I hoped he didn’t think I was going to let this part go without a fight.
Sunday,I found myself surrounded by more tulle and satin than I’d ever thought possible. It was two weeks away from my sister’s big day, and apparently, now was the only time Sarah could find to schedule her last dress fitting.
Which meant, instead of our usual Sunday tradition of bacon and eggs, I was sipping terrible shop coffee and starving. Sarah had promised me she’d thank me by taking me out to brunch after. I agreed because not only was I the best big brother ever—a fact I told Sarah at least three times that morning—but also because I normally cooked.
“You’re my only big brother; you’re my only brother, period, so that’s cheating. Also, you can’t proclaim yourself to be the best. That’s my job.” Her voice was muffled by the thick curtain of the dressing room, but her sarcastic tone was loud and clear.
“Have you decided on where we’re going for brunch yet?”
“No, I’ll google it.”
Her head popped out from behind the curtain, “Don’t you know what’s good around here? We’re right by your apartment.”
“I haven’t really bothered to check anything out yet.”
She rolled her eyes and disappeared again. “You’ve lived there for three years already. Stop acting like it’s temporary. Just buy the place. At least then I’ll know where to send your mail.”
We’d had this conversation a few times since I’d moved back home for the show, but how could I? It was hard putting roots down anywhere because my next job could be anywhere. Yes, having a more permanent home where my family was would be great, but it was a big decision.
You’d barely believe I was the older sibling the way she acted sometimes, but I was grateful that Sarah did her best to keep me grounded.
“And what if my next job is in LA or Vancouver?”
“Then you can rent it, or Matt and I can housesit, I don’t know. You can figure it out when it happens.” The curtain pulled back, and she stepped out, the softness of the silk dress clashing with the scowl she directed towards me. “What is so wrong about making plans?”
It was the first time I’d seen the dress outside of some screenshots Sarah had texted me months ago. “Wow, Sarah …”
She looked down, smoothing her hands over the material. “It’s ok?”
“You look stunning.”
She blinked rapidly, holding her tears at bay, and I felt a lump form in my throat. “Thanks, Jace.” She turned to the mirror and let out a long breath. “I can’t believe it’s happening.”
“Matt’s a lucky man.”
She turned back to me. “You deserve this, too, someday.” I started to respond, but Sarah waved me off. “I know. You never pictured yourself as the marrying type.”
And the thing was, she was right.
But lately, something had shifted.
In the past, if I gave marriage any thought, it was only to dismiss it as a possibility for far down the road—something to consider once life felt more stable. Once I was in the right place to be the partner I wanted to be.
It wasn’t so long ago that I had needed to take any odd job to pay my rent, including a particularly awful period where my parents had forced me to take money from them so I could continue auditioning. I owed them a lot, literally and figuratively, and I intended to pay back every cent with interest.
So how could I even start thinking about starting my own family?
Which was why it was easier to say I wasn’t interested in marriage than have to answer why I was still single constantly.
Keep things simple. Nothing personal. Nothing lasting.
But with Audrey …
“Actually …”
“What?!” Her shout echoed in the small shop, sending some worried glances in our direction. Sarah smiled as the dressmaker came over to see if everything was alright, and then they both disappeared behind the curtain again so Sarah could get back into her regular clothes.
It wasn’t until we were seated at a nearby cafe, waiting for our meals, that Sarah brought it up again. I was surprised it had taken her this long, to be honest.
