I shrug. “I’m not.”
Esme looks in the mirror with me and her face turns serious. “As long as you are happy with your decision to leave it at one night, then I will leave you alone about it.”
I push down the thoughts I shouldn’t have. The disappointment that the fantasies outside of bed are not realistic. “I am.”
“Okay. Then let the wedding weekend begin!”
9
HAILEY
My mother strides straight to me when I enter the restaurant. Her dark blue dress is clingy yet respectful, and her dyed blonde hair is up in a bun. “There you are.” She touches my arms as if she needs to check that I’m here in the flesh.
I paint on a smile. “Yes. I made it.”
Her hand finds her heart. “Thank goodness Oliver could drive you. We weren’t sure you would get here in time.” Oliver is a staple at family dinners and parties. My mom eats up Oliver’s over-the-top charm, even though I’m sure he just throws it on to piss Liam off.
“Well, crisis averted. Anything I can do to help?”
My mother huffs. “Ava’s parents are micromanaging quite a bit, so I would hate to interrupt that.” I hear the annoyance in her tone.
“Just imagine how it will be if Liam and Ava ever have kids. You might have to battle it out for the title of grandparent extraordinaire.”
She begins to play with her necklace and a smile appears. “Careful, or I’ll remind you that you didn’t bring a plus-one.”
I smile tightly at her. “Would it matter? I have bridesmaid responsibilities and a speech to give.”
She touches my shoulders. “Very true. Just be sure to work the room and dance with who you want.” My mother isn’t pushy about my dating life, even if she loves to introduce me to potential guys. She is curious about my dating life, though.
My gaze drifts over her shoulder to the bar, and I see Oliver accepting a glass of wine from the bartender while a woman with overdone white teeth seems to be talking his ear off. She’s a little too touchy-feely, and he seems so obviously uninterested.
“Did you hear me?” My mother snaps her fingers in front of me, and my attention runs back to her. “I’ll throw a BBQ after their honeymoon. Something casual. Just Liam’s friends and some family. I think Oliver has a birthday coming up, and I’ll bake his favorite angel food cake for the menu.”
My lips roll in as I don’t dare inform her that Oliver hates that cake and just tries to be polite every time she offers it. Besides, who the hell prefers angel food for a birthday? My mother often gate-crashes any cookout or group dinner at my brother’s. It’s incredibly funny that she wants to hang with the “cool kids” as she calls us.
“Sounds sweet of you.” The scene behind her keeps grabbing my attention. I have an internal instinct to march on over and rip the extensions out of teeth lady’s hair. Luckily for us all, I’m classy. “I should probably say hi to everyone and find Liam, okay, Mom?”
“Of course. Don’t forget the cousins from Florida are here.”
“I’ll say hi.” Stepping away from her, I approach Oliver and doll lady. He peers up mid-sip from his wine and double-checks when he sees me. He seems pleased by my appearance.
I arrive, and they both look at me curiously. “There you are, Oli.” I’ve never once called him that but maybe that’s the indication for him to know that I’m going to try and save him.“I was getting concerned that you overslept from your nap.” I set my hand on his shoulder, pretending to brush a piece of lint before I lean into him. Blondie’s eyes travel between Oliver and me.
“Aren’t you the groom’s sister?”
“Yes, I am, and you are?” My smile holds a hint of warning.
“Tracy. I’m Ava’s cousin from California. Oliver was telling me about his job. He’s successful and easy on the eyes, right?” She winks at Oliver, and I want to claw her eyes out.
Oliver’s smile is strained. “Did you need me for something, Hails?” Oliver asks, and I can hear that he is improvising, proven by the fact that he never calls me that either.
“Why yes, I do. I think we’re supposed to go practice our speeches for tomorrow. We lost the napkins that we wrote them on…last night.” I dagger my eyes at Tracy. Last night can be her interpretation, but it gets the message across, as her face falls.
“Right. Oh. Well, I guess I should go find my parents. Good luck, you two.” She scurries away, and I hear Oliver chuckling under his breath.
Removing my hand, I step in front of him with a straight face. “She was peachy.”
There is a glint in his eyes that informs me that he is on to me. “Saving me?”
