Brian grinned.“You clean up nicely, too.You should dress like that more often.Maybe you’d have a girlfriend by now.”
“You’re older than I am, and you don’t have one.”
“True.I might have to work harder on that.”
Evan smirked.“I’ve already been working hard.”
Brian’s eyes narrowed.“Want to fill me in?”
He stared at his hands, then signed, “Mercedes.”
His brother’s mouth dropped open.“Your roommate.When did this happen?”
“Since I moved in.We discovered we really like hanging out.”
Brian tipped his head.“You’ve been hanging out with her for years.Why the sudden interest in a romantic relationship?”
Should he tell him?“It’s not sudden.I’ve crushed on her forever.Recently, I discovered she’s had a thing for me, too.We never did anything about it because we thought the other wasn’t interested.”
Brian nodded his head and smiled.“Glad you both realized.I like Mercedes.She fits in perfectly with our family.”
“Yeah, that’s one of the things I love about her.”
Brian’s head whipped his way.“Love?As in you love her?”
“I love lots about her.I think I’m falling in love with her, too.Don’t say anything to anyone today.It’s Carli and Blake’s day.”
Brian gave him a thumbs up, then started the car.The chapel wasn’t too far, and soon they climbed the back stairs to the vestibule.Their dad stood off to the side signing with their mom.Blake’s parents stood primly near the side door.
“It’s about time you got here,” Audrey Wentworth chided.“You are the only two ushering guests to their seats today.We should have started already.”
Brian interpreted for him, and Evan sighed.Poor Carli, having to deal with this woman as a mother-in-law.
“How many people are here?”Evan asked.He hadn’t seen any guests lingering outside, and the wedding didn’t start for at least forty minutes.
Mrs.Wentworth waved her hand like she was shooing flies.“That doesn’t matter.We need to be prepared for when the first guest arrives.”
Evan gave a smart salute and got a frown from his dad.His mom tried to hide the smile on her face.Glad he’d amused someone.
It was another ten minutes before the first guests showed up.College friends of Blake’s.Brian escorted them down the aisle and ushered them into a pew on the groom’s side.
By the time he returned, more people had shown up, and they spent the next twenty minutes showing people to their seats.
Finally, the wedding coordinator waved at them.“There aren’t any more guests outside, so hopefully everyone’s here.It’s just about time for the parents to go in.”
Thankfully, Mr.Wentworth ushered his wife down, then Brian walked their mom to her seat.Dad watched them go with a proud smile on his face.Because his daughter was getting married, or did that have something to do with Mom?His parents had a wonderful marriage, and even though he hadn’t been in a long-term relationship before, Evan hoped to someday have what they had.
The coordinator closed the back doors into the chapel, then signaled to the side door.Carli emerged with Deanna, Annie, and Mercedes.His sister looked ethereal, all in white lace and beads, yet Mercedes was where his eyes automatically focused.
She was stunning.The peach dress accented her dark skin perfectly.The V-neck gave a scintillating peek of her chest without being too revealing.The skirt fell softly, but it seemed like part of it had been cut away to showcase her amazing legs.The lace covering the dress had small leaf shapes clinging to an embroidered vine that scrolled from top to bottom.Sheer fabric sleeves fluttered over her shoulders yet still allowed him to appreciate her trim arms.Her hair was pulled up into some fancy do with several wispy curls swirling down in a few places.
The coordinator clapped her hands.“Places, everyone.Remember what I told you.”
Mercedes signed her words to him as she crossed the floor.Remember, don’t turn around to look at your sister, she reminded him.
I don’t think I’ll be looking at anyone with you being this ravishing today.
Her eyes rose to the ceiling, but her cheeks flushed.She tipped her head toward the door as the coordinator opened it.They stepped up to the threshold, her hand through his elbow, and waited.He could tell when the music started by the vibrations from the large organ.Still, he looked to Mercedes for timing.
