“Tell me why,” I whisper.
I don’t know if Case gave Drake a heads-up that I know about his elopement, but I want to give my brother the chance to tell me in his own words. I need that. I sense he does do.
“I’m getting married, Em.” His voice quakes. “Can you believe I’m getting married?”
I thought he was married by now.
“You’re getting married?” I manage to ask.
“I can’t believe it either.” He laughs softly. “I thought you’d tie the knot before me.”
Until recently, I thought that too.
Keeping those words to myself, I drop my head and stay silent.
I hear movement on his end and what sounds like a door shutting.
“I feel like I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” he goes on, his voice lowered. “She thinks we’re on a trip for my birthday, but I planned her dream wedding. She has always wanted to get married in a castle in Ireland, so I’m doing that for her. It’s just the two of us, but I’m going to throw the party to end all parties back in New York when things settle.”
I cross my legs at the ankle. “She doesn’t know that she’s getting married?”
“She has no fucking clue.” He exhales. “She pinned her dream dress to a board on Pinterest, so I tracked that down in her size. I arranged for a bouquet of her favorite flowers. I booked the castle. Ordered a three-tier chocolate cake and a string quartet. I did it all to surprise her.”
If his bride-to-be doesn’t even know she’s getting married, how can I be angry with him for not telling me?
This might be the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.
“Her name is Jane, Em.” There’s an unmistakable crack in his voice when he says her name. “You’re going to love her.”
If he does, I know I will.
I’m gaining another sister.
“Can I count on you to keep this between us?” he asks hopefully. “I want to tell mom and dad once I’m a married man, so give me a few days.”
His birthday is in a few days. “Are you getting married on your birthday?”
“That’s the plan.” He chuckles. “I can’t think of a better birthday gift than a lifetime with Jane.”
“I won’t say a thing to mom or dad orWhitney,” I stress our sister’s name. “You should at least text her, so she knows you’re alive, Drake.”
“I’ll do that first thing in the morning.” He takes an audible breath. “I feel like shit knowing you’re in the city without me there. I swear I’ll make it up to you soon. I promise.”
Drake has never broken a promise to me, but he doesn’t owe me a thing. I’m the one who showed up in New York without warning. “Please don’t feel badly.”
“I need to end this now, Em. If Jane wakes up, she’ll come looking for me.”
As much as I want to keep him on the line, I know I can’t. “I’m glad we got to talk, Drake.”
“Me too, Em. I love you.”
“I love you too,” I whisper before he ends the call.
CHAPTER TEN
Case
After having dinner with Gavin,I planned on taking a shower and heading to bed.
