I waited.
My brother groaned. “Katie is so ridiculous sometimes.”
Well, yeah, I thought, then asked what happened.
“We had a tasting at Bedens Brook this afternoon,” he said. “You know, for the wedding food.”
“A wedding should definitely have some,” I remarked.
Austin laughed, but it sounded forced. “It’s customary for the country club to cater receptions, but Katie hated everything. Literally,everything. The hors d’oeuvres, salads, entrées…” He trailed off and shook his head. “She didn’t even try hiding it, either. She kept flipping her hair.”
I nodded, having noticed Katie did that when unimpressed. “What didyouthink about the food?”
“I thought it was pretty good,” Austin said. “Better than most of the weddings I’ve been to, actually.” He shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t expect a dinner for two hundred to be the most magical meal of my life.”
My pulse jumped. “Two hundred?”
Austin didn’t appear to hear me. “Now Katie and her parents want to hire outside caterers.”
“Uh, is that allowed?”
“Not technically, but the Gallants are going tomakeit allowed,” he said. “Katie’s mom already has a list of potential prospects, and of course the Álvarez family is at the top even though they areinvitedto the wedding.”
Marco’s invited?I thought.
Austin sighed. “I’m embarrassed, Mads. Commissioning the cake from a specialty bakery is one thing, but I think it’s an insult to Bedens Brook if we don’t serve their food. I mean, this is already going to be beyond expensive, but why are we even having the reception there if we’re not taking advantage of that?” He grumbled. “She’s the one who wanted the full-on country club wedding.”
I bit my lip. “I’m guessing you aired these grievances to her?”
“Yep.” He inhaled, then exhaled. “She asked me why I cared so much. I’m only the groom—which I guess means my only part in this whole thing is showing up for the ceremony—and it’s not like I’m footing the final bill, so what does it matter to me?”
“Oh my god.” I didn’t want to believe it. “Talk about a bridezilla!”
My brother didn’t say anything. I took that to mean he didn’t disagree with me.
“Austin, that’s terrible,” I said. “Terrible, and super unfair. You should…”
Break up with her, the voice in the back of my head whispered.
“Please don’t tell Dad and Da,” he murmured after a moment.“I’m going to tell them we argued about whether or not we should go to Katie’s business school friend’s wedding in October. They aren’t that close, and it’s in Cabo.”
“But—”
“I’ve never really felt the need to visit Cabo,” he said. “I wouldn’t be lying.”
“You wouldn’t be telling the truth, either,” I quickly countered.
Austin’s eyes were heavy with exhaustion. “Mads…”
“Where are you?!” someone shouted from downstairs. It was Liam, Connor’s thirteen-year-old brother. The McCallisters had arrived. “I need you to back me up! Lauren doesn’t think Shawn Mendes is hot!”
“Uh…” Austin’s brow furrowed. “Who’s Lauren?”
“Someone from school.” I tried not to wince. “Lauren Bitterman plays lacrosse.”
“Okay, cool,” he said slowly, still confused. “But why is Lauren Bittermanhere?”
I groaned. “I’m assuming because she’s finally clawed her way into Connor’s heart.”
