Save the Date(57)

“Do what?” I asked as I looked up from my phone.

“We’re taking you out,” Priya said, tugging Linnie up from her barstool.

Jenny K. slung her arm around my sister’s shoulders. “We voted. We need to have our last single-girl night.”

“Just a second,” Rodney said.

“Nope,” Jenny K. crossed in front of my sister, blocking Rodney’s path. “You get to be married to her for the rest of your life. She gets one more girls’ night with us.”

“Guys, it’s not like we’re going to not hang out after I’m married,” Linnie pointed out.

“But it won’t be the same,” Priya said, her voice going wobbly.

“Okay,” Rodney said, clearly knowing when he was beaten. He took Linnie’s hand and gave her a quick kiss, then stepped back. “Have fun. But not too much fun.” He was clearly trying for stern but not really pulling it off. “See you at home?”

“See you then,” Linnie called as she was swept out the door, laughing, pulled along by her friends.

“Rodney!” J.J. yelled at a volume that was far too loud for the lobby. “Brother-to-be! Come join us. Belly up to the bar.” Rodney smiled and walked over to join them.

“Hey.” I looked over and saw that Bill had appeared next to me. He was wearing a white button-down and a gray tie, the shirt only slightly wrinkled and the sleeves rolled up. His tie was loosened, and his hair was as eighties-movie impressive as ever. You might have mistaken him for one of the guests, except that he had a tablet and a phone in one hand and a pen tucked behind his ear.

“Hey,” I said, smiling at him—I was happier to see him than I realized I’d be. “I thought you’d left.”

“Before an event is over?” He shook his head and lowered his voice to speak gravely. “Never.”

“Well, then, thank you,” I said.

“You guys certainly have entertaining speeches. I liked the Billiam one.”

I laughed. “I thought you might. The decorations looked great.”

“Thanks,” he said, tugging at the knot on his tie. “I mean, it was a little easier without people telling me that my decoration placement was wrong. . . .” I laughed. “But it would have been a lot more fun if you were here. You, um . . .” He cleared his throat. “You look really nice.”

“Oh,” I said, glancing down at myself and smoothing out my dress. “Thank you.”

“Sure,” he said easily, giving me a smile.

Our eyes met, and it was a beat too long before I realized I’d just been staring at him without saying anything. “Um, you do too.”

“Yeah?” Bill asked, sounding pleased as he looked down at himself. “Thanks. I kind of had to get ready in my car. The shirt’s not too wrinkled?”

“It’s fine,” I assured him. “Why were you getting ready in your car?”

“Well, my mom moved out of Putnam when I went to school. I’ve been staying at my uncle’s and he lives over an hour away. So I have all my clothes with me, since I knew I wouldn’t have time to go back and change before the event.”

“I didn’t know being an assistant wedding coordinator was so intense.”

“You have no idea,” he said, his voice low and faux serious, making me laugh.

“Charlie!” I looked over to see J.J. motioning me over to where he, Danny, and Rodney were all sitting at the bar. It currently looked deserted, and I wasn’t sure if this was because the bartender’s shift was over, or if he’d just gotten sick of my brothers—both seemed equally plausible. “And young Billiam! Come join us.”

I glanced over at Bill, but he was already smiling his usual wide smile—apparently he had not had enough of my family already today. As we walked over, I felt my shoes pinch for the first time—I would have to get out of them soon if I didn’t want to have blisters tomorrow.

“Here,” Danny said, taking his suit jacket off the stool next to him, clearing it for me, and I sat down.

“Thanks.” I smoothed my skirt under me and crossed my legs, letting my shoe hang off my heel and immediately feeling better about things. “Where’s Brooke?” I asked, finally noticing she wasn’t with them.

“Calling her sister,” Danny replied.

Rodney frowned down at his watch. “It’s getting kind of late, isn’t it?”

“She’s in California,” Danny explained, and Rodney nodded.

“Not so late then.”

“And Mike?” I asked as I looked around the lobby, which was emptying fast, people gathering up jackets and purses and heading toward the doors. And Jesse, I added silently.

Danny shrugged, but I could see that he looked a little worried about this. “I haven’t seen him in a bit. He probably just left early.”

I nodded, trying not to let the disappointment I was feeling show on my face.

“Did everyone have a good rehearsal dinner?” Bill asked, looking around at the group.

“No thanks to J.J.,” Rodney said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“What are you still doing here?” Danny asked Bill. “Aren’t your official duties over? Considering that the event is?”