Page 92 of Takedown

The meal continues, and everyone, including me, relaxes. The kids return, begging for dessert, but Ethan tells them to go finish their dinner first.

“We’re planning a wedding too,” Mel says. “We’re already married, but Adam’s mom gave us a guilt trip about seeing her only son married in a church. Adam caved. Ours is the first Saturday of August.” I smile at the story, but my heart constricts at the mention of my mother. “You’ll have to come to ours too.”

Tara and Elizabeth both shriek with excitement at the mention of the wedding. Tara jumps up, runs out of the room, and returns with an iPad. They start talking about dresses and floral arrangements. Tara walks around and shoves the iPad in our faces.

“This is my bridal bouquet.” She swipes and shows several different pictures of floral arrangements, which all look the same to me. But I know better than to say that out loud.

“Ethan was absolutely no help when we looked at flowers,” Tara complains. “He just sat there and said everything was nice.”

“He actually went with you? Adam hasn’t done a single thing, but I have his mom and she’s amazing,” Mel says.

“I don’t know anything about any damn flowers, Mel,” I say in my defense. “And you always say my taste is horrible.”

“No, I didn’t go to the florist,” Ethan says. “The florist came to us. And so did the baker, and the caterers, and the wedding planner, and everyone else. The wedding dress designer would have come too, but Tara didn’t want me around for that. What was his name again? He was interesting,” Ethan says with a laugh.

When Tara says the name of the designer, Mel drops her fork on the plate.

“Show off,” Tara says.

“He was willing to come to you?” Mel asks.

Ethan shrugs and says, “Isn’t that how it works?” Tara elbows him in the ribs.

“Yes, but I went to him instead. He’s designing my wedding dress.” Mel’s eyes and mouth open at the same time.

“Wow,” is all she says.

“It turns out, no one turns down Ethan Bradford or his fiancée. I told you I was powerful that night you begged me to be your man,” Ethan reminds Tara.

“Oh, please.” Tara waves a dismissive hand at Ethan. “Someone begged that night, but it wasn’t me.”

“Enough, kids,” Elizabeth says. “Mellie, do you have pictures of your dress?” Mellie jumps up and pulls her phone out of her purse. When I try to look over at it, she twists her body so I can’t see.

“Let’s go upstairs,” Tara says. “You’ll have to come to my bachelorette too.”

Mellie pauses and looks at me. She searches my face, probably wondering if it’s okay for her to leave me alone with my brother.

“I’ll, uh, show you guys later.” She sits down and puts her hand on my lap. “Adam needs me.” The girls look deflated, and I feel like an ass. I lift her hand to my lips and kiss it.

“You’re only going upstairs, Mel. I promise I’ll be alright.”

“I told you I’d be here for you the entire time,” she whispers.

“I’ll yell if I need you. Go talk girly stuff because you know I’m useless when it comes to that. I have too much testosterone.”

She stands up, kisses me one last time, and runs out of the room with Tara and Elizabeth, leaving me alone with Ethan for the first time since he barged into my apartment two days ago.

But we’re not alone for long. The boys come running back with their empty plates and beg for dessert. Ethan gets up and gives them some cookies and ice cream. When the boys take their dessert and run, Elizabeth returns, searching for her cell phone.

Instead of going back upstairs, she takes Mel’s empty seat next to me.

“Do you want dessert?” Ethan asks, and I shake my head no. “So, Tara and Mellie seem to be getting along.”

“It looks like it,” is all I say, and then I add, “Mel loves all that girly shit.”

“Does that mean you two will come to New York for our wedding and some of the stuff before?”

“Don’t know why you’d want me there.” I shrug and reach for my water glass.

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