My two best friends find that hilarious.
“I really think I am,” I insist. “At least…to some people.”
“Those people have provoked you your entire life,” Sabrina says dryly.
“But that doesn’t mean I have to rise to the occasion and provoke back.” I wave my hand. “And back to Emma. How’s your wedding week? Is it everything you hoped it would be? What’s missing? What else do you need?”
She smiles.
It’s one of those glowy smiles that makes her eyes light up, even if they’re pinched at the edges. “It’s a good week. I have my family. I have my friends. I have my groom. We’re in paradise. I have everything.”
“But…?” Sabrina says.
“No buts.”
There are totallybuts. “C’mon, Em. What’s wrong?” I prod.
She opens her mouth. Closes it again. Then glances around the bistro like she’s afraid someone’s going to overhear her. “Have you noticed that everything’s really…slow?”
“Like island time slow?” Sabrina says, which is complete and total baloney.
“No, like…even slower. Like half the staff isn’t here or something. I thought that first day was a glitch, but now I’m getting worried. Chandler was complaining last night that there’s only been one day when the bar was open at the pool, and it was thirty minutes past his tee time yesterday before the clubhouse opened so he could get his golf cart. And like…we’re almost the only party here, but they still don’t have a room for you, Laney. And—”
“Aw, Em, a few staff shortages won’t ruin your wedding. You still get to be Mrs. Sullivan by the end of the week.” I reach over to squeeze her hand. When I asked what she needed, I thought I’d be calling a cab to run out to a store and pick up a load of candles for her wedding night.
Not that she’d be stressing that the resort isn’t living up to expectations.
And did I hear—
I cut off my own thoughts as Sabrina glares at me with thedo not say what I’m afraid you’re about to saylook.
Right.
I was drunk last night.
Even if I heard what I think I heard about open bungalows, I don’t have the full story.
And honestly?
I don’t know that Iwantto move rooms.
Nothing to do with Theo, I tell myself, though even I think I’m lying. But I’m not lying about the sadness that would happen if I had less kitten time.
I feel very complicated right now.
“It’s just so different todreamabout your wedding and have these expectations than it is toliveit,” Emma says. “Like, I thought meeting my perfect man would be a fairytale, but being in a relationship is a lot of work. And I thought I’d feel this magical sense of being a princess all week, but instead, I’m worrying about if my dad and uncle are getting along okay with all of Chandler’s family, and why there aren’t enough rooms, and if there will be enough food at all the meals, and if Chandler’s really having a good time or if he’s lying to me for my sake, and if Theo’s having fun or if he’s starting to feel…well, just if he's enjoying this week too.”
“You are officially off worrying duty and hereby ordered to spend the rest of the day at the beach,” Sabrina says. “No relatives. No future in-laws. I mean, except me, but I was yours before Chandler was yours, so I don’t count as a future in-law, and who counts cousins-in-law anyway? We’ve already been family forever.”
“I’ll check in again with the desk about extra rooms,” I offer. “And I’ll follow up with catering too.”
“But you have too much else to do because you’rebabysitting my brother.” Emma cringes. “That came out wrong.”
“No, no, that came out right,” Sabrina says with a smile.
None of us laugh though.
Me chiefly because I have no idea what my face is about to do. “Em, you know I’ve never been Theo’s biggest fan, so when I say I don’t think he’s causing trouble on purpose, or even that it wouldbetrouble if it wasn’t your wedding week, that has to count for something, right? Things justhappenwhen he’s around. Let’s be real here. Who sneezes at just the right time to prompt himself getting caught on fire? And who has a collision with a feral pig and then has to hide in the car and wait for a local to rescue you because theone pigon the entire island that’s rabid is theone pigthat you hit?”
