* * *
I slipped through the spa’s doors at the exact moment Michelle stepped out.
“Hey there, Asher!” She smiled. “Come here for a second.”
I stepped forward and she pulled two ribbons from her pocket.
“Do you think I should go with the tulle ribbon or the satin for the dinner menus?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “The guests won’t notice the difference.”
“That’s not the point,” she said. “This is the most important day of my life and everything—and I do mean everything—has to be perfect.”
“Why don’t you ask your wedding planner?”
“I did,” she said. “She left me with these two choices, and I feel like that makes it even harder, you know?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I have no idea.”
“Just throw out a choice for me, Asher.”
“Tulle.”
“Okay, so satin.” She smiled. “Thank you.”
“We need to talk about something,” I said. “Something extremely personal.”
“If it’s about your brother funding that ridiculous teenager’s startup company right after we get married, I already know,” she said. “I’ve already tried talking him out of it.”
“This is about you breaking my brother’s heart.”
“What?”
“You’re happy, right?” I asked.
She blinked. “Of course I am.”
“Good.” I held her gaze. “Because it’d be a shame if you weren’t honest about that.”
She suddenly froze, and the ribbons slipped from her fingers.
“If you don’t want to marry him, just tell him before the rest of the guests get to the resort,” I said.
“Okay, seriously.” She looked genuinely confused. “What the hell are you talking about, Asher?”
“You of all people should know better than to drag this thing out and change your mind at the last minute.”
“Doesn’t that make you a bit of a hypocrite, given that’s exactly how you make a living?”
“No, but glad you’re not playing stupid anymore.” I narrowed my eyes. “I will make sure you regret betraying him for the rest of your life if you pull this shit after today,” I said. “Just tell him.”
“Tell him what, Asher?”
“Stop playing dumb.” I spoke slowly. “I will make your life a living hell if you don’t handle this. Today.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I’m making you a personal guarantee.”
