My cheeks still were warm from my forward faux pas, but I made the most handsome man in the bar laugh, so I was calling it a win. I took another sip of my Italian wine.
“You here for the wedding or the graduation?” he asked. I glanced around the hotel bar. The University of Washington graduation was the following day, and so was the wedding. The lobby, bar, and restaurant were swarming with purple and gold tassels, cocktail attire, and out-of-town guests.
I tapped my phone with a wandering finger before answering, “Wedding.”
Usually, I wouldn’t have encouraged this kind of attention. But I didn’t mind it tonight. I had always liked the idea of meeting someone in a city I didn’t live in—even if my apartmentwas only an hour away. It would either be completely romantic, or I would end up on a true crime documentary, and both options sounded wildly exciting.
“Nice,” he said, sipping his wine.
“You?” I asked, rotating my glass in my fingers.
“Oh, I’m not telling you. Stranger danger.”
I laughed. “Oh, so mysterious. You’re going to end up murdering me by the end of the night.”
“Who said we’re hanging out tonight?”
My cheeks warmed again, and I knew I was turning beet red this time. Stupid genetics never allowed me to hide my embarrassment.
His frown morphed into a smile, and my stomach flipped, making me shift on the bar seat. “I’m joking.”
I smiled. “Me too.”
He leans over. “And I’m here for the graduation.”
“I figured,” I said, sipping my wine.
“And why’s that?”
I licked my lips. “Well, it’s my little sister’s wedding.” I paused and looked at him. “I know just about everyone that will be there.”
He nodded and smiled. “Fair.”
“Who’s graduating?” I asked.
“Little brother.”
“Well, congratulations to him,” I nodded, raising my glass. We clinked glasses, both making sure to maintain eye contact again. I smiled to myself. “I love graduations.”
His brow twisted, and he drew back. “Who are you?”
“What? It’s such a huge accomplishment and an incredible reason to celebrate.”
“Excuse me...” he paused for dramatics, “Miss ma’am, graduations are like one hundred hours long and boring enoughto make even the most patient person want to stab their eyes out.”
I laughed, shifting closer with a slight shrug of my shoulders. “I’d rather go to the graduation tomorrow.”
He shook his head. “You’d rather go to my little brother’s five-hour graduation than your little sister’s wedding?”
“Yes.” I took a long drink.
“I don’t believe you,” he said with a breath of a laugh.
“Well,” I begin, resting my glass on the bar top. “You might if you realized I am smack dab in the middle of three daughters, born to Augustus and Ellen McKinley, named the most simple names to balance out our great expectations—Marie, Anna, Jenn. My oldest sister, Marie, is a doctor who managed to get through medical school as a single mom. She met her doctor-husband while there and has lived happily ever after since. And my youngest sister, Jenn, also a doctor, will be marrying the boy next door we knew growing up that magically became a lawyer—because, of course, he did.”
“So because they have successful jobs, you don’t want to celebrate them?” he asked.
I scoffed at his devil’s advocacy. “No,” I emphasized. “I want to go to the wedding. I would justrathergo to a college graduation of some stranger’s little brother. Not because I’m heartless or a bitch, but because I’m tired of being compared to my siblings. Marie had her MD. by this age. Jenn had a ring on her finger by her first year of residency. She got a 4.0. She made the dean’s list. She’s top of the program. She was matched with the most sought-after residency.” I listed each accomplishment off in a snarky tone, and as soon as I tasted my own bitterness in my words, I let out a breath. “They are successful and happy and managed to become doctors like Dad always wanted, and meanwhile, I am just Anna, the certified black sheep of thefamily. Medical school drop-out with a broken engagement who works at a bookstore in Gig Harbor.”
