Page 162 of Cloudy With a Chance of Bad Decisions
It felt like something new had shifted between us. But I didn’t get to dissect it—because someone knocked on the door, and Alex was gone. Our moment of peace was over and chaos descended. Noise filled the gaps in my head as the bridal party entered the room with a squeal, closely followed by the masseuses that Alex had hired.
The rest of the night was a blur of activity.
Alex and I had our toes painted, feet in the pedicure tubs I’d eyed earlier. Yellow and blue, to match our respective friendship bracelets. He’d made a point to tie mine on me, and every time I felt the brush of string a flurry ofbutterflies filled my belly.
I’d made the damn things—and yet…it felt like Alex was the one that’d staked his claim. Like seeing that dangling silver A on my wrist filled him with immense satisfaction.
We both skipped massages in favor of plying Juniper with cupcakes and mimosas like the queen she was. She bickered with Alex. Poked fun at his last hockey game—and the fact that he’d been “stingy.” Stingy with what? I had no idea. The puck?
She also kissed him a lot. Smooched his cheeks until he pushed her off with an annoyed huff and a pleased curl to his lips. She made it obvious how much she appreciated all he’d done. Half drunk on Mimosas, June didn’t hold back.
“You’re such a good brother,” she said. “Which pains me to say, because it’s like, against sibling rules to acknowledge. And your boyfriend is here.”
I flushed, holding on to her glass so she wouldn’t spill—because she’d shoved it into my hands.
“You’re drunk,” Alex said. He arched a brow at me. Following his cue, I set June’s drink as far away from her as I could. She looked adorable and ridiculous, cucumbers on only one of her eyes—because she’d wanted to “see”, and toe spreaders keeping her…well…toes spread? So that the polish dried properly.
“I just want you to be happy,” June sobbed, laying her head on Alex’s shoulder, her solitary cucumber slipping down her cheek. “You look so happy.” Her hand smacked his cheek. Alex caught it, thwarting the next hit, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
“I am happy,” he said.
“But for how long?” June questioned, quieter. “But for—” When Alex released her hand, she patted his cheek again, squishing his face with enthusiasm. His lips puffed out, the devastating fondness in his eyes turning sad for a moment. “How long, Alex?”
I excused myself, because the conversation felt private.
Alex kept glancing at me, like he was uncomfortable with me overhearing. And the last thing I wanted was to betray his trust. Not when he’d been so goddamn thoughtful when it came to mine.
Lacey—because she’d been invited as one of the bridesmaids—kept giving me looks that I ignored, at least until now, seeking her out to distract myself from the twins and their drama.
She was across the room, feet in a pedicure bath, an attractive man kneading her shoulders.
I flopped down beside her, amused to find that she’d painted her toes the same color that I’d painted mine. The masseuse moved on to the next client to offer us some privacy.
“Having fun?” I asked. She paused, fingers on the keyboard of her phone, gaze barely flicking up. Like she hadn’t been watching me the entire time I was here. Judging me.
“Not as much fun as you.” Lacey’s lips curled into a smirk. God, everyone was smirking at me this weekend. I was tempted to abandon her, but of my family, she was the one I’d spent the least amount of quality time with.
“Ha, fucking ha,” I huffed instead of leaving.
She was my little sister. I suppose it was…okay she was giving me shit.
“Mom’s been telling everyone she found you your soulmate,” Lacey informed me.
Of course she was.
She was a gossip connoisseur.
“Can we talk about something—anythingelse?” I begged, leaning back in my seat, bare feet crossing at the ankles.
“Why are your feet pretty?” Lacey scoffed. Mercy, or annoyance? I wasn’t sure. “That’s just…not fair.”
I laughed, wiggling my toes at her just to see her scowl.
For a while we chatted about work. About her new job—and how quickly she was climbing the ranks. We talked about Mavis. About how much sheloved being a mom, but how difficult she found juggling her career and being present for her daughter. She admitted that she didn’t think she’d ever leave Ohio. That our family’s help was the only reason she felt like she was succeeding at raising her daughter.
Which was…food for thought.
If I had children—hell,whenI had children, because it was something I’d always wanted and couldn’t imagine not doing—I couldn’t imagine doing it entirely alone.
