Page 72 of The Hookup
“Who’s that?” she asked, staring at the woman who was on his father’s arm. She was obviously so much younger.
“Bitch number three,” Luke replied coldly.
Startled, Kay stared at Luke. “Who?”
“His wife.” Quiet rage dripped from his words.
“Oh,” she remarked, squeezing his hand harder. He had let her hold it today. In fact, he had been surprisingly tactile towards her. Holding her hand as they had walked into church earlier, and now he’d slipped his arm around her waist. She couldn’t figure out if he was trying to make a point, or if it was just that he needed the comfort of having her near. Either way, it made her feel special.
“Come and meet my sister,” he said, when the new bride and groom finally walked out of the church to the sounds of cheers and clapping.
They walked towards the newlyweds, still holding hands.
“This is what it takes for me to see you?” Amanda asked, as he kissed her on both cheeks. She looked radiant, and her face lit up even more on seeing her brother. “I didn’t see you in the church. Where were you?”
“At the back.”
“But I wanted my family to sit at the front—”
“Does it matter?” he asked, cutting her off. “We were there.” He congratulated the groom, and introduced Kay to the couple.
Amanda’s eyes grew large as the two women met. Something about her expression, and the quick glance she threw her brother told Kay that his sister was more than a little surprised to see her.
“We don’t get to see him much,” Amanda told her. “And I am so happy that he asked you to come along. It’ssolovely to meet you.”
“Lovely to meet you, too,” Kay replied.
“Don’t rush to make it number three,” Luke said to his sister.
“Hey,” the newly married groom retorted. “There will be no number three.” He kissed his new wife on the lips.
“No there won’t,” Amanda said, happily. “You’re on Table 1,” she told Luke. “Pleasemake an effort to be nice.”
“Of course.” Luke bowed his head, acknowledging the request.
“Would you excuse us?” Amanda said, “We’ll catch up later.”
Make an effort to be nice?
“What did she mean?” Kay asked.
Luke’s face clouded over. “She’s gone and put us all on the same goddamn table.” She patted his arm, trying to reassure him. “It’s going to be fine.” She had no idea what she was trying to reassure him about, but clearly, something was amiss.
But Luke didn’t say a word. His jaw clenched, and she could see the muscles on either side of his face tighten.
“When was the last time you saw your sister?” she asked him.
“Two years ago.”
“Twoyearsago?” Her mouth gaped open. She barely went six months without seeing her mother.
“And your father?”
“Five years ago, at Amanda’s first wedding.”
Five years?
She had questions, even more so now, than she’d had in the morning.
