“You’re not in a position to make big statements like that. It’s not fair. To me, or you.”
She’s right. Of course she is.
“Ember!”
Alyssa’s voice rings behind me.
Ember stands, smiling broadly, and steps into Alyssa’s open arms. “Congratulations.”
My brother is by Alyssa’s side, and when Ember pulls back, she turns to him and repeats herself.
Brody opens his arms and doesn’t give Ember a choice. He pulls her into a hug and says something into her ear. She glances at me and laughs. I frown immediately. There’s no telling what that fucker said.
Alyssa pulls Ember into conversation, while Brody zeros in on me.
“You doing okay?”
“I’m better when my brother isn’t talking shit about me to my…” The sentence falls short.
Brody raises his eyebrows but keeps his mouth shut. Ember hasn’t heard my floundering sentence, or if she has, she’s pretending it doesn’t bother her.
“Relax, man.” Brody steps closer, leaning in so were face to face. “I told her she’s the only thing besides soccer that makes you crazy.”
Oh.
Well, that’s true.
Stepping back, he slips a hand around Alyssa’s waist. She stops mid-sentence and gazes up at him.
“We should probably keep greeting people.” Brody looks around. “It’s awkward, but necessary.”
Ember and I send them off and sit back down.
“Now can we go?” I ask, setting my hand on her knee and grabbing a handful of the silky green fabric.
Ember shakes her head. “We have the rest of the night, and I’m not going anywhere. Just enjoy the wedding.”
I sit back, sip from my water, and try to rein in my eagerness. Everything feels more urgent, more important, like every minute I spend with Ember carries more weight than the one before. I can’t help the feeling that there’s a timer on us. More than just me having to go back to Stanford because I have an apartment there. That can be easily dealt with. Break the lease, put Tripp’s stuff in storage, and move back. Dust off my hands and be done with college.
I sit through all the reception rituals. Ember and I find my parents and talk with them. My mother almost falls from her chair when she sees us approaching. Maybe I should’ve told her I was bringing Ember, but I went straight from Ember’s to find Brody at the church, leaving no time for conversation with my mom. My dad is as jolly as ever, but he’s probably had a few glasses of wine. He hugs Ember and tells her she looks just like she did when she was eighteen.
Finally, people begin to filter out. My parents say goodnight, and my dad pulls me aside.
“Is that where you spent last night?” He stuffs his hands in the pockets of his rented tux and ducks his chin, talking quietly.
I glance at Ember. She’s in conversation with Alyssa, and they’re laughing and touching each other’s forearms.
“Yeah. I stayed at Ember’s.”
“Hmm.” He rubs his chin. “You sure that’s a good idea?”
An angry breath jumps out of me. “I’m not having this conversation with anyone else. I’m an adult. So is Ember.”
His hands go up in the air between us, palms out. “Don’t get mad. I’m a concerned parent.” He sighs like he’s letting go of something. “Go have fun. Spend some time with your high school sweetheart. Don’t let your old man stop you.”
I soften a little. “Thanks, Dad.”
He pats my shoulder before he turns away from me. “Johanna,” he calls to my mother, “Take this tired man home.”
