Page 75 of Blue Hawaiian
“But Brody knew, didn’t he?” Gabi said. “And I didn’t. I’m your sister. How could you tell him everything and leave me out?”
Was that why Gabi was so upset? Because Jess hadn’t confided in her? Though she thought her sister was overreacting, she kept her tone humble. “Sorry. I didn’t think you’d understand.”
“I’m the one who stood by you after Connor dumped you five years ago. I was there for you, no matter what. I deserved to hear the truth.”
Her mom frowned. “Shh. People are staring.”
Gabi clenched her hands. “I don’t care! What I care about is the fact that, once again, Jess has taken center stage! Why does it always have to be about you? Can’t you let me enjoy the spotlight for once?”
Jess took a deep, calming breath. She told herself Gabi was under a lot of pressure. But it didn’t matter anymore. She wasdoneletting her sister push her around. “Stop treating me like crap! I’ve tried to do everything you asked, but you always make me feel I’m not worthy.”
“You’re not. I never should have asked you to stand in as my maid of honor. All you care about is yourself.”
Jess blinked back tears. She’d tried to do better. But Gabi didn’t care. All she did was pass judgment. Bile rose in her throat. “If anyone’s selfish, it’s you.”
“How can you say that?” Gabi said. “This week issupposedto be about me.”
Marc and Connor had returned, and they approached the table cautiously. Marc placed his hand on Gabi’s arm. “How about you ease up a little? Let’s not ruin dinner.”
Gabi wrenched away from his grip. “If dinner is ruined, it’s because of Jess!”
“The only one who ruined things was Brody, and you don’t see me yelling at him,” Marc said. “If anything, I feel sorry for him. Not everyone can achieve your level of perfection.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she said.
“You set unrealistically high standards for all of us. Cut your sister some slack, for once.”
Gabi glared at Jess. “I hope you’re happy. Now you’ve turned my fiancé against me. I am so done with you!” She stormed away from the terrace.
Marc waited for a beat, then addressed the crowd again. “Just a last-minute hiccup. Nothing we can’t work out. Why don’t you finish dinner? The waiters will be bringing dessert soon.”
How could he be so calm? Jess’s heart was beating a million miles a minute. “Aren’t you going after her?”
“If I know Gabi, she’s too mad to listen right now,” Marc said. “I’ll let her cool off.”
She could barely meet his eyes. “I’m sorry. I told Brody that stuff in confidence.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m not upset with you or Brody. The poor guy. He was crazy about Taylor.”
After he returned to his table, Jess sat down. Her hands trembled so badly she could barely hold her wineglass. Though she hadn’t finished all her dinner, the thought of food no longer held any appeal. She pushed her plate away.
Her mom rose from the table. “I need to talk to the AV coordinator. Maybe he can arrange to have Gabi’s video playing during the wedding reception.”
“Sorry.” Jess felt tinier than a speck of dust. She’d not only ruined her sister’s rehearsal dinner by getting into a catfight with her, she’d forgotten about her video.
Even with the bride now absent, the waiters proceeded as if nothing was amiss, whisking away the dinner plates and bringing out the final course. Dessert presented an array of delicious choices: key lime pie, mango coconut cheesecake, passion fruit tartlets, and mini pineapple upside-down cakes. But Jess was too upset to eat. She glanced toward Connor’s table, hoping to catch his eye, but his stormy expression gave her pause.
As the waiters cleared the dessert, Connor was the first one to rise from his table. Before Jess could call out to him, he was already on his way out.
She excused herself and went after him. “Connor, wait!”
He ignored her, his stride so brisk she didn’t catch up until he reached the stone pathway leading back to the hotel. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t know Brody was going to expose us.”
Connor turned toward her, his face as hard as flint. “Why didn’t you tell me you were moving back to Riverside?”
She swallowed. “I was going to, but—”
“Bullshit. If you found the time to tell Brody, you could have told me. You had plenty of chances.”
