Page 137 of Crazy Thing

Aunt Rainbow leaps up from where she’s crammed on the vintage sofa between Nicky and Alana. Tears fill her eyes. “Oh my goodness, moonbeam. You look…you look…I have no words!”

My sister is wearing a lily white off-the-shoulder princess style gown with lace appliqués and tulle and sequins. It twinkles in the light when Aunt Rainbow spins her around.

“Do you like this one?” Daphne asks hopefully, her eyes alight when she turns away from the mirror to face us.

The girls start gushing their praise, everyone excitedly talking over each other. Daphne’s expectant gaze settles on me and I rush to her side.

“Oh, little sister, you look like an angel.” Blotting at my tears, I gather her up in a hug. “I’m so excited for you, Daph. You’re going to make such a beautiful bride.”

There’s not a dry eye in the room. Layla grabs the tissue box and passes it around. Everyone is crying. Karli, Nicky and Inez. Even Meghan, Nadia, Emma and Alana who are here from Honey Hill today. We drove all the way to Renewed Gowns in Crescent Harbor, because what girl doesn’t enjoy wedding gown shopping?

Lexi, the owner of the second hand bridal boutique, stands nearby with her pencil and measuring tape in hand, brushing away her own tear. “So…what’s the verdict, Daphne?”

The future bride beams. “This is it. This is my wedding dress.Finally.” Daphne sighs in relief and the room goes up in cheers.

Lexi shuffles over, measuring and tucking and making note of all the little adjustments that need to be made. When Daphne goes off to change out of her dream dress, Lexi follows her.

Karli gets busy refilling everyone’s champagne glasses. I chug mine back and promptly stretch my empty goblet out for some more.

“You okay, Zig?” Karli asks me as she hesitantly fills my glass one more time. “You’re usually not that much of a champagne girlie.”

I can tell that she suspects that my mood has something to do with her brother. But she’s trying to hold her tongue.

“I’m great,” I say brightly. “I’m great and happy andgreat!” I take another chug of champagne.

I’m anything but great.

My heart is in smithereens and all day, I’ve been having to grin (and drink) and bear it. Because today isn’t about me and my broken heart. Today is about my little sister and her journey to happy-ever-after. I don’t want to take away from what’s important by lamenting about my own pain.

But when Aunt Rainbow plucks a wedding gown from the rack and spins toward me with a flourish, my good intentions splatter at my feet.

“Oh, Ziggy, darling. Look at this one. This is what you’ll wear on your wedding day. I can see you walking down the aisle in this one. You would take Darius’s breath away.” My aunt winks.

It’s a gorgeous, whimsical graphic lace gown with cape sleeves, a flowing train and an open back that dips down to the waist. Aunt Rainbow brandishes it before me like a weapon.

I instantly get a vision of Darius pulling me against him under a floral gazebo in the middle of the woods. Kissing me sweetly as an officiant pronounces us husband and wife.

The image is so strong and vivid, I almost mistake it for a premonition.

And I start to cry.

Because Darius and I aren’t getting married. Darius and I are done.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Aunt Rainbow swiftly abandons the dress and hurries to my side. “What’s wrong, moonbeam?”

I give my head a little shake. I have to keep my shit together. For Daphne. “Things didn’t work out between Darius and me…” I confess quietly.

“Iknewit!” Karli hisses. “I knew he’d fuck up. Tell me how my brother fucked up so I can go kick his butt.”

I shake my head again. “Please. It’s not like that. Technically, he didn’t even do anything wrong.”

“So what happened, honey?” Meghan lays a hand on my bouncing knee. “What happened between you two?”

Pulling in a breath, I begin to tell the girls everything. I tell them about overhearing Darius’s late night phone conversation, about the perfectly plausibleexplanation he gave me and about the proof he offered to back it up. When I tell them how he tried to sign over his entire fortune to me, jaws drop around the room.

“That right there is the plot point my work-in-progress has been missing.” Emma gets busy scribbling writing ideas into her notebook. I don’t even bother to stop her this time. “So romantic.” She sighs.

Romantic? It sure doesn’t feel romantic.

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