Page 29 of Little Gray Dress

“Well, I love you more than anything.” His lips meet mine making me forget dessert, rings, or even the fact that I’m wearing the most uncomfortable six-inch heels.

“I can’t believe you’re engaged!!” Lily stares at my hand even weeks after she saw it originally. “This is quite the party, too. Who are all these people?”

“I have no idea. I actually don’t know half of them. But isn’t it incredible?” I glance at the ring again before taking a sip of my pink champagne. “It’s like a dream.”

“Have you set a date?”

“No. In fact, I didn’t even arrange this party, this was all Amelia. I have no idea how to plan a wedding. You know me.”

“I do know you.” Lily nods her head sipping her champagne. “Want my advice?”

“Would saying no stop you?”

“Doubtful.” She gives me a quick glare. “Hire a wedding planner. You can give her basic ideas and then let her do all the hard work. Really all you’ll have to do is show up. In hindsight, I wish I’d hired one.”

“Congratulations, you two. I knew she’d say yes.” Jack’s partner Andy and he are shaking hands.

“You knew?” I ask him, surprised to hear that Jack told anyone. He kept it so quiet I figured no one but him knew.

“I did, and I told him if he didn’t do it, I would.” He laughs at me. “Let’s see the rock.” I hold out my hand, the overhead lights of the bar causing it to glitter. “Wow! No wonder she said yes.”

“I know… I probably should have asked before showing her the ring to know how she really felt.” Jack winks at me, his hand resting on my lower back. Even now, almost four years into our relationship, his touch still sends sparks up my spine.

“You knew my answer long before you asked.” I playfully smack him in the chest.

“We’re gonna be sisters!” Hannah unintentionally presses her boobs against my neck in a giant bear hug. If I was just a tad taller I wouldn’t have to be in constant contact with her chest. “I’m so excited!!”

“Me too, Hannah. It is so exciting!”

“Oh my God…” She stops in her tracks her gaze directed at the bar. “Who is that?”

I follow her gaze across the room to none other than my twin brother. “That’s Emi’s brother, Evan.” Lily says for me.

“Wow… He is—” she glances at me, then back at him. “Gorgeous.”

“OK.” I smile nervously up at Jack. Hannah is not exactly known for her great success with relationships, and neither is my brother. “I can introduce you. In any case, you will practically be family soon.”

“Please do.”

I wave Evan over and Hannah waits, almost patiently. “Ev, this is Jack’s sister Hannah. Hannah, this is my twin brother Evan.”

“You guys are twins?” She glances back and forth quickly like she doesn’t believe a word I just said.

“Unfortunately,” Evan laughs and holds his hand out for Hannah. “It’s great to meet you. I’d love to hear all the dirt on your brother. There’s got to be something to keep him from being as perfect as Emi claims.” When their hands touch, you can almost see the spark between them.

I don’t want to overthink what could happen if Evan and Hannah get too close. But, my fear is that they will add each other to their never-ending lists of one-night-stands. Then they’ll somehow piss each other off, and then we’ll never be able to have family gatherings without some strange tension in the room. How weird would that make things?

“Get me a drink and I’ll show you the pictures that go with the stories.” Hannah flirts, making me a little sick to my stomach.

“Ew… Go do it over there, maybe?” I glance towards an open table and watch Hannah loop her arm through Evan’s and lead him across the room. “And by do it I don’t really mean— “I call after them but Hannah only waves a hand my direction over her shoulder.

“That’s bad news, isn’t it?” I ask Jack who’s still talking to Andy.

“Could be, but they’re grown-ups.”

“Emi, Jack.” Amelia and her husband Robert approach us, dressed to the nines, and looking like this party was meant for them. “Isn’t this just lovely?” Amelia air-kisses each of my cheeks. A gesture I despise. Whenever I see people do the whole air-kiss greeting it looks like they were told to make sure others think they’re getting along, when really they hate each other.

It is lovely, and she would know since she planned the entire thing. I didn’t want to have a party at all. I’m not a huge fan of socializing with a room full of strangers, but she insisted it was the thing to do. Of course, she would pick a swanky downtown bar and hire it out for a private event. Surprisingly the room is full of at least a hundred people, only maybe a dozen of whom I’ve ever met.

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