It can’t be, and yet... I’d know those legs anywhere. And that ass. Goddamn, but I’ve had dreams about it. And sure, she said she was local, but what are the odds? Yes, we’re in a tiny tourist town on the Eastern Shore, but still. There’s no way Grace is actually here at my sister’s engagement party. Is she?
Before I can get a closer look, she’s gone. There’s no sign of her, and I’ve got a clear view of the kitchen. I shake my head as if that will help me clear it.
“You okay, man?” Gavin asks.
“Yea, yea. I’m good.” I assure him.
“Eat up.” He nods toward my plate. “That’s an order from the groom himself. Simon said he wants no leftovers in the house. He said that if we don’t eat it here, we’re taking it with us. Poor Lainie just can’t have it in the house. I guess she’s getting worse.”
What the actual fuck? I swear to Christ if Simon has my sister on a diet, I’ll fucking kill him. But that doesn’t make sense. That’s my mom’s style, not my future brother-in-law’s.
“Shit. You’re right on the money, Gav. I just got a text from Molly. You guys sit tight and act like everything’s cool. I’m gonna go check on things. Molly said Lainie fainted.”
What the hell is happening right now?
Nick cuffs my shoulder. “You coming, man? She’s your sister. And no offense, but I’d bet your mother has the bedside manner of Nurse Ratched. Looks like you’re up.”
I follow him into the house and up the stairs to Simon and Elaine’s room, where I hear concerned voices. I’m not going to lie, I’m freaking the hell out right now. If the wedding is causing her this much stress, they need to elope. And I’m more than happy to tell them so.
Nick knocks twice, announces us, and we head inside. A shirtless Simon is on the bed, and he’s got Elaine in his arms. If possible, she looks more tired than she did an hour ago. And she’s crying.
That’s it. I’m done.
I stride toward them, my voice cold, and my words clear. “Someone needs to tell me what the hell is going on in here, why my sister looks like a stiff wind could blow her over, and why the fuck she’s crying.”
“I’ll be happy to fill you in, if you can dial the jackass down to five.” A bodiless voice calls from the ensuite bathroom. The tap water is running, but I know that voice. I’ve heard it in my head every day since December 22nd.
In all her pin-up glory, Grace saunters over to the bed, drapes a cool cloth on the back of my sister’s neck and hands Simon a dry towel and a glass of water. Her black pencil skirt pulls tight across her hips and her dark red blouse hints at cleavage I know firsthand to be spectacular.
Annoyance is clear in the set of her shoulders as she deigns to look up at me. I’ve got a solid three inches on her, despite those sexy-as-fuck heels.
I recognized her voice, but she didn’t recognize mine, that much is obvious from the open-mouthed gape pointed in my direction.
I can almost see the wheels spinning in her head. She’s smart, my Grace. I know that much from our brief night together. And based on the words stuck in her mouth, all fighting to come out as her brain puzzles this together, I can tell she hates to be caught off guard.
“Marc?” That one word is quiet, low, and filled with confusion and disbelief.
“Everett Marc Madigan.” I clarify and nod. “Lovely to see you again, Grace.”
“Molly Grace Randall…” Her tone is still soft, not that it would matter. My sister and her fiancé are carrying on a full conversation mere feet away from us, totally unaware of our awkward reunion. Nick’s oblivious, too, just scrolling on his phone.
Jesus. Grace is Molly? My Grace is actually my sister’s best friend? The woman I’ve been hearing about at every opportunity? The one I’ve been told I just have to meet? Little does Elaine know that Molly and I have definitely met and are intimately acquainted. Hell.
I’m not sure how long we stare at each other, both of us attempting to make sense of this new reality.
I, for one, am jarred from my own thoughts when I hear my sister sob, “I can’t believe I threw up on you.”
All the credit in the world goes to Simon, who laughs it off as he rubs her back. “It’s fine, really. See? I’m all cleaned up. Besides, it’s kind of my fault you can’t stop puking anyway, so…”
“Ha. Not entirely. It takes two, as you well know.”
“Accurate, but I still feel awful that you have to go through this. And don’t worry about me, okay, Lainie. I’m just getting my practice in. When this little peanut makes his or her appearance, I’m sure to get puked on again.”
“Wait. What?” I don’t realize I said that aloud until all eyes turn toward me.
“Surprise, Ev. You’re going to be an uncle!” My sister smiles weakly.
“Holy shit, kid. You okay?”
