"Holy freaking shiitake," Brielle whisper-hisses, grabbing my arm before I can hide my hand under the table again…as if someone is going to repel down from the roof to snap photos of it.
"How the heck did you get married?"Chastity asks.
"It's a long story."
"We've got time," Shelby says, completely calm.
"I drank too much tequila and suggested it, so Crue woke up a judge and a jeweler and made it happen," I blurt and then grimace.Okay, so maybe the story isn'tthatlong.Somehow, it sounds even worse condensed, though.Way too many bad decisions crammed way too close together.
"Of course he did," Dani says, trying—and failing—to keep a straight face."He's kind of a bulldozer when he wants something, isn't he?"
"He's not that bad."
"Uh, really?"Brielle laughs, holding up my arm as if displaying the evidence."He woke up a freaking judge, Ireland."
"And a jeweler," Resa chirps.
We fall silent as a waiter strolls over to take my order.I quickly look through the menu and pick out eggs and toast before handing it back to him.
"Was Crue drunk?"Chastity asks as soon as the waiter is out of earshot.
Crap.I knew someone was going to ask me that.
"No."
"Oh.My," Chastity whispers.
"I know!What am I going to do?"I groan, hiding my face in my hands.
"Enjoy it?"
I drop my hands to my lap, shocked at Shelby's suggestion.Out of everyone at the table, she's the last one I expected to take this in stride.Honestly, I kind of expected her to freak out a little bit.She knows how much I've always loved Crue, but she's my big sister.She's overprotective by default.Maybe the fact that she's falling in love in her so-not-fake relationship has mellowed her out.Or maybe it's the other stuff that's mellowing her out.Whatever it is, I'll take it.
She gives me a tiny, encouraging smile."I may have talked to him yesterday after you guys hung out," she says, not in the least ashamed or apologetic."He had hearts in his eyes over you."
"Clearly," Brielle whispers."He woke up a judge."
"And a jeweler," Resa, Dani, and Chastity say at the same time and then crack up.
I choose to ignore them, focusing on my sister."You talked to him?"
"Talked.Threatened.Same difference."She shrugs, which makes me laugh.
Of courseshe threatened him.I can't believe he didn't mention it, though.
"My point is, he's crazy about you, so stop overthinking and let him be crazy about you."
"Yeah, but what if…?"
"What if what?"
"Nothing.Never mind."I shake my head, pasting a bright smile on my face."I'm just not thinking clearly."
Shelby scrutinizes my expression, hers full of understanding as she reaches for my hand."There isn't a single person in your life who has ever regretted knowing and loving you.He won't either."
"She's right," Dani says, empathy in her deep green eyes."I haven't known you long, and I already love you."
"You're very loveable," Resa agrees.
