CHAPTER 18
Rose
Tess held up a bridal magazine and grinned at the hot pink, off-the-shoulder bridesmaid gown. The model wearing it was her doppelganger. “How do you not love this?” Her face fell as Rachel burst into laughter beside her. “It’s gorgeous! Lace and chiffon!”
As she eyed the bridesmaid dress of Tess’s dreams, Rose’s stomach clenched. She wrinkled her nose before readjusting the pillow beneath her butt on her sister’s living room floor. “Er, I don’t know.”
Actually, I do know!
Tess drained her bottle of beer and rolled her eyes at Rachel’s persistent laughter. She dragged a finger over the glossy page, and her lungs deflated.
“Maybe if it wasn’t so pink?” Rose offered and leaned over the coffee table to examine the dress closer. “I mean, it’s a December wedding. Hot pink might be a bit much.”
Not that the month really matters. The whole wedding is already a bit much.
“All right, maybe,” Tess conceded but swatted Rachel’s leg as her giggles continued. “The style is just lovely though. Maybe if it were royal blue? Or stark silver?”
With a nod, Rose toyed with the beer in her lap as her sister finally came up for air.
“Tess, you’re killing me!” sputtered Rachel.
“What? Come on! This dress is gorgeous!” Her dewy-eyed gaze returned to the glossy page.
“I’m not wearing that.” Rachel snorted. “But this is pretty!” Tapping the model on the opposite side of the spread wearing a tea-length black satin gown, she smacked her lips together. “Rose, what do you think?”
She shrugged. “If I’m being honest, I’d rather you guys just pick something you’re comfortable wearing. It doesn’t have to match or come from a fancy boutique.”
A gasp left Tess’s lips. Pressing a hand to her heart, she feigned a fainting spell and landed in Rachel’s lap.
“You’ve killed her, Rose!” Rachel yelled and fanned Tess’s face with the bridal magazine. “Quick! Take it back! Ryan will murder us if she dies on our watch!”
Snickering at the two tipsy ladies rolling and cackling on the floor, her heart warmed. Their love and support filled her soul with happiness despite the topic of conversation.
“You’re both ridiculous,” she mumbled before swallowing the last of her warm beer.
“Oh, come on! You’re the one being ridiculous!” Rachel stood and collected the growing pile of empty beer bottles. “You won’t make a decision on anything!” She scoffed and stepped toward the kitchen.
The rattle of glass bottles echoed as her sister stumbled around the adjacent room. Shaking her head at Rachel’s accusation, her gaze lifted to Tess.
“She’s right, you know.” With a shrug, Tess gripped a throw pillow and squeezed it against her chest. “I mean, I don’t want to overstep here, but is everything okay?”
The question punctured the remnants of the silly mood. The air grew heavy as the weight of Tess’s concern sank in. Eyeing the blonde perched on the edge of the couch, she blew out a slow breath.
Admit it. Nothing is okay.
Rose opened her mouth to speak, but Rachel paraded into the room with another round of clinking beer bottles. She pried off the caps and handed them out before returning to her seat on the floor, oblivious to the shift in mood and unanswered question.
“All right, sis, jokes aside, I actually really need you to make a decision on a date for the bridal shower. Miguel said we can use Pier Ninety-Two’s private party room.”
Her stomach churned. Sucking in a quick breath, Rose nodded and cleared her throat. “Umm, yeah... okay.”
Rachel giggled. “My God, Rose, it’s your bridal shower! It’s okay to smile!”
Forcing her lips to twist into a grin, she battled the impending flush on her cheeks—and lost. “What dates were you considering?” she choked out.
Tess gripped her phone and tapped the screen. Her gaze lifted, stealing a quick glance at Rose before reading off the options. “We were thinking mid-October. Er, either Saturday the 10th or 17th,” she muttered.
“Does it have to be on a Saturday?”
“The guest list will be pretty short if we opt for a Tuesday.” Rachel sneered. “Though I’d probably save some money...”
Rose dropped her elbows on the coffee table and sighed. “I just meant that I’m usually on the schedule most Saturdays.”
“Won’t be an issue.” Rachel winked and took a swig. “I’m fucking your boss.”
Tess shrieked with immediate amusement. “Oh, my God, Rach!” she cackled.
Following Tess’s lead, a genuine bark of laughter left her lips as the last several weeks in her new role as head chef at Pier Ninety-Two swirled in her mind—the job opportunity of a lifetime, all thanks to her sister.
And the man she’s fucking.
Widening her eyes at the sequence of events that led her to Miguel’s restaurant, she released a heavy exhale. “Yeah, well, it’s thanks to me and Cole that you met him in the first place.” Snorting at the memory of meeting Miguel at their engagement party, she took a sip of beer.
Beside her, Tess continued with her drunken fit of giggles. “Well, if we’re playing that game, it’s really thanks to me that you met him. I suggested Pier Ninety-Two for the party in the first place!” Lifting her eyes to the ceiling, she smirked before furrowing her brow. “Wait... wasn’t Ian there? You guys were still dating at the engagement party.”
Rachel’s smile disappeared. The laughter and energy suddenly disintegrated at the innocent mention of her star-gazing ex.
“Oh, that’s weird!” Tess continued. “You met your future boyfriend while having dinner with your current boyfriend,” she muttered as if two plus two equals four.
Rachel rolled her head around her neck. She fell silent, and her cheeks flushed as she leaned back on her palms.
What’s that about?
“Rachel?”
With a groan, she fell fully to the floor.
“Hey, what’s your deal?” Rose nudged her in the leg with her toes.
Come on, let’s talk about anything else but the wedding.
“He’s been texting me again,” Rachel whispered and pressed her hands over her face.
“Who is?” asked Tess.
“Ian.”
Rose choked on the beer sliding down her throat. She sputtered and shook her head. “Wait, what? Why?”
Rachel slid her phone across the carpet in Rose’s direction. “It started last Sunday.”
“What does he want?” Tess crawled around the table and peered over Rose’s shoulder as she pulled up the text history. “Oh shit, he wants you back?”
Rachel groaned again as Rose studied the final text.
Sent just last evening, Ian’s desire for her sister squeezed her heart with his sappy admission and fond retelling of their romantic memories. “Geez, Rach, this guy still has it bad for you.”
“Which isn’t fair! He’s the one who broke up with me!” With a shrug, Rachel rammed her eyes shut. “It’s not fair that he’s just now realizing he made a mistake.”
Nodding along as her sister vented, Rose scrolled through Ian’s pleas once more.
Geez, it’s like one text per day begging for you back.
“You know what? It doesn’t matter. I’ve moved on.”
“You haven’t told him that though,” said Rose as she held up the phone. Tapping the screen, she tilted her head.
“Oh! You need to tell him you have a new boyfriend.” Tess stole the phone from Rose. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I liked Ian. But Miguel—”
“Is the one I want.” Rachel finished her sentence and dragged a hand through her messy hair.
“Then why haven’t you told Ian that?” Gripping her beer, Rose brought the bottle to her lips and gulped, basking in the fog clouding her brain and the shift in conversation. “You need to text him back and say you’re not interested.”
Rachel hung her head.
“And,” Rose added, “if I were you, I’d tell Miguel about all of this, too.”
“It’s not that simple.” Rachel groaned as Tess sent the phone sliding back across the carpet in her direction.
“You just told us you know you want Miguel,” said Tess. “So, what’s the problem? Break Ian’s heart right back and tell him no.”
The crease on Rachel’s forehead deepened as tears pooled in her eyes. She swiped at them before gulping her beer. “I don’t know, you guys,” she whispered. “I really do love Miguel. He’s absolutely amazing. Literally, everything I could ever want in a man. Am I stupid for even thinking about Ian again?”
“Yeah, you are.” Rose bobbed her head up and down. Like, really stupid. “He broke your heart. Smashed it to pieces, and let’s be honest. You guys had nothing in common.” Scowling at the recall of her sister’s mopey existence following the aftermath of their breakup, she huffed out a breath. “You are way better off with Miguel.”
Rachel rolled her eyes. “You’re only saying that because he gave you a job.”
“No, I’m not,” Rose challenged. “I saw what losing Ian did to you.” Gesturing toward Tess, she sighed. “We both did.”
“It’s true. Stop and think for a minute,” she added.
“All I’ve been doing is thinking!” roared Rachel. “Night and day, I think about Ian’s texts and then feel sick to my stomach with guilt for avoiding Miguel all week.” She slumped black to the floor.
You really did fall for Ian, didn’t you?
“Oh! I have an idea!” Gripping Rachel’s canvas bag, Tess pulled out her tablet with a mischievous smile. “Ian and Miguel. Let’s make a pro and con list for each.”
Giggling at the ridiculous suggestion, Rose hiccupped. “How did this just turn into a seventh-grade sleepover?”
Tess batted her eyes and laid the tablet on the coffee table. She gripped the stylus and opened a new note before writing Miguel’s name on the left and Ian’s name on the right. Dividing the list down the middle with a sloppy line, she grinned. “I’ll get us started on the pros,” she said and wrote the words super smart below Ian and super sexy beneath Miguel.
Heat thundered through her. The alcohol in her veins loosened her tongue as she pointed to Miguel’s first pro. “That’s the truth!” Laughing at the embarrassment flushing Rachel’s cheeks, Rose nudged Tess. “Go ahead and add ‘successful business owner’,” she instructed.
“You guys, this is—”
“Shh! This is good stuff, Rach!” Swatting her hand away, Tess wrote down Rose’s bullet point for Miguel. “Okay, let’s also add ‘exotic and bilingual’. He speaks Spanish, right?”
Rachel nodded but crawled forward to examine the list closer. “All right, fine...” With a roll of her eyes, she pointed to the empty space below Miguel’s list. “If we’re doing this, let me help.” She lifted her gaze to the ceiling as a smile lit up her face.
Rose grinned as her sister’s lips parted, ready to flood the list with obvious affection.
“Write down that he’s an amazing uncle who helps and supports his sister.” Her finger moved to the next open space. “He puts everyone’s needs above his own.” Blushing as Tess’s hand flew across the screen, Rachel moved her finger lower with each subsequent item. “Add in that he’s fucking incredible in bed, has a soft, romantic heart, and cooks. Oh, and bakes, too!”
“Do you have anything for Ian’s column?” Rose snorted.
Rachel shook her head. “I’m not done with Miguel yet.” Resuming the grin on her lips, she pointed to the list’s next blank space. “He’s also honest, hardworking, and loyal. Not to mention supportive, caring, and—”
“Rachel?” Rose leaned forward and squeezed her arm. “You don’t need to make this list.” The sudden tears appearing on her sister’s face urged her on. With a genuine smile, she tugged the stylus from Tess’s grip and crossed out Ian’s name. “There’s nothing you can write here that competes with what you feel for Miguel.”
Nodding along, Tess pointed to the lengthy list. “Rose is right,” she whispered.
Rachel mopped up the tears staining her skin. With a sniffle, she closed her eyes and leaned back against the couch. “Thanks, you guys,” she whispered. “I don’t know what I’ve been thinking.”
Rose shrugged. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. We both know you fell for Ian, even if you didn’t mean to. But trust me, you’re making the right choice.” She tapped the screen again on the tablet. “Just tell Ian to fuck off.”
“And tell Miguel about these texts.” Tess hiccupped. “Trust me, if there’s anything I’ve learned in the last few years, honesty really is the best policy. Come clean about this.”
Rose nodded and turned back to the bridal magazine as Tess’s advice settled in her heart. Zeroing in on the hot pink bridesmaid dress once more, she sighed.
If honesty is the best policy, I’m dooming my own relationship.
Blinking back the sudden tears burning behind her lids, she bit her bottom lip. “Cole...” she whispered.
How do I tell you the truth though?