“Today I am.” I shoot off a text to Madi with the picture attached. She’ll be in awe I’ve already finished what she asked me to do.
“So, youdoknow how to use a phone.”
“Har har,” I say sarcastically. I’m not attached to my phone like most people, and I’m fine with that. More than fine with it. I don’t want to be that reliant on anything. Or anyone, just like I don’t want anyone that reliant on me.
I take one more glance at the photo I sent. Siena looks small in it, surrounded by so many boxes and suitcases. “How are you getting all of this to France?”
“The Floo Network.” She brushes past me and out of the room. “I’m flying with it, of course.”
I glance at the accumulation of boxes once more before following her out of the room. Shewasgoing to need a magical fireplace travel network. “Alone?”
She turns around in the hallway, and I stop short to keep from running into her. “Why? Are you offering your help?”
I open my mouth wordlessly.
She grins like she just won something and heads toward the door. “Didn’t think so. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an entire wedding to rescue from the brink of disaster.” She waits for me to pass through the door and out of her hair.
I glance at that hair, and the memory of my hands in it makes my fingertips tingle. Seven years later. It’s a lot shorter than it was that night, and I wonder if she ever wears extensions anymore. She hasn’t whenever I’ve seen her. Her hair just barely brushes her shoulders.
It’s not like I’ve been pining after her. That episode was a lifetime ago. A memorable episode in that lifetime, but so what? When it comes to dating your sister’s best friends, I’m thoroughly convinced the third time isnotthe charm. Unless by charm we mean certain sibling relationship death.
The only reason I can get away with teasing Madi about me going for Siena is because we’ve had this many years to put the past behind us. It’s like a twisted acknowledgement I haven’t forgotten my crimes, so she doesn’t have to worry about me repeating them.
“Are things really on the brink of disaster?” Apart from buying my plane ticket and paying for my suit, I haven’t thought much about Madi’s wedding.
Siena tilts her head, faintly amused. “Must be nice to just show up on your sister’s wedding day and have everything taken care of.”
I scoff, but there’s not a lot of power behind it. “My flight gets in the daybeforethe wedding, thank you very much, and no one’s asked me to do anythingbutshow up.”
She raises her brows.
“It’s true.”
“Hmm…” She taps her chin with a finger. “Why do you think that is?”
I shrug. “I’d screw things up.”
“You run your own business, Jack. I don’t think your capability is the thing in question.”
She’s not wrong. I run an app development company. It’s small, but it does well. Our current focus is a fitness app, but while my software engineers are doing all sorts of testing, I get to kick my heels and wait—or, more realistically, brainstorm the next app.
“You’re telling me you think Madi wants me helping with the wedding?” I ask.
“I’m telling you I think Madi would be happy foranyshow of interest from you.”
Ouch. That hurt. It’s not that I’m not wanting or willing to help. I’ve just always been reluctant to involve myself too much in Madi’s life. (I can hear her now, saying, “You sure weren’t reluctant involving yourself with my best friends!”). We were both really young when Dad died, and since I was the older of the two of us, so many people seemed to think it was my job to take his place or something. No one knew better than me how impossible that would be. Dad was on a whole different level of amazing. I might as well try to climb Everest tomorrow.
So, I’ve done my best to just… not. And maybe I’ve gone too far.
“Fine.” I clap my hands together. “Put me to work. What’s on your list?”
She lets out a breathy, incredulous laugh. “My list?”
“Yeah. Do you have one?”
“Do I have one?” She stares at me for a second, then turns and walks away. When she reaches the table, she flips open her laptop. Balancing it on her palm, she puts her hand in front of the screen to showcase it.
All I can see from here is a colorful spreadsheet. I approach, leaning toward it and scanning the contents. It’s a massive rainbow of cells with all sorts of headings, dates, names, and notes. Way too much for me to make heads or tails of. A good chunk of the screen is in red, includingsuit alterationsandbachelor party.
