“Phone,” Chris says, pulling back as a ringing noise breaks the moment between us.
I close my eyes for a moment, feeling my heart race before I reach for my phone on the counter. “It’s my sister,” I say, my breaths a little heavier. “She’s probably calling about the wedding.”
“Oh, right.” Chris runs a hand through his hair, almost forgetting that’s the whole reason he came to stay with me. “When is it again?”
“Saturday.”
“Satu… As in three days from now?” His eyebrows shoot up. “Gabi, are you serious?”
I wince. “I uh… I might have also forgot to ask her if you could come.”
“Jesus.” He closes his eyes, breathing out a sigh. “You’re the most unorganized person I’ve ever met.”
I let out a laugh. “Well you don’t love me for my organization skills,” I joke.
His throat moves when he swallows. “You’re right about that.”
I don’t even have time to dwell on what he meant by that, because the phone rings like crazy between us. “It won’t be a big deal. I’ll just tell her now,” I reassure him, pressing the accept button.
“Have you packed yet?”
I let out a scoff at the sound of my sister’s voice. “Hello to you, too.”
My sister sighs. “I’m serious, Gabi. The wedding is in three days. Have you packed?”
“Of course not.”
“What?” Her yell makes me pull my phone back, wincing at the noise deafening me. “What do you mean, of course not? It’s inthreedays. Why the hell aren’t you packed yet?”
“Because it takes an hour tops,” I tell her.
“Oh god,” my sister says, her voice trembling as if she’s dying. “She’s going to kill me.” I roll my eyes. And everyone saysI’mthe dramatic one.
“Relax,” Rachel, my sister’s soon-to-be-wife, reassures her. “Everything’s going to be fine. Gabi, pack your suitcase.”
I scoff. “You can’t tell me what to do. You’re not my sister.”
“I will be your sister-in-law soon,” she says. “So you better listen to me, and pack your damn suitcase.”
I let out a laugh. “Okay, fine, I’ll pack tonight,” I promise. “I’m only driving up on Friday, so I’ve still got time.”
“Why on earth are you driving?” my sister asks. “I don’t trust you to drive alone.”
“I won’t be alone,” I say, shooting a glance at Chris. “I’m bringing a plus one.”
“You’re kidding,” my sister says. “Please tell me she’s kidding.”
My eyebrows furrow. “I can’t bring a plus one? It’s my birth week.”
“It’s my wedding,” she replies with emphasis. “There’s no such thing as a birth week.”
“Excuse me?” I scoff, shaking my head. “One day isn’t enough to celebrate me. I need a whole week.”
She groans. “I swear to god, Gabi, when you get married, I’m going to get my revenge.”
I chuckle at her empty threat. “It’s just one extra person,” I try to bargain. “Chris is back for the summer, and I kind of invited him to come to the wedding with me,” I explain, glancing at him, noticing him swallow nervously. “I was going to tell you sooner, but I just got caught up in spending time with him and—”
“Wait. Chris?” my sister asks, her voice tinged with surprise. “As in Christopher Hudson?”
