“No. I’d love to catch up, but I need more than coffee.”
As we turned in the opposite direction from Jake, she asked, “What was that in the church?”
“Nothing, it was—”
“You were about to pass out.”
Oh. That. “Late night. Too much to drink. No appetite for breakfast.” I shrugged. “Sorry. I chased Jake off.”
“It’s not you. He’s just moody these days,” she said with a sad smile, “but you noticed that.”
I wrinkled my nose. “So, tell me about you. Last I heard, you were finishing undergrad at Dalhousie. Did you do it?”
“Medical school?” Luci grinned. “I sure did. Guess where I’m doing my residency.”
“Here in Toronto?”
“No! North Vancouver. We’re neighbours.”
“That’s amazing. I’m proud of you.” I beamed, slinging an arm around her shoulders as we walked, even as a little pang hit me. Luci must have started residency last July, and she hadn’t called. “Now you’re on the West Coast, you probably don’t see Jake much.”
“Not as often as I’d like, but you know Jake. Even after he lost Alysa, he insisted I stay in Vancouver. I offered to come home and help with Sari, but he refused,” she said. “I love my brother, but he’s stubborn.”
“That’s a serious understatement,” I said, wrinkling my nose, “but you have to respect his decision. He’d never hold you back.”
Jake remained the same man I’d loved so hard. That he’d encouraged Luci to succeed even as his life disintegrated into shambles told me that much about the man.
“I’ve missed you, Amara.” She slipped an arm around my waist. Her amber eyes, so like her brother’s, turned my way. “You didn’t even say goodbye.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, looping my arm around her. “It wasn’t about you, Luci.”
“What did Jake do? Can’t you forgive him, whatever it was?”
“I haven’t been there in ages,” I said, pointing at the small family owned restaurant two doors down. “I should eat before I pass out. Tell me. Is there anyone special in your life?”
Luci narrowed her eyes. “One day, I’ll get the truth out of you.”
“You’ve heard all I have to say. Anyway, I’m excellent at keeping secrets.”
“Meaning you never told him?”
“About what?”
“You know,” she said with a grimace, “about me.”
“Jake doesn’t know? Does Marisol?”
Luciana shook her head. “My family is traditional. Especially Tía. They’ll freak.”
“Jake would accept it. Trust me.”
“No. Maybe someday, but not now.”
I slung an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “If you ever want to talk about it …” This was what having a little sister felt like, and I missed it. Maybe now, with her living in North Vancouver, we could regain some of our connection.
When Luciana and I arrived in the small reception hall outside the hotel ballroom, guests were already milling about, sipping the couple’s signature cocktail and nibbling appetizers.
“There’s my brother.” Luciana waved at Jake, who chatted with a waif-thin blonde.
The woman scowled in our direction, seeming to send an unspoken warning to stay far, far away.
I snagged one of the cocktails from the server’s tray. Don’t you worry. Spending an entire evening with Jake was on my list of events to avoid. Where he was concerned, I couldn’t trust myself to make rational decisions. Our fortuitously interrupted make-out session was proof positive.
Luciana grabbed a drink before she looped her arm through mine, eyeing Jake and the blonde. “Cougar alert.” She rolled her eyes and steered me toward the corner.
“Be nice, Luciana,” I said, hoping my stern look would shut her down.
“She’s probably fifteen years older than him. That’s a cougar.”
“So what? They’re both adults.” I sucked up the last of the cocktail, eyeing the two who seemed immersed in cozy conversation, oblivious to my inspection. Setting my glass aside, I flagged down the server, retrieving a second. “These are good. Wonder what’s in them?”
“Lots of tequila.” Luci giggled, motioning toward the double doors that were now open. “We should find our seats.”
We joined the rest of the guests filtering inside, roaming in search of their tables. The fine linens and china, centrepieces loaded with cream and blush roses, soft drapery, and tall, elegant candleholders were everything I pictured for Dara’s wedding. “This is over the top. Good thing they both have high paying jobs.”
“Her parents are paying for it.” Luci nudged me and pointed at the wedding cake.
“That thing is taller than Dara.” I stared at the eight-tier extravaganza, shaking my head at the elaborate gold detailing and the delicate sugar roses cascading down the side. “Look at all those rosebuds. Must have taken hours.”
“Some friend of the family baked it for her.” Luci pulled me along as she checked place tags. “Yay.” She clapped her hands and pointed at a table. “You’re sitting beside Jake.”
Welcome to the seventh level of hell. I shot a look around the room, but most of the guests were already claiming their seats.
Luci grinned. “Oh no, you don’t.” She pressed on my shoulders, forcing me into my chair. “You’re with us.”
There were only two people to thank for this debacle. If Dara and Dean were unfortunate enough to be anywhere nearby, I’d throttle them with the satin ribbons on her bridal bouquet, but the cowards were lounging in some posh antechamber awaiting their grand entrance. How could they ever think seating me beside Jake was a good idea?
“Ohhh, what are these?” Luciana picked up the little silver bell and rang it before reading the small card that sat underneath. “This bell will make us kiss, but be warned; one too many rings, and we’ll open the kissing jar.” She giggled and wrinkled her nose. “What fun. Too bad I’m here with my brother.”
“Get that thing far away from me.” I jabbed the bell by my plate, shooing it across the linen cloth with my fingertip until it rested in the shadow of the centrepiece. “Count yourself lucky you don’t have to put on a kissy-face sideshow. Who comes up with this stuff? All those
