The triplets’ parents sold their share of the coffee shop to Chandler’s family too, but Jack, Lucky, and Decker still had the option, just like Sabrina, to work at Bean & Nugget whenever they wanted to. None of them were interested though. They found their own path. Did their own thing.
But they’re still in the family.
Still Chandler’s cousins.
Sabrina’s too.
Soon to be Emma’s cousins-in-law.
I grab my friend by the collar and pull him down to face level with me. “Is this gonna hurt Emma?”
I expect him to brush it off. To tell me she knows, because theydon’t keep secrets.
But the grim set of his mouth is doing some talking for him. “She loves him, dude. She’s been his wife in her heart for a long time. Today? This is just a formality. Bean & Nugget having some struggles won’t change that.”
Not the reassurance I was looking for.
“Hope it works out with you and Laney.” He steps back from my door. “Wouldn’t mind being related to both of you. Later.”
I drop my head to the steering wheel while he walks away.
I have a wedding to set up. Final calls to make. Things to check on.
So that my sister can have all of her dreams come true.
But all I want is Laney. I want her to tell me this is the right thing to do.
She makes me feel okay. Valued for who I am. Understood.Accepted.
On a day when nothing feels right, I could go for a little reassurance.
But she has her own job today.
Time to get busy doing mine.
32
Laney
The champagne is flowingin the limo as we pull up in front of the spa where we’re doing most of the pre-wedding prep. Hair. Makeup. Manicures. Pedicures.
Emma’s getting a full-body massage and wrap.
We’re all squealing that this isfinallythe day.
And I’m faking it.
Two weeks ago, I had no doubt this was what Emma was supposed to do with her life. Yes, Chandler tookforeverto propose. Yes, he’s sometimes an arrogant jerk.
But she’s said since they hooked back up after college that he’s the one.
That she knows it.
That they’re soulmates.
And she’s been so happy since college, I never doubted it.
Two weeks ago, if you’d told me Theo and Chandler didn’t get along great, I would’ve rolled my eyes and saidof course they don’t, and I would’ve blamed Theo for it.
