Page 137 of As a Last Resort
ME:Like I’m about to throw up.
IVY:not ideal but workable
ME:
IVY:still on tarmac
god help me get off this thing
fun fact…
did u know alligators usually mate in the water
i’ll b there soon
I did not, in fact, know that.But I put my phone down.It was time to man up.I’d walk into that party, find Lexi and apologize in person first, then find Austin and voluntarily throw my heart into a meat grinder.
I walked up the Marcs’ white shell drive to the perfectly manicured hedges and blooming hydrangea bushes that lined the small sidewalk leading out back.The sounds of music and merry voices drifted around the house as I walked down the stone pathway carved into the lawn.It looked like someone spent all day out there with a pair of baby shears, meticulously trimming each blade of grass with a ruler.
The backyard twinkled.Edison lights seemed to be suspended in thin air.Couches and little sitting areas littered the expansive lawn, looking out over the water.There was a small stage set up on one side with a string quartet.In the middle of the yard, a large seafood display sat on top of a sculpted ice table the length of a car, covered with snow crab legs, stone crab, shrimp, and oysters with lemons and small pots of cocktail sauce nestled in between king crab legs.
I took a deep breath and scanned the crowd.I spotted Rex on the far side of the lawn with a bunch of women laughing.They all doubled over giggling in the exact same way, laughing with their mouths open and squinting their eyes shut.His sisters, no doubt.
“Sam!”I heard Lexi call out my name from back toward the house.“You’re here!”She bounded up to me and tackled me in a full-blown hug.
“I wouldn’t have missed it.”I pulled her back just a bit.“But before you say anything I have two things.One, I’m a total and complete jerk and I’m sorry for yelling at you.I’m the worst and I know it.And although I thought about heading back up to New York City to avoid seeing your brother tonight, I didn’t.One step at a time.You’re important to me and I love you and that’s all.”
She smiled.“I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too.And two, I already know about Austin and Vanessa.”She blinked.“I don’t want to talk about it.It’s fine.I’m fine.I want him to be happy.”
“What about—?”
“And tonight’s about you.And that’s what’s important.”
“Did you—?”
“I saw her car.And I saw them through the window.I wasn’t snooping or anything, it just, whatever.I totally was but I didn’t really see anything but,ugh, she’s the worst isn’t she?”
“She is, but she’s not—”
“It’s fine if she’s here,” I interrupted.“He has a right to bring whoever he wants to your wedding and you should be supportive of him and that’s fine.”
“Agreed but—”
“No, don’t tell me.I don’t need to know.She can look at me all she wants with her little glowy vibe thing happening but I came here to say some things to Austin and I’m going to say them.”
She cocked her head.“Like what things?”
“I need to apologize.But there’s something I need to tell him that you definitely aren’t going to love.”I had never come right out and told Lexi about my feelings toward her brother, and I wasn’t sure how she was going to take it.But I was running out of time and while I already had my big girl panties on for the day, I figured I might as well spill.
“You’re in love with my brother,” she finished.My eyes went wide.“Yes, I’m fully aware.Do you seriously think I don’t know you that well?You’ve always been awful at hiding your feelings.”
I was so relieved she was smiling.“I told him he wasn’t anything special.That what we’ve had these last couple weeks is no big deal, but it is to me and I need to tell him.”
“I know it is to you, and honestly, I was just scared that it would blow up from the very beginning.You both are too important to me to let something tear one of you away again.”
“I completely understand, but I don’t know if it even matters at this point.I mean, if he wants to go the whole Snow White route then fine, so be it, but at least he’ll know the truth about how I feel.”
