My Big Fat Fake Wedding(82)

Abi goes back to boss-mode. “Court’s your best bet. Both personally close to you, and I know it’d mean something to her, especially since it’d be in poor taste to have two-thirds of the Andrews children up there and one sitting in the front row.” I hadn’t considered that, but Abi’s right. “Plus, I can get her in for dress measurements today so that it’d be ready for Saturday.”

Nodding, I tell Abi, “Okay, I’ll talk to her as soon as I get to the office. Anything else?”

She scans her phone, clicking away, and then looks up at me. “Nope, mission accomplished for today. I’m off to meet with Violet next.”

I stop her. “Abs?’

She turns back. “Yeah?”

“Thank you for everything. Is the shop okay while you’re doing all of this? I know how hard you work, and I don’t want to mess that up with this.”

I mean to imply the fake wedding, but with everything feeling so real right now, it doesn’t sound right.

Abi smiles. “Everything’s fine. Janey is helping out more, and she’s loving the publicity we’re getting for doing The Wedding of Ross Andrews and Violet Russo.” She moves her hands through the air like she’s reading off a marquee of lights, which I’m afraid to mention lest she decide that’s a good idea. “And I’m happy to help, Brother, with anything you need, even if it’s a kick in the pants to get your head out of your ass.”

Something about the way she says it makes me think Abi knows I’m feeling some very real emotions for Violet, but at least in this, she’s letting me find my own way. For now.





*



“Hey, Court, thanks for coming down,” I say as my youngest sister sits down across from me.

I’ll admit it. I should’ve gone to her office, but I’m a chicken shit who didn’t relish the idea of going toe-to-toe with my dad today. And since Courtney office is right outside Dad’s, I took the coward’s way out and asked her to come to me.

“No problem. What’s up?” she asks casually, but I can see the weariness in her eyes. I wonder what Dad’s been saying to her about me, about Violet, about us. But I don’t ask because I feel like I already know the answer.

“About the wedding on Saturday . . . Violet has Abi and Archie standing up with her as bridesmaids. Bridespeople?” I shake my head, again unsure of the correct verbiage, but it still doesn’t matter. “And Kaede is standing up with me. I was wondering if you would stand up there with me too. As a . . . groomsperson?”

I smile, thinking I finally got it right.

Courtney frowns. “Ross, I need to ask you something, just between you and me. I swear it won’t go any further than these four walls. Sister to brother, okay?”

I smile, trying to tease her a bit because I’m scared of what she’s about to say. “That’s what Mom and Dad said when they brought you home from the hospital. ‘Here’s your sister, Rossie! Isn’t she adorable?’ Honestly, I thought you looked like a wrinkly old man, but look at you now!”

Her lips don’t so much as twitch. “I know you and Abi are hiding something from me. What is it? It’s about the wedding, isn’t it? This about-face with Violet out of nowhere . . . I just don’t get it.”

“I love her, Court. That’s it.”

She doesn’t look convinced, but I don’t care at this point. Fact is, three days ago I struggled to even say the ‘L-word.’ I’d say married, committed, together, or some other poetic dance-around.

Now, though . . . even I’m not sure if my feelings are true or fake. I just know my feelings for Violet have grown.

“Dad is furious with you,” Courtney finally says. “And I feel like I’m being ripped in half. Because I understand his point. This is so out of character for you, and the timing is just too fucking convenient, Ross.”

Her turn of phrase is an obvious kindness, a softening of Dad’s version of ‘immature brat’.

“So, what’s the ripped in half part?”

Courtney blushes a little, and she looks down before meeting my eyes once again. “Because I want to believe that my brother cannot seriously be pulling everyone’s chain and playing with a nice girl like Violet’s feelings. So I’m trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. But it’s damn hard.”

I consider telling her the truth for a moment, wanting to trust that in the same way I’ve grown up, she has too. And that she wouldn’t go running to Mom and Dad the same way she once would.

But I can’t take the risk. Not with Violet at stake.

So I just repeat my earlier words. “I love her, Courtney.”

She smiles. “Okay, then yes. I’ll be your groomsperson.” She tilts her head. “Is that even a word?”

I shrug. “No idea. Thanks, though.”





Chapter 20





Violet—Monday—5 Days Until the Wedding





“Hey, Honey, did you see the news?”

I groan, wishing there was a way to not see the news. “Yes, Mom. Archie made sure that I got a full-on replay of it in stereo as soon as I got to work this morning.”

Maybe it’s the phone connection, maybe it’s just Mom’s excitement, but she doesn’t hear the frustration in my voice. Instead, I wince as she squeals like she did at her first Marky Mark concert way back in the day, which she demonstrates every time his songs come on the radio, much to the displeasure of my ears and any surrounding dogs’ hearing. “My baby’s having a dream wedding! Like the princess I always knew you were.”