Chapter 15♥I’m Going in to Get My Nuptials Removed
“I heard it was your birthday yesterday,” Marianne said when Edward stepped between her and Elinor on the Middletons’ back porch. All the acknowledgement he got from Elinor was a nod. Like him, she was still in work clothes. Not very festive for a backyard luau, which at the moment mostly consisted of older people shooting the breeze while drinking punch out of fake coconut cups, and kids running around with miniature golf clubs.
“Yep.”
“Did you do anything fun?” Marianne asked.
“It was a working birthday, just the way I like it.”
“Ugh. There’s nothing fun about that.”
“You’d be surprised.” Edward watched Elinor’s skin turn a shade pinker than before, but she still didn’t look at him. He needed to stop looking at her. As it was, he had to be careful not to let his arm brush against hers, not to stand too close. He felt like the eyeballs of the whole world were on him right now, and at the worst possible time. One of the neighbor ladies had already accosted him on the way into the party, saying she watched an interview on TV about Lucy’s book and had preordered it. She wished him well in his upcoming nuptials.
Nuptials. It was not a word he’d heard a lot, but he already hated it. It sounded like a growth.I’m going in to get my nuptials removed.
“Well, did you get anything fun for your birthday?” Marianne asked.
“Greta and Elinor made me cupcakes.”
“And Lucy gave him a balloon bouquet,” Elinor added. She would add that. Lucy had her hooks in everywhere, even conversations she wasn’t a part of.
“Yep. Lots of balloons.” Which were still in his office. He hadn’t wanted to bring them home. Plus, the thought of trying to drive while they bobbed in front of his face made the decision to leave them easy. By Monday they’d probably be floating just above the floor.
“Look at you three party poopers,” Brandon said as he walked over. Edward moved aside so Brandon could stand next to Elinor. “You would think you didn’t want to be here.”
“One might wonder why you always are.” Marianne eyed him up and down. He was in a Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts, matching the theme of the party. Marianne was wearing a black shirt and black leggings, whether in protest or mourning, Edward wasn’t sure.
Brandon gestured to the course of the left side of the yard. “Anyone up for a game of mini golf? Sherri is about to herd the kids away from it by setting up the shaved ice machine.”
“I’m game,” Edward said.
“Us, too.” Elinor dragged Marianne along with her.
The Middletons had a row of decorative cylinder tubes where they kept the golf clubs, and everyone in the group picked out a club and a golf ball before stepping up to the first hole. The whole course had a cowboy theme, with the first obstacle a line of horseshoes welded together in a line.
Marianne stepped up first and stared down all the little horseshoe arcs, one of which her golf ball would have to roll through. Unless she had great aim, her best bet was to lightly putt the ball right up to it, but Marianne, no surprise, whacked her ball as hard as she could. It ricocheted off a horseshoe and flew into the decorative rock.
“What now?” she muttered.
“You take a one stroke penalty and start from this spot again on your next turn.” Brandon picked up her ball and handed it to her.
Marianne eyed him warily. “Oh. I just figured I was out for this hole.”
“Nope. In fact, the Middletons have a sign right over there with the rules of play on it.”
“Of course they do.”
“What are you so grumpy for?”
Edward shared a look with Elinor as Marianne moved to get in Brandon’s face. This party was about to get interesting.
“Why do you care?”
Brandon, with perfect calm, stared her down. “Look around you. Do you think your attitude only affects you?”
“That sounds a lot like a lecture.”
“That’s because it is.”
