“No, no thank you,” Ma says and pushes off the table, “we’re having a late dinner down at Iron Grill.” An immediate sense of relief comes over me as I realize they’re leaving. “I just wanted to stop in and say hi to my baby boy.”
I can’t help the flaming blush rising to my cheeks. I’ll be sixty years old and she’ll still be calling me her baby boy, I know it. Ma and Ali stand first, Ali lamenting how she’s starving with all this stress and that I need to get my suit fitted. Immediately.
Thank the good Lord they’re leaving; standing up to give them both a quick farewell hug I finally feel relieved. And that’s when I see Grace walk in from the corner of my eye.
Fuck.
My heart hammers in my chest, and it beats even faster when Ali follows my line of sight and squeals.
“No way! Grace!” A wide smile accompanies Ali as she practically runs to greet a wide-eyed and surprised Grace a few feet from the entrance. Every red alarm bell goes off in my head. Ali’s got her in a hug before Grace knows what hit her.
With Ma in tow, I scold Ali, “Let the woman breathe Ali?”
“So-” my sister lets a now-catching-on Grace go when I stop beside them, feeling caught in a trap. It was a coup. I know it and I stare at both of them, my mother and my sister, letting them know as much, but neither looks at me, all of their attention is on my poor sweetheart.Shit.
“Hi there, Grace,” Ma’s voice is lower than usual as she takes Grace in. Her eyes travel down the blush-colored blouse Grace is wearing, and a smile finally ticks up on Ma’s face.
Damn right. There’s not a single reason Ma shouldn’t like Grace. She’s smart and sweet from head to toe. And looking to really settle down.
Ma should like that, even if I don’t.
“Hi,” Grace looks between the two of them, visibly swallowing as she moves the clutch in her hands back and forth and then stares at me with a pleading look.
“Just go along with it, sweetheart,”I whisper in her ear as I give her a small peck on the cheek, followed by a hug. All for show for my family.Just go along with it. Please. That little peck though. It does something to me. Something that lights up every nerve ending in me.
“Ali,” I say, looking at my sister and then Ma, “Ma, this is Grace.”
“It’s lovely to meet you.” Ma and Ali say almost at the same time before Grace can get a word out. The nervousness is coming off her in waves.
“Same to you,” Grace says in a gentle tone as she smiles shyly and bites down on her lip. “You both look lovely.”
“So like I started to say,” Ali says quickly, “I know we have to go,” she looks at Ma, giving her a look that says,‘we saw her, she’s real, now let’s go and not scare her off,’ and then back at Grace, “but I was wondering...” Her voice gets a little higher as she sways back and forth and looks like she’s holding her breath for a minute.
Is Ali nervous? What the hell does she have up her sleeve?
“Would you like to be my bridesmaid?” Ali says quickly, and I swear all the blood drains from my face. My sister has lost her damn mind. Grace’s pouty lips drop open slightly in surprise and before she can get an answer out, the words rush out of my sister’s mouth, “It’s a small, intimate wedding. Low commitment. Really not a huge deal in terms of setting things up or anything.” Her hands wave animatedly in the air as she continues, “You don’t have to even get a dress. The girls are all wearing their own thing. I just really would love it if you would be in it. You mean something to my brother and that means the world to me.”
Grace’s expression stays completely the same with the exception of her brows raising. I’d laugh if I wasn’t mortified.
“It’s less than two weeks away-” I try to cut in and give Grace an excuse.
“Nonsense,” Ali says with a hurt look. “There’s nothing to it.” She shakes her head and gives Grace those puppy dog eyes that let her get away with murder growing up.
“I don’t have time to really…” Grace swallows thickly and tries to say no, politely. I don’t know why that makes a tinge of hurt settle in my chest. Of course she should say no. That picture we sent them was a lie.
“It would mean the world to me,” Ali repeats and reaches out and grabs Grace’s hand, which Grace holds back. “I know this seems out of the blue, but it’s just that Charlie hasn’t had anyone serious in his life in so long and I really want to welcome you into the family. The numbers are uneven, too. Michael has an extra groomsman.”
I close my eyes, completely embarrassed and mortified.
It’s quiet for a moment, but as I slowly open my eyes I see Grace slowly nodding her head. “I am honored and would love to.”
“Yay!” Ali squeals with excitement again, jumping up and down while hanging on Grace’s shoulder. Shit, I feel like an asshole for dragging Grace into this. “I have a dress appointment next week if you want to come, you have to meet all my friends; they’re dying to meet you. It’s going to work out perfectly. This was meant to be. I just know it was.”
Before I can tell my sister how ridiculous she is, she’s dragging Ma out of the bar and as much as I want to tell them how crazy this is, I’d rather have them out of here as soon as possible. Grace stands in place, holding onto the clutch like it’s going to save her life.
“Lovely to meet you both,” Grace bids them farewell tucking a strand of loose hair from her bun behind her ear.
“It was nice to meet you too, Grace,” Ma responds.
