Page 50 of Little Gray Dress

“Today is the day, Ems.”

“The day our siblings get married? Yes I know, Jack. I’m here.”

“No… The day we talk.”

“I don’t think this is the time or the place.”

“No time or place has been right for you, for two years. Please let me do this, Em. If not for you, then for me.” He stares down at me, a hesitant sad smile on his face.

Even though I wanted him to gain twenty pounds and lose his hair, I’m glad he didn’t. He’s still just as gorgeous as he was two years ago, and even though I don’t want him to, he still stirs up something inside me.

“Fine, I’ll give you ten minutes to say what you need to say.”

“Thank you.” He nods with a smile and reaches down pulling my hand into the crook of his arm and holding it there like he’s taking me hostage until we’ve had this conversation.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting ready to walk down the aisle.” He grins down at me, knowing that wasn’t what I was asking, and not seeming to care at all. I guess he thinks he makes all the rules today. “Do you like him?”

“What?” We take a step forward and I glance up at Liam, who’s walking down the aisle with Greta hanging off him like a trophy wife. Which, now that I think of it, I’m sure is her destiny in life. She’ll become some bitchy trophy wife and make anyone’s life miserable that doesn’t bow to her greatness. I refuse to be one of her victims.

“The bartender, do you like him?” Jack stares towards the front of the room as he speaks. “Romantically…?”

“How do you know he’s a bartender?”

“I know things,” he says, as we take another step forward.

“You don’t know anything.”

“I know you just met him.”

“Wha—”

“SSHHHHH!” Muffy glares at us, motioning for the couple ahead of us to start down the aisle.

“Why do you think that?” I whisper, as quietly as possible, but Jack just shrugs his shoulders and holds my hand even tighter. “You’re wrong, anyway,” I say through a clenched-teeth smile. “I met him in Dallas.” Think Emi, think. I need a good lie and I need it fast. I can’t believe I didn’t think of the whole possible backstory before this moment. I should have known Jack would research him; he’s a lawyer.

“No, you didn’t,” he says under his breath, smiling at the crowd.

“Yes, I did.” I hiss through clinched teeth, moving my lips as little as possible so no one notices us. I suddenly spot Lily’s face, her eyes wide, a questioning smile. We obviously aren’t being as subtle as I thought we were. Thankfully the end of the aisle comes quickly and we part ways before the music changes.

Hannah and her father step into the doorway, both beaming with excitement. Hannah truly does look lovely in her giant fluffy princess gown. When I glance over at my brother he’s fighting back tears, but looks as in love as I’ve ever seen anyone. They’re perfect for each other. I smile at him when he looks my way, but immediately notice that Jack and Liam are both watching me, with very different smiles on their faces.

Liam’s smile is that smile every girl wants to see. The one they make internet memes out of that say something like Find a man that looks at you like Joe Biden looks at Obama. Honestly, that smile freaks me out far more than it should. I didn’t really come here to find love, or anything like it. This is supposed to be something just short of a business arrangement. But this smile, the kiss last night and his flattery has somehow convinced everyone but Jack that we are almost a couple.

Jack, though? His smile is almost a silent plea that is piercing right through my soul. It’s the same smile he would use when we were together and I was mad at him. Which was rare. How is he doing this to me? He’s got me wondering things that have nothing to do with getting back at him.

I force a small smile back in their direction, but for some reason my eyes are on Jack. Damn him. It was so much easier to be in control when I was two thousand miles away.

“It was so beautiful,” I say to Lily as I walk into the reception room. Amelia really spared no expense with this wedding. Sheer panels hang from the ceiling, backlit with soft lighting. Giant crystal chandeliers hang over every table with centerpieces of all white flowers taller than me. “Did you see Evan as Hannah walked down the aisle?” I ask, mesmerized by the atmosphere of the room.

“I did,” she says, glancing at me as we stand near the bar. “I also saw you and Jack as you walked down the aisle. What was that about?”

“What?” I grab a glass of wine from the bartender and guiltily glance back at Lily.

“It looked like you two were arguing.”

“No. He was just being… Jack.” I spot Liam heading in my direction. “It doesn’t matter anyway.”

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