“Yeah, well, I had a feeling you might suggest it.”
“Why? I’m not obsessed with yellow.”
“So what is your color theme?” Bea asks innocently.
“Well, I want green, obviously. But apparently, it’s too obvious.” Linc scoffs, rolling his eyes.
“Emerald green would be a beautiful color,” Mom chirps.
“Agreed,” Clark says, because, well, he agrees with everything Mom says. Happy wife, happy life.
“It’s just so predictable.”
“But it’s your color.”
“See, Bea agrees with me,” Linc pleads. “We only have a few weeks to get everything nailed down. We need to decide on this.”
“Or just go black. Classic. Sophisticated. Easy. That’s what I’d do.”
Everyone stares at me as if I’ve just had the most awful idea, until Bea’s lips curl into a smile.
“Well, lucky for you, you’re not the ones getting married.”
“Have you got your venue?” Bea asks.
“Oh yes, look,” Parker starts, pulling her cell out and leaning over both Linc and me so she can show Bea the photos of the country club they’ve booked.
“Wow, that’s beautiful. It holds a lot of people,” Bea points out almost nervously.
“We’ve got a whole-ass hockey team to invite.”
“That’s a lot of people. Doesn't it make you nervous?”
Parker pauses. “Kinda. But the man who’ll be waiting for me at the other end makes it worth it.”
Bea swoons while I gag and elbow Linc in the ribs.
The afternoon is full of laughter, banter, and the kind of easy love I’d gotten used to not having in my life all that often.
Bea fits in seamlessly, just as I expected her to. After sitting around the firepit in the garden late into the night toasting marshmallows and being forced to sit by and watch as Mom showed Bea every single photo she’s kept of my childhood, we finally climb into the car to head home.
Bea is tired, but there’s so much happiness in her expression. I wish I could bottle it and keep it forever.
“I love your family. They’re everything I wish I could have had,” she confesses.
“They have their moments,” I joke.
“Linc is lucky, adding all you guys to his family.”
I shake my head. “That asshole has always been a part of our family. I guess, really, I should have seen it coming.”
“He really loves her. They’re so sweet to watch.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “As much as it pains me to admit, I don’t think there is anyone out there better suited for my sister than my best friend.”
“Aw, you big softie,” Bea says, leaning over and hugging my arm.
“We’re building a lot of secrets between us,” I tease.
