“Oh. That’s nice.” She nods, clearly more occupied with her mental list. “There’s still a lot to do. We should finalize the seating plans. And Aiden, you still need to find something to wear. You can take Shawn with you when you go into town. Logan, I need your opinion on bunting.”
Shawn and I may have undeclared history in her eyes, but we’re all here as part of the wedding planning party. It’s nice that there’s more important things happening than my drama with Shawn.
Logan is quiet. He usually is, I guess.
“We’re going to have a lot of guests here at the house soon,” their mother continues, looking prepared to assign us all additional duties.
“Hopefully the wolf attacks don’t scare them off,” Shawn mutters, interrupting that train of thought.
His mom looks at him. I can see the tightness in her jaw as she works to figure out how to respond to him.
“I’m sure there aren’t any wolves. Probably coyotes. They’re much smaller animals, but they can make a real mess. It’s usually because people aren’t locking their trash properly, it brings them into town,” Deanna goes on.
A week ago, I would have taken her word for it. I don’t know how to begin to tell her that what I saw was too big and savage to be a coyote’s work. The way the deer had been ripped apart in grand, arching slices.
I swallow at nothing, and fidget with my napkin.
“So, Elise went to the bachelor party as well?”
“She is a friend,” Logan shrugs.
“Catching up?” Deanna prompts with a glance to Shawn as she takes a sip from her wine.
“A little,” he says, and once again I can feel them all itching to ask more, but Deanna’s watchful eye seems to be holding her sons from inquiring for details again.
“It’s been a few years since we talked,” I say, trying to thread the line of lying and telling them enough truth to not have to remember details later to uphold our charade.
“Would you say it’s accurate that you ghosted me?” Shawn asks, giving me a little teasing smile. After how quick he was to bring it up earlier, I’m surprised he looks so blasé about it.
Deanna frowns, and glances at Aiden to clarify. I guess he is the youngest in the house. “Ghosted? What does that mean?”
“When you don’t call someone after a date, ever. Vanishing on them,” he tells her in an undertone, though the whole table can hear it.
Eyes flick between me and Shawn, and I can see them trying to imagine us on an unpleasant date. At least Shawn didn’t imply I was a hookup to his mother.
“Some dates are bad enough you’d rather both just forget about it.” I roll my eyes. Ball’s back in Shawn’s court.
“Oh. Well. I am a very bad date,” he informs his brothers, to their bemused looks. “Just in general.”
“Always late,” I add.
“And underdressed.” He nods in agreement.
“Forgets his wallet.”
“Accidentally stepping on your toes.”
It’s a little too easy to smile, to fall into this rhythm that used to be second nature to us. I catch myself and realize that this little ping-pong we used to do is not the best idea right now. I stop myself from adding anything else.
“So, uh, who’s on the guest list?” Shawn asks, directing his attention to Logan.
This whole dinner has been one awkward moment after another.
Logan fails to answer. He shrugs a little.
“Mostly just family,” Deanna answers for him.
“Very traditional,” Aiden puts in as he catches my eye, making eyebrows. Maybe he thought that needed clarification, except I don’t know that he’s explained anything.
