“You’re dodging. Tell me what’s got you lost in thought.” He crosses his arms, his drink dangling over his left forearm. He’s amazingly handsome in his navy-blue suit that’s tailored to fit his body. Every girl swooned when we came in.
“It’s nothing. I’m not in the mood to party, that’s all.” Pulling my chair out, I plop down and place my napkin on my lap.
“Something is seriously wrong. How did your date with Carson go last night?” he asks, taking the seat next to me. We’re surrounded by family and friends, but no one is paying attention to the black sheep of the Meyer family.
“Amazing.” I pick imaginary lint from his jacket, averting my eyes.
“But?” He grabs my hand and forces me to look at him.
“I’m not good for him. I come with too much baggage. The way he makes me feel isn’t a fleeting feeling. It’s right, pure.”
“Whoa. I didn’t see that coming. I mean, Carson is like my brother and the best dude I know, but Bliss . . . It’s really like that?”
His shock cements it more. Carson and I are not meant for each other. He’s healed here in Bordentown. Carson’s life is here on the beach with Ashton. I’m a socialite from L.A. Shopping is my job and drinking my side hustle.
I groan and lean over, resting my head on his shoulder. He rubs the back of my neck while I contemplate the severity of what I just confessed.
“Tell me what to do, because right now I don’t have a plan. I’m lost.”
“I’m not good at relationship stuff. The longest I’ve invested in something is with you, and you turned out to be just a friend.”
I laugh into his chest, then raise my head and place a kiss on his cheek. “You’re a good friend, Ashton. Don’t worry about it. I’ll figure something out.”
“Go easy on him,” he whispers. Ashton is more than a pretty face, and one day someone is going to make him realize that.
“It’s why it can’t work. I’m a mess and bringing someone into it . . . I’ll destroy us.”
The clanking of glass sounds throughout the restaurant before he can answer. Someone hands my father a microphone and takes his place in front of the tables. His eyes shine as he watches everyone gathered for Royce and Cassy, but all I see is Tilly. Her face and those eyes.
A tear slips out before I can hold it in. God, I can’t believe she’s missing this. Our big brother married at last. My wine glass appears in my hand and I down the contents in one gulp.
Emerson smiles at me from across the table, and I’m filled with embarrassment. She witnessed the hot mess at the brunch. The tightness of her posture tells me she’s expecting it again.
I set the glass down and get up. On shaking feet, I make my way out toward the bathrooms. I can’t hear him talk. My father. The man who commands the family, giving everyone a role, making sure we stay in line.
I yank the door open and rush for the nearest stall. Slamming the door shut, I rest my head against it, blocking out the world.
I don’t want to ruin this for Royce, but it’s all too much. The last gathering all these people were at was Tilly’s funeral. All the ‘I’m sorry for your loss’ and ‘My condolences’ play on repeat whenever I see one of them.
“Bliss?” Emerson says from behind the door.
I clear my throat and wipe the tears from my cheek. “Yeah.”
“You okay in there?”
“I’m fine, just had to pee.”
It’s a lame excuse, but I can’t come up with anything else.
“Mind if I wait out here for you? I want to talk to you about something.”
Shit! This is going to be another intervention conversation, no doubt set up by Cassy and Royce. I know Cassy is trying to be my friend, but this is crossing the line a bit.
“I’m not doing drugs in here, if that’s what they’re worried about.”
I flush the toilet and jerk the door open, moving to the sink. Pumping the soap a little too hard, I turn the faucet on hot. My hands pink up before I shut off the water and dry my hands with the towel the attendant offers.
“Didn’t say you were. Just thought you could use a friend.”
All the fight drains right out of me. I wish she wasn’t nice. I’m much more equipped with being the mean girl.
“I’m fine, really. This is all just a lot. I’m sure Cassy told you we lost my sister. Being around family doesn’t go well for me.”
“I get that. I’m not a stranger to fucked-up families.”
I laugh as I turn back to the mirror, using the end of the towel to wipe the smudged mascara from underneath my eyes.
“I won’t cause a scene if that’s why they sent you in here. I just needed to get air. I’m sober.”
“They didn’t send me, promise. I’m here to listen.”
She holds open the door, and we walk out into the hallway. Gesturing to the right, she leads me down the hall to a side room. When I open the door, I see what I missed by being late today.
The bridal suite is decorated with Cassy’s wedding colors. A large vanity sits in the corner. Makeup spills from clutches and totes stuffed in the corners with clothes and shoes sticking out.
Two cream couches sit on either end with a coffee table between them. A bottle of champagne on ice rests next to four unused glasses. A decanter of orange juice and tomato juice sits next to it.
“You guys were here early?” I ask, a pang of jealously hitting me. Once upon a time, I had girlfriends, but now I only have drinking buddies.
“We did hair and makeup trials here before the dinner started. I thought you knew?”
She smooths out her dress and walks to the couch, where she
