Before I could launch into a discussion with my uncle about the varying clients I had and their investment assets - something my uncle knew well, being that he was an investment banker, my dad gave a big sigh.
"C'mon, Son. Let's not talk shop and bore everyone. Honey, let's put some cake out."
I closed my mouth and frowned at my beer bottle, picking at the label. I was used to my dad showing zero interest in my work, but I had just witnessed my dad ask Barron a barrage of questions about his restaurant business.
"I don't find it boring," my Aunt Kelly piped up. I glanced up at her kind smile, my spirits lifting a dash as I returned her smile in gratitude. Another reason why I adored my aunt and uncle. They always supported me, even if I sometimes did shit that disappointed them.
My gut clenched in fear that they somehow found out about my behavior the weekend of Barron's engagement party. I had spoken with them a fair bit at the party, and with Maria at my side, it was difficult not to have introduced them. They were lovely to her, no surprise. But they stopped including her in their conversation when it became apparent how standoffish she was around them.
The only other time that I felt I had disappointed my aunt was when Eden caught Barron with Lissa in their pool. She was spitting mad that day and kicked everyone out of the house. Maria had been there, but I doubted Aunt Kelly recognized her as the same woman I had brought to the engagement party. At least...I hoped she didn't. However, New Haven was a small town, so she most likely knew who Maria was.
Shit.
I stared moodily out the window into my parent's backyard as I contemplated all the ways I had fucked up lately and the number of people I had pissed off along the way. My body count had grown, but the good news was - it was also decreasing. Starting with my acceptance of the olive branch my cousin handed me by asking me to be his Best Man. I still needed to apologize to Sofia properly. Eden also deserved a conversation.
As I stared into nothing, my gaze suddenly focused on my parent's garden shed at the far end of the garden.
I sat up straight as I realized there was another person I could start making amends to.
"Hey, Dad, do you still have your lawn mower?"
Chapter 10
Sofia
"Ican'tbelieveyou'regetting married in five months!"
"I know," Eden sighed happily as she applied another coat of lavender to her nails. "I can't wait." She gave a happy wiggle.
I laughed at her antics as I screwed the lid back on my favorite Red Velvet nail polish. We were laid out on the floor of my apartment, a stack of magazines scattered about. Our original idea had been to casually go through bridal magazines. Our excitement at Eden's upcoming nuptials bubbled over as we gushed over the high-end designs.
It wasn't long before we started getting overwhelmed by the many options for wedding dresses and veils. A-line, trumpet, mermaid, boho, lace, sweetheart neckline, bateau neckline, elbow length veil, cathedral length veil - the list of choices went on and on.
It got to the point where Eden had to call timeout when Ryan and I got into a heated debate on whether or not Eden should even bother with a veil. Personally, I thought an intricate hairdo and some flowers woven through her strands would look more stunning than a piece of lace hiding her face.
"Well, when you get married, then maybe you can wear your hair like a fucking garden," Ryan had snapped. "You just have to get someone dumb enough to marry you first."
I gasped in indignation, even though I'd said worse things to him, before throwing a magazine at his head.
"Hey! You could've given me a paper cut!"
"Alright! Stop!" Eden had snatched a magazine from my hands, causing me to wince at how close I became to actually getting a paper cut. "Fuck it! This is making my brain hurt. Let's break out the wine."
Ryan blew on his moss-green-colored nails before wiggling his brows at Eden.
"Forget the wedding; where's the honeymoon?"
Eden sighed. "Thinking of South America or maybe Bora Bora. I've never been, but I can picture us in one of those houses in the sea. Swimming, sunbathing-"
"Fucking." I blew on my own nails.
Eden gave me a wink. "Well, that's a given."
"And are you having a bachelorette? Do I need to book in the strippers," I joked.
Eden slowly shifted from lying on her stomach to sitting on her ass, leaning on one hand. "Uh...well, since you brought it up," she started, her face twisting in discomfort as she eyed me.
"Oh, god. What is it?" I braced myself because Eden looked like she was about to tell me that she booked a sky dive or a bungy jump to commemorate her leap into marriage hood. I did not do heights or extreme sports of any kind. Extreme drinking, maybe. Extreme sex. Oooh, now there was an activity I could get behind.
