“Do you freelance?” Jenson asks her.
“Sometimes,” Hayley says. “But I also work full-time for a consulting company, because it’s steady work and I know what my paycheck’s going to look like every two weeks, you know?”
Jenson concurs and then asks Max what he does for work. Max has just barely gotten out that he’s an illustrator when Sheldon interrupts. “So are you guys ready to party after Cara and I exchange vows?”
“I’ll be at the bar,” Hayley says. “Same place I’ll be when Max and I finally tie the knot.”
Max kisses Hayley’s cheek and tells her he can’t wait. I want to ask what they’re waiting for, but I don’t want to pry. Hayley’s always been very private about her wedding plans. I wouldn’t be surprised if she and Max went off one weekend and came back with rings on their fingers.
“What about you, Jenson?” Sheldon turns to him. “It’s awesome you’re moving back home. Will you be able to make it to my wedding?”
Jenson nods. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
Sheldon turns to me next. “Hey, Olive,” he says in that irritating, teasing tone I recognize so well. My brother’s in a mood, and he knows just where to go with that: his little sister.
I fix a blank expression on my face. I’ve found that if I appear nonplussed, Sheldon won’t always be able to get what he wants, which is to get a rise out of me.
“As you know, Cara and I decided to have an adult-only reception after our wedding.”
I freeze. “The invitation didn’t say that.”
“It said ‘adults only’ at the bottom,” Cara says. “See, I knew I didn’t make the writing big enough!” she says to Sheldon.
“I’m sure I was just distracted and missed it,” I assure her.
“You should bring a date,” Sheldon says. “I insist. The men you’ve been with so far have been shit.” Sheldon pauses and then points to a blond woman at a nearby table. “Maybe she’s more to your liking.”
I roll my eyes. “Stop meddling in my love life, Sheldon. I’m not interested in anyone you pick out for me.”
But he’s not finished. He points out a dark-haired older guy over in the corner.
“What about him?” he says. “I’ll go invite him over.”
Cara pokes Sheldon in the ribs. “That’s a little obvious, baby, don’t you think?” she says, turning to me with pity in her eyes.
My face goes hot. Sheldon hated my ex-husband, and he was relieved I filed for divorce. But because of that fiasco, he’s convinced I don’t know how to pick the right partner.
“Oh, so you do like him!” Sheldon says. “You’re blushing!”
“I don’t, no,” I get out.
“Jenson,” Sheldon says to him. “What do you think? You think he’s good enough for Olivia?”
“No,” Jenson says in a hard tone. “I think Olivia can do better than that.”
“Who then?” Sheldon says. “Who in this room would you pick? Olivia needs a date for my wedding. If she doesn’t get one, Mom has a line-up in mind.”
“Seriously?” I lean forward. “She mentioned something about a blind date to me on our walk, but I thought I successfully dissuaded her.”
Sheldon wags his finger at me. “You know our mother. She’s going to keep going until you’re dating again.”
“What a nightmare,” Hayley says as I groan into my hands that are now covering my face.
“I’ll be Olivia’s date.”
Jenson’s statement is so certain that, for a moment, I think I must have imagined it. I unpeel my hands from my face.
Sheldon and Cara are staring at Jenson like he’s going to take back his offer any second and say he’s joking. But his expression is blank.
