23. Sadie
23
SADIE
The moment we pull into the hotel parking lot and I see Piper waving from the front entrance, the bulk of my worries about the weekend fade—not totally away, but at least into the background.
Her fitted T-shirt has bride emblazoned across the front in shiny gold script. And while Piper is a few inches taller than me and has always been thin, I swear I can see her hip bones jutting out under her black leggings. I get that plenty of brides lose weight before their wedding, but I want to feed my sister. Food has always been one of our love languages.
Her hair, a lighter blonde than her natural shade, is piled on top of her head in a messy bun and her smile looks a little wobbly around the edges. I can relate, as tears prick the back of my eyes. I’ve missed her, and hate that we won’t have much private time to catch up this weekend.
Especially when I have the feeling she needs my support more than ever. The urge to protect and mother Piper is part of me, always. Plenty of people have questioned the sacrifices I made for her, but I’d do it all over again—every challenging, lonely minute.
After Mom died, I needed my sister as much as she needed me. I needed her light and love to get me through the sorrow and grief of losing my only parent. Taking care of Piper meant I wasn’t alone in the world. It gave me the strength to keep our little family going.
Max perks up in the back seat when I reach around and lower his window. He might be more excited than me to see her, which melts my heart.
“I’ll drop you off and then park,” Ian offers like he’s reading my mind again.
I squeeze his arm. “Thank you for everything this weekend.”
He grins. “I haven’t done anything yet.”
But he has, and I’m not talking about two spectacular orgasms. Just by being here, even if this morning was a bit of a stress shitshow, he’s made me feel not alone in a way that’s as vital to me right now as the bond I share with Piper.
I don’t have too much time to consider my feelings, or the fact that I’ve failed at controlling them, because Piper rushes to the car as soon as he pulls under the portico in front of the hotel. I climb out, ready to embrace her, but of course my sister heads straight for the back seat, ignoring both me and Ian.
“Maxie,” she coos, and Max answers with a yelp of delight. She opens the door, and he bolts out like he’s a renegade puppy, not a dignified senior. “Who’s my good boy? Did you miss me like I missed you?”
She crouches down and wraps her arms around his body. Max isn’t one for full-on hugs, but he’ll happily endure the affection for Piper.
“Do you have any hugs left over for me?” I ask, hoping my voice sounds amused and not hurt. I’m joking, but also trying not to be upset that I’m a distant second in the race for my sister’s affection.
“Of course.” Piper straightens and hugs me tightly.
I breathe in her scent, but it’s different than I remember. “You’re wearing a new perfume,” I say as we pull back.
She rolls her eyes. “Bradley said my old vanilla sugar was ‘cloyingly sweet’.” She uses air quotes and looks like she’s trying hard not to roll her eyes again. “I’ve upgraded to something French. Do you like it?”
“It’s classy.” Honestly, it smells like cat pee, but I don’t mention that.
“I’m so glad you’re here, Sads. I just want to come to your room and chill out. Casey is all intense about every dumb detail. Between her and Bradley’s mom…”
She holds out her hands, and I cringe at the nails that have been bitten to the nubs.
“It’s a good thing I’m getting a manicure tomorrow, because I can’t stop gnawing them.”
“Oh, sweetie.” I hug her again. “Weddings are a lot of work, but I’m here now. We’ve got this.”
“Maybe we could duck out after tonight’s dinner and have a sleepover?”
I shake my head. “That’s going to be a little cozy with Ian in the room.”
The flash of disappointment in her hazel eyes sparks a flare of guilt in my chest. I can’t remember ever denying my sister anything she needed. But she’ll have to deal with sleeping arrangements on her own tonight.
When she first told me about the plan for a Vail wedding, I offered to rent an Airbnb and come up a few days early. Some sisterly bonding time sounded nice. But she insisted she wanted to be in the thick of the action with her groom and the bridal party.
Only boring old me cared about recapturing the way things used to be with movie nights and the two of us together. Boring gets a bad rap sometimes.
“Yeah, of course. I can’t wait to meet him. Everybody can’t wait to meet him.” She scratches behind Max’s ears. “I hope it’s okay that this guy stays in your room.”
“Um, sure.” I frown as Max looks up at me with the word traitor in his dark chocolate eyes. “But I thought you wanted to spend your last couple of nights as a single woman with the first love of your life.”
She sighs. “Kristin was supposed to get a room with her boyfriend, but he broke up with her and then cleaned out their bank account, so she’s staying with Casey and me. Annie got jealous that we’re all together and canceled her room. So there’s four of us in my room, and Annie is allergic to dogs.”
“You have four people staying in one room the night before your wedding? Are you getting any sleep?”
“Here we go with Sadie, the wet blanket.” I grit my teeth but plaster on a smile as Bradley joins us. “How do you always manage to sound like an overbearing mother even when you’re not?”
Ouch. I can’t even pretend that question doesn’t hurt. What a dick.
Max moves closer and settles his back end on my foot in solidarity. No crotch love for Bradley. I don’t blame the dog. You couldn’t pay me to get near that thing.
“Come on, babe,” Piper says in a voice I barely recognize as hers. Talk about cloyingly sweet. “Sadie just wants me to get the rest I need to look my best on our wedding day.”
“Of course you’re going to look your best. You’re the hot sister.” Bradley casually rattles off the compliment slash insult like he’s discussing the weather.
It’s hard to believe I ever considered this asshole my friend.
Piper winces and I start to turn away, but a heavy arm wraps around my shoulder.
“Well now, Brian , that was a real asshat thing to say.” Ian points at Piper. “No offense, because you’re lovely, but my heart beats double every time your sister smiles.”
“Sadie has a great smile,” Piper agrees, sounding somewhat dumbfounded. I can’t decide if it’s a reaction to Ian’s overwhelming masculine perfection up close—it’s a heady thing for sure—or hearing someone compliment me. I’m still unaccustomed to it. “It’s our mom’s smile,” she whispers as if just now realizing that.
Ian drops a kiss on the top of my head. “Sadie is beautiful in so many ways. I could spend this whole damn weekend telling people about them.”
He could? Damn, Ian Barlowe is better at this boyfriend thing than I imagined.
My sister looks surprised but genuinely happy at Ian’s praise. “Except this weekend is about Piper,” I say quickly. Flattery and I have a tenuous relationship, and even if Ian’s laying it on thick as part of the arrangement, I could come to rely on the way he makes me feel.
I make introductions as Piper’s gaze continues to dart between Ian and me like she can’t quite believe what she’s witnessing. Join the club, sis.
“Congratulations to both of you,” Ian offers. “Brian, you’re a lucky man.”
“It’s Bradley, but you can call me Brian if you want,” Bradley says as he thrusts out a hand. I smother a snort.
Based on the way Bradley’s wide grin fades, Ian might be squeezing just a bit too hard as they shake.
“I’m sure you didn’t mean to insult my girlfriend, right?”
“Oh no, bro.” Bradley shakes his head and extricates his hand from Ian’s grasp. “Me and Sadie go way back. I’m sure she told you. She followed me— I mean, we went everywhere together in high school and undergrad. It’s like we’re already family.”
“Sure it is, bro .” Ian turns his attention to my sister. “I’ve heard great things about you, Piper.” He leans in to give her a one-armed hug, not releasing his hold on me.
Her eyes widen as she looks at me around his arm. “Wow,” she mouths.
Precisely what I’m thinking. Five minutes, and Ian’s already more than paid his non-existent debt to me.
Piper studies Ian, and some of the initial star-struckness disappears. “Most of what I know about you is from my fiancé since my sister dislikes sharing details of her life. I look forward to getting to know you better this weekend.”
“I like to share my life,” I mutter under my breath. I simply don’t have much practice at it because I’m so used to focusing on everybody else.
“Sadie’s the best,” Bradley adds, nudging Piper out of the way so he’s standing directly in front of Ian. “The guys are excited to have you on the links with us tomorrow, Playmaker. Excited to have you here in general. Hell, if we didn’t already have a minister, I’d ask you to get ordained on one of those internet sites tonight and do the honors yourself.”
He turns to Piper. “That’s not a bad idea. Think about it for the pictures. Me and The Playmaker.”
“How about we focus on you and your bride,” Piper says, her voice tight.
“Yeah, but you’re a given.”
Ian holds onto me tight when I start to lunge at Bradley, and offers a patently fake smile. “Let’s pump the brakes on the idea of me being involved in your ceremony.”
“Right.” Bradley grins. “You’re here for the party.”
“It’s also weird as fuck,” Ian mutters.
His hand starts making circles on the small of my back, helping me keep my frustration and anger in check. This is Piper’s life, and I need to let her make her own decisions, even the bad ones.
“Sadie…” Ian squeezes my shoulder. “How about we head up to the room? I could use a little rest before dinner.”
“Yeah, big drive up from Skylark, right?” Bradley nods like a bobblehead on crack. “I’ve heard you’re the talk of the town. We should send the chicks in with the luggage and grab a beer at the hotel bar.”
Ian winces. “I don’t think so, bro.” He glances down when Max softly whines.
Even the dog knows Bradley’s a tool.
“Sadie, you need to get that thing groomed before the wedding.”
“I just bathed him, Brad. Or should I call you Brian?”
A soft giggle escapes my sister’s throat, and Bradley shoots her a glare.
“I don’t want it shedding all over my tux.”
“He’s not an it , Bradley. He’s my Maxie.” Piper bends down again, pressing her face into the dog’s soft neck.
When she glances up at me, I swear she’s blinking away tears, and it about breaks my heart.
“Let’s take Max for a hike tomorrow morning before we’re due at the spa. Just you and me.”
She smiles as she straightens.
“Wear sunscreen and a hat,” Bradley says.
“Isn’t that cute?” Piper links her fingers with Bradley’s, although I’m not sure he notices. “My groom is worried about me.”
“Worried about having to pay the photographer to photoshop out a sunburn. Playmaker, I’ll take a raincheck on that beer. Seriously, if you don’t have plans before dinner, the guys would love to meet you.”
Ian pulls me a little closer to his body. “We’ll find some way to occupy our time. Don’t you worry, B-Rad. We’ll see you guys at dinner.”
I'm not sure if Bradley picks up on the way Ian’s voice has gone deep and gravelly, but my lady parts practically tremble in anticipation.
“Leave Max with me,” Piper offers. “I’ll take him for a walk.” She grabs the leash that’s poking out from the top of the tote bag on the ground next to Ian.
“Seriously?” Bradley holds up his hands in a lame kind of protest. “I wanted you to meet my cousin, Kyle.”
“Thanks, Piper,” Ian says with a smile. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you, too.”
A blush rises to my sister’s face, which I totally understand, because when Ian Barlowe puts his full attention on you, it’s like being bathed in warm sunlight.
All three of us ignore Bradley as Piper hooks the leash to Max’s collar and heads away from the hotel. “See you later,” she calls over her shoulder.
Bradley mumbles something under his breath.
“You’re a lucky guy.” Ian chucks him on the shoulder with enough force that my future brother-in-law stumbles back a step. “I hope you realize that.”
“Sure,” Bradley agrees, rubbing his shoulder. “See you at dinner.”
Ian grabs our luggage while I pick up the tote bag, and we head into the hotel.
Neither of us mention the obvious fact that my sister is about to marry a complete asshole, but my mind is racing with worries about Piper’s future happiness.
Not enough that I overlook the hotel staff and guests staring at us. I can’t imagine getting used to the attention. I checked us in online, and we don’t bother stopping at the reception desk since the digital key is on the app. Ian offers a few waves as we move through the lobby, but it’s clear he’s on a mission to get to the room.
“Bradley seems like a real catch,” he says when the elevator doors slide closed behind us.
“I don’t think he was that insufferable when we were younger.”
“Or maybe you were just too nice to notice.”
Too lacking in self-esteem is more like it. “I haven’t seen him since I left college after Mom died.” I shake my head. “I understand that he was someone Piper knew in a new city, but my sister is amazing. You met her. She’s gorgeous and kind. She’s a pediatric nurse and has a huge heart. Why is she marrying that…”
“Douche canoe?” Ian supplies.
I laugh, even though it’s not funny. “I always knew he didn’t like pets. I volunteered at a shelter during college, and he’d complain he could smell the animals on me even after I’d showered. But Max is family to Piper, and he doesn’t want her anywhere near him.”
My voice catches as the doors whoosh open, and before Ian can answer, I hurry down the hall toward our room. Am I going to be relegated to the same fate as my sister’s dog? What if they have kids? Will I even get to see my nieces and nephews? Will Piper ever come back to Colorado to visit? Will Bradley let her? How is she marrying someone who might not let her?
I stop at the room as emotions roll over me like a tidal wave. My phone is in my hand, but I can’t move.
If I move, I might burst into tears.
What would my mom think of Piper marrying that dick? She’d hate it just like I hate it. And I hate that there’s nothing I can do to stop my sister from making a huge mistake. All those years of taking care of her, and now I’m about to fail to protect her from what I have no doubt will be a lifetime of unhappiness.