Page 82 of Kissing for Keeps
He was good for his word, though. He kept his distance last night, but the way he cheered me up by putting on such a ridiculous movie and defending it at all costs made me wish I could curl under his arm and fall asleep to his laugh.
I reach for my phone on the coffee table and am relieved to see it’s only 7:30. Tomorrow is the civil ceremony. I can’t believe it’s almost here.
My stomach tightens at the memory of last night and what happened with the band, and I throw off my blanket, unable to sit still a second longer.
My eye catches on a ripped piece of paper on the table, and I frown, going over to see what it is.
Good morning! Went to pick my mom up at the train station. Be back soon.Please eat some fungus for breakfast.It’s starting to go bad, which seems impossible given that it’s FUNGUS.
PS Stop worrying about the music for the wedding. I got this.
I set the note back down with a sigh. It’s getting harder to manage my expectations when it comes to Jack. But what if I’m right about him, and we get home and he ghosts me?
It hurts just to think about; I can only imagine how it’ll feel if it happens. Or if we dated more, I fell harder, andthenit happened. He seems so certain he’ll still feel the same way when we get home, but I’m not nearly as sure about that. Everyone assumes the newest relationship will be different, but usually, it isn’t.
I take a quick shower to distract myself from my thoughts, and by the time I’m out, I can hear Jack in the kitchen. Ignoring the desire to make myself look as good as possible before going to see him, I slip on some yoga pants and a loose shirt. Today is a day for getting things done, so obviously I have to wear exercise clothes. Dress the part, right?
Jack glances up from where he’s pulling out his laptop at the table.
Sigh. That smile will be the death of me.
“I’ve got a bone to pick with you,” he says, setting his laptop down and putting his hands on his ribs like a stout middle-aged woman.
“What’s that?”
“You fell asleep during the movie last night.”
I clear my throat and turn away, running my brush through my wet hair. “Yeah… so sorry about that. It was so riveting, I can’t figure out how it happened. Must be leftover jet lag or something.”
“Good Burgeris a classic.”
“Mhm. I’ll finish it later. Definitely.”
“Oh, you’ll finish it tonight, Sheppard. And you’ll like it.”
There’s a quick knock followed by the door opening to let Madi in.
“Hey!” she says, glowing like you’d expect someone to be who’s getting hitched at City Hall tomorrow. “How’s it going?”
There’s no music for your wedding, I’ve kissed your brother twice, and I think I’m falling in love with him.
I clap my hand over my mouth to keep the words in, and Madi frowns. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Just had an itch.” Rubbing my lip, which I’m fairly sure has never itched in my life, I glance at Jack, who’s half-amused, half-curious.
“Thanks for getting Mom,” Madi says to him. “She’s exhausted. She tried to fight me on it, but I forced her to take a power nap. Things are all on track for the wedding anyway, so she might as well.”
My stomach tightens. I wish I could just let this moment pass, but it’s not an option. Madi deserves to know I messed up a big part of her wedding day. “About that… I have some bad news.”
“Oh?” The shift in her expression makes a wave of nausea roll in my stomach.
“It’s about the band,” I say. “I—”
“It’s my fault,” Jack says, cutting me off. “I told them the wrong dates.”
I whip my head around, staring at him. What is he doing? This whole time, he’s been so worried about messing something up, and now he’s taking the blame for something hedidn’tmess up.
Madi’s mouth opens wordlessly, her gaze fixed on Jack.
