.
“And second, it’s family time. To catch up.
Have fun. Talk about mom and dad without them trying to explain how to file taxes or ask for help changing their ringtones. ”
Kate sighs, then tilts her head up at me, a sympathetic look on her face that has me grinding my teeth together. “Jane, if this is because you’re the only one here by yourself—”
“Oh my god,” I interrupt, my gaze, unfortunately, shooting to Reid. He’s watching the entire interaction without expression, but I swear I see his lips purse the tiniest bit in distaste. Great, now he thinks I’m devastated about being single. Spectacular.
“Reid is here alone too!” I say, thrusting a finger in his direction. He arches a brow ever so slightly and I think I catch a flicker of amusement in his gaze, but I trudge on before I can think too much about it.
Kate rolls her eyes. “Yeah, by choice.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? I’m single by choice too.”
She huffs a laugh. “Jane, would you just relax for five minutes instead of making everything about what you want?” Kate says with enough venom that I bite my lip and slide into my seat.
It’s moments like these when I think about defending myself and holding firm on my boundaries. But then I think about how uncomfortable that feels and simultaneously decide that this is a small battle and I don’t mind acquiescing.
That little guilty feeling will go away eventually. I’d rather keep the peace for now.
I feel Reid’s gaze from across the table. I look at him and make a what do you want face. He drags his attention back to Kate and Jason and the giant binder on the table.
Allie blessedly brings my mimosa and latte and I don’t even give her a chance to set the mimosa down. “Honestly, I’ll take a second one right away,” I whisper as Kate drones on. Allie dips her head in a nod and continues delivering drinks to the table as I down half of mine. Kate clears her throat.
I look back at her. “What?”
“Focus.”
I give her a thumbs up in reply as I take another gulp. Allie catches my eye and holds up two fingers with a questioning expression. I look at my nearly gone mimosa, tip it back, and nod. I guess I’ll just be hungover two mornings in a row. She fights a smile as she walks off.
“Okay, so moving on.” Kate pulls papers out of her binder and passes them to each of us. It’s essentially print outs of Pinterest boards for decor, food, games, and a photo backdrop of fresh flowers and fairy lights. “Here are your planning materials for our couples shower.”
“We’re planning this?” Charlie asks. He flips furiously through the pages, eyes widening in panic at each photo and list item. Elise reaches out a hand and gently pats his shoulder.
“Well, I don’t imagine the boys will be as helpful, but yes. Delegate as you will,” Kate says.
I page through the pictures, already cataloguing a mental to-do list. This is where I shine, especially when my family needs me.
I think my love language is acts of service, because I absolutely adore helping people when they need it, and right now, my baby sister needs me. “Do you have vendor lists or anything?”
“Not yet, but I know how great you are at planning stuff, so I figured you’d be able to go through it all so much faster than I could anyways.”
“Sure,” I say back in a trance. I don’t know why I expected anything else.
Anything helpful or any sort of lead or guidance as to her incredibly specific vision, but that would surely be too easy.
“Lydia, do you have any vendor ideas?” Lydia doesn’t look up from her phone where she’s furiously texting, planning pages still untouched on the table in front of her. “Lydia,” I try again.
She finally drags her eyes up from the screen to look at me. “Hmm?”
I draw in a breath for patience. “Do you have any ideas for vendors for the couples shower? Food or flowers or anything?”
“Oh.” A smile touches her lips and she shakes her head. “No, I just assumed you’d know. You’re just so organized.”
“Right,” I say.
“I thought you said this was a planning meeting,” Charlie mutters, setting the papers back on the table and running his fingers through his sandy blonde hair—the only sign of stress he ever shows.
“It is. It’s me telling you what needs to be planned, and then you do it.” Kate punctuates this announcement with a bright, pageant smile.
“Why don’t you just do it? It’s for your wedding.”
That bright smile slips from Kate’s face, being swiftly replaced with narrowed eyes in our brother’s direction. “Charlie, I swear—”
“It’s all under control,” Reid interrupts. “We’ll plan it all and it’ll be great. Promise.”
Jason shoots Reid a grateful look as he hooks an arm around Kate’s rigid shoulders. Reid dips his chin in a nod as if to say I’ve got you, dude.
I roll my eyes. “So noble of you.”
“It is my job as his best man to ensure it’s a great day.”
I thought it was going to be hard enough having to do all the work and have Lydia get all the credit, but now I have to contend with Reid too? Over my dead body.
I turn to Kate now, offering my own encouraging smile. “I’ll make sure it’s the best day ever,” I tell Kate, reaching across the table to grab her hand. She squeezes my fingers. Ever the drama queen, she looks on the brink of crying over Charlie’s outburst. “No, the best wedding ever.”
“Thanks, Jane.” Kate sniffles. I’m not entirely convinced she’s not stage crying, but I’m trying to one-up Reid here, so I lean into it.
“Anything for my baby sister. It’s—” I cut my gaze to Reid, “my duty to ensure you have the perfect day.”
“Duty as a bridesmaid,” he says.
I don’t know if he says it to hurt me or to knock me down a peg, but I refuse to accept it from him.
A bridesmaid is still important. Especially if that bridesmaid is expected to do all the planning.
This shower would be nothing without me and we all know it.
I point a finger at him again. “Still important.”
“Not nearly as important.”
“As who? You?”
He shrugs. “Maid of honor and best man are generally more important than the rest of the bridal party.”
I could genuinely launch myself across the table and shake him right now. I’m actually considering it. Instead, though, I clench my fingers into fists on the table.
“I’m sure I will still knock every single task out of the park better than you can, title or no,” I mutter through gritted teeth.
Reid scoffs. “We’ll see about that.”
“Yes, we will.”
“I’m going to give you the best wedding you’ve ever seen,” Reid says to Jason, but his eyes are pinned on me in challenge.
“No, I am going to give you the best wedding you’ve ever seen,” I say.
“We,” Lydia corrects. I don’t reply. I’m too busy in a stare-down with Reid.
“Great,” Kate claps her hands again. “It will be the best wedding ever.”
So long as I don’t commit a murder, it will be the best wedding ever, and it will be all thanks to me.