I shrug. “Do you want me to move your suitcase?” I drop my stuff in a chair. Mom liked the view from my room, so we switched before heading to the rehearsal yesterday.
My dad grabs her from behind, and she giggles and playfully swats at him. “Not in front of the children.”
I grab my phone and ignore my parents’ flirting until they’re gone. But then I spot my mom’s favorite lip gloss on the nightstand and head over to 302 to return it.
As I’m swiping the keycard to get back into my room, the door next to mine opens, and out sweeps Maggie wearing some silky, floaty burgundy concoction that makes her look like a princess with her beautiful long hair.
I smile at her, but her reception is decidedly less friendly than it was yesterday. “Hey. How’d you sleep?”
Her eyes narrow at me so sharply, I almost take a step back. “Why? Did you enjoy keeping me up half the night?”
“What?” The emotion on her face catches me off guard.
“Was that payback for something evil I did to you in high school? Consider me warned.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Never mind,” she mumbles as she stalks off to my sister’s suite down the hall.
I don’t think I’ll ever understand that woman. Flustered, I resolve to stay out of her way. Kayla doesn’t need me and Maggie arguing in the middle of her wedding. When Sebastian texts and asks me to keep an eye out for his sister tonight, I’m worried she might stab that eye with a sharp utensil based on the looks she gives me.
By the time I’m standing on the altar, my brain hurts from trying to figure out what the hell Maggie was bitching at me about.
My eyes slide from my sister to her disgruntled bridesmaid, who’s watching the ceremony with a rapt expression.
Maggie loves Kayla. It’s obvious she adores my entire family. Is it weird that I wish that affection included me?
Afterward, I escort her down the aisle. I’m admittedly tongue-tied. I never know what to say to this girl, and if I attempt to be courteous, I’m afraid she’ll impale me with the very pointy heel of her shoe.
When we reach the courtyard, she releases my arm. I’m about to ask if I did something new to offend her, but I save the question for later when I spot her mom headed for us.
“Mija! Don’t you look beautiful!” Mrs. Morales says before she turns to me. “Michael, qué guapo eres!”
Little Frannie pops out from behind her skirt, and I smile as I watch Maggie scoop her into a hug. “Oh, my goodness! Did you sit through that entire wedding, as quiet as a mouse?”
Frannie nods. “I was good. Really good.”
“You sure were, honeybunch. I might have to make you a batch of those organic oatmeal bars you love before I go back to school.”
Mrs. Morales smiles. “She had her coloring book. It really helped. Plus I brought those fidget toys she loves.”
“Are you guys staying for the reception?” I ask as I lean down to give Mrs. Morales a hug and Frannie a high-five. Frannie only lets her mom and sister hug her, and it’s important people respect that.
“I don’t want to push our luck. I didn’t think we’d be able to pull this off, but we sat in the back. I just wanted to see Kayla’s wedding and see you two all dressed up. Can you scoot together for a photo? Every time I visit my daughter, she’s wearing torn overalls and has paint in her hair. I need to commemorate this special occasion.”
“I don’t always have paint in my hair,” Maggie grouses as she steps next to me.
Her mom looks at us and motions to get closer.
I whisper to Maggie, “I’m going to put my arm around you. Don’t knee me in the balls.”
“I can’t promise anything.”
I almost smile at her acerbic response.
As soon as I drape my arm over her shoulders, I regret it. She smells so damn good, I have to fight the urge to bury my nose in her neck. But spotting her brother Sebastian reminds me why that would be a bad idea.
“Dude!” He holds out his fist, and we do a hand gesture-chest bump combo we came up with when we were in middle school. “Look at you in a tux!”
