Page 64 of Kissing for Keeps
“You should just keep it, Siena,” Madi says. “It looks better on you.”
“I’m not keeping a dress you bought for your honeymoon, Madi. I shouldn’t even be wearing it.”
“Except that I’m the bride, and I demand it.”
Siena laughs lightly. “Only you could pull off a tyrannically kind flavor of Bridezilla.”
There’s another knock on the door.
“Is that him?” Madi whispers like Philippe isn’t just the king of the castle but also a superhero with special hearing powers.
“Probably,” Siena replies, rubbing her lips together again.
“I’ll get it,” Madi says.
“Nah, I got it,” I say. Even if I can’t supervise their dinner or what happens afterward, I want Philippe to have a reminder that I’m looking out for Siena.
I open the door to a smoothly dressed Philippe. Tailored blue suit, neatly tied tie, and hair full of gel keeping it in place. There’s enough of it that I’m hopeful it’ll keep his hands in place, too.
“Good evening,” he says. “Is Siena here?”
No. “Yeah, just a second.”
“Invite him in,” Madi hisses at me.
“Oh”—I open the door wider—“yeah, come on in.”
Philippe smiles like something’s funny, and I realize as he steps inside that it’s a bit presumptuous for me to invite him into his own cottage. But his smile is short-lived because as soon as he’s inside, he catches sight of Siena. Watching him see her for the first time dressed to the nines is like the peek into their date I never wanted. Is that how I looked at her? Like a lovesick puppy?
Her eyes are up there, Romeo.
“You look amazing,” he says with that slick accent I’m ninety percent sure is used exclusively to pick up chicks.
“Thanks,” Siena says curtly, her cheeks pink. Compliments make her uncomfortable.
“I hope you guys have a great time,” Madi says.
I’ve never been so annoyed by my sister, and that’s saying something. One time I had the doubtful pleasure of babysitting her ex-boyfriend for an hour at a basketball game while she “ran to the car to get something.”
Philippe smiles at Madi, then at me. “The brother and sister are here to see us off on a date. Very fitting.” Am I just imagining it, or is there some smugness in his gaze as he looks at me?
“Oh, Jack’s not Siena’s brother,” Madi explains. “He’smybrother.”
“I know,” Philippe says. There’s definite victory in that expression as he turns his focus to Madi. “But Jack told me he has known her for so long, he is like a brother to her.”
“Oh,” Madi says in a bewildered tone. I imagine she’s surprised becauseshehardly thinks of me as a brother, much less that I’m like one to Siena. “Well”—she goes over to Siena and hugs her—“have a great time!”
“Yeah,” I say, going over and taking the hug that, as a brother, I’m entitled to. “Have a great time.” As I wrap my arms around her, I whisper so softly, I’m not sure she’ll even hear, “Youdolook amazing.”
The way Siena doesn’t meet my eye after we pull apart tells me she heard.
* * *
I checkmy phone for the fifth time. For what, I don’t know.
But tonight, I’m a different person. Maybe I’m hoping for a text from Siena, asking me to come get her like she did at the parking garage. But she doesn’t.
I’m going a little crazy, trying to stay focused.
