Indie
I hadn’t realised how much I missed everyone until we were all seated at the table having dinner. Pretty sure both my parents teared up when they hugged me too tight, for too long, before gushing over my new boyfriend who they regrettably didn’t know about. It made my stomach drop. I was a horrible daughter for lying to them about Jack and for not visiting them for over a year, all because I was jealous that Linc was marrying someone who wasn’t me. I could never explain that to them, though, so I made excuses. I told them I had been busy with school and work and, stupidly carrying on the charade, I told them I had gone home to meet Jack’s family. It wasn’t a lie, but it did fuel the story of Jack being my boyfriend.
Linc kept shooting glances at Jack and me and smirking at Bailey every time she looked in his direction. Knowing how embarrassed she was about walking in on him shirtless, he was having the time of his life tormenting her. Subtly, of course. Otherwise, he’d face the wrath of Ryder. And even though Linc was two years older and—in my opinion—much more fit, defined, buff, and godly than Ryder, I wasn’t convinced Linc stood a chance against a pissed-off Ryder, particularly when it had to do with Bailey. I’d seen him fight enough over the years, and he was quick.
Every time Linc shot Bailey a teasing look or wink, she took a mouthful of wine to hide her embarrassment. Each time Jack touched me in a way a gay best friend shouldn’t, I gulped down the fruity alcohol to calm my nerves. Together, Bailey and I consumed enough wine to drown an elephant out of pure discomfort. Admittedly, though, I was a little jealous of the guy Jack would end up with, once he settled down and stopped trying to get into the pants of every guy on campus. He was a sweetheart, kind, caring, and attentive. The perfect boyfriend.
Until he wasn’t.
Until he let his inner drama queen shine. The guy was a brilliant actor. If he didn’t graduate with honours from his drama and acting degree, there was something wrong.
I reached for the bread basket in the middle of the table, needing to absorb some of the alcohol I guzzled down, when Jack squeezed my leg before wrapping his fingers around my wrist. “Do you really think you should eat that?” he said faintly enough that my parents, who were in deep discussion with each other about the upcoming wedding, wouldn’t hear, but everyone else did.
I dropped the bread. Ryder whipped his head around and stared. Bailey poured more wine.
“You’ve got a dress you need to fit into for the wedding,” Jack said and pinched my stomach.
Did he just call me fat?
Nate raised an eyebrow and tilted his head, studying Jack. And Linc…Linc picked up the knife. Bailey’s hand stretched across the table and touched his forearm. A slight shake of her head, warning him not to do anything stupid, or telling him it was okay. Linc paused. His grip stayed on the knife but relaxed somewhat. His eyes travelled to where Bailey’s hand was still on his arm, and he gave her a pointed look. She ripped her hand away faster than if she’d been burned.
“Don’t want to look like a frumpy old hag at your parents’ wedding, do you, baby cakes?” Something in the way his voice softened as he called me baby cakes, and how he gently patted my knee, made me realise he wasn’t serious. He didn’t think I was fat, and he wasn’t being a complete asshole. At least not for real. It was all for show. And I’d expect the one he was putting the show on for was the same one who tightened his grip on the knife in his hand.
Nate kicked his chair out and leaned over the table and hissed quietly in Jack’s face, “Outside.”
Jack stood with a smile before leaning down and pressing his lips to mine. “Make sure you order a salad.” He followed Nate outside while whistling a merry tune.
Ryder groaned, and Bailey smacked her head on the table. Linc’s jaw ticked in frustration, his eyes dancing from me to the door as if trying to decide whether to stay with me or give Nate a hand in threatening Jack. The whole overprotective thing.
“You okay, Princess?” he asked, concern etching his features. Princess. He hadn’t called me Princess since we were kids and my hair was long, like Rapunzel. I couldn’t count the number of times I made him rescue me from the evil witch Nate-alia, who’d locked me in the tallest tower of the…treehouse in our back yard.
“Fine.” I smiled, hoping it looked real.
Linc nodded once and stood to follow Nate and Jack outside, hesitating to ask me again if I was okay. “Want me to kick his ass?”
“No, it’s fine. Really.”
“Okay.”
“What is that all about, sweetheart?” My parents gazed down the table at me.
I brushed it off with a wave of my hand. “Oh, you know, just giving Jack the ‘you hurt my sister, I’ll hurt you’ talk. They’ll be back in a minute.” I forced another smile. I had a feeling I’d be faking a lot of smiles this week. My jaw was already aching.
“Good.” My mother seemed satisfied with my answer, looking back at my dad and continuing their conversation. I loved my parents. I really did. And they loved us, but sometimes they were so clueless about everything going on around them. It was like they only had eyes for each other.
“What is Jack doing?” Bailey hissed. “He’s being really mean.”
“I don’t know.” I shook my head, trying to work out how calling me fat would make Linc love me.
“He’s being the villain,” Ryder said.
“Well, I agree he’s being a jerk, but—” Bailey turned to look at Ryder and stopped when he rolled his eyes.
“What happens when The Joker terrorizes Gotham City?” Ryder asked, giving me a pointed look.
“Batman saves the day?” It was more of a question than an answer to his, but I wasn’t sure why we were talking about Batman and The Joker. I was more of a Thor fan.
“Exactly.” He nodded and waited for me to catch on. I stared at him. Closing his eyes, he continued, “Jack is The Joker.”
“And I’m Gotham City?” I raised my eyebrows. Was he telling me I was the size of a city?
“Bad metaphor, but yes.” He bit the corner of his mouth, chewing on his lip ring as he waited for it to sink in.
“Oh!” Bailey clapped her hands a little too loudly, earning a few stares from those at nearby tables. “And Linc is Batman!”
Ryder pinched her chin between his fingers and made her look at him, smiling at her with all the adoration in the world. “And Batman always saves the city and gets the girl,” he said before kissing her.
They were gross and over-the-top affectionate, and they didn’t have a care in the world who witnessed it. And I wanted something like that.
Was Ryder right? Did Batman always get the girl? Before I had too much time to dwell on it or get my hopes up, the guys returned with Jack, who looked very smug as he sauntered over to me and kissed me hard on the mouth. Nate sat at the table looking relaxed with an amused smile on his face, which was weird. Linc’s face was screwed up, and his eyes narrowed on Jack the whole time.
“Sorry, baby cakes,” Jack said as he pulled out the chair and took his seat beside me. I inspected him for any wounds or tell-tale signs that he’d been in a fight. Who really knew what Linc and Nate would do if they were mad enough at him for treating me so badly? I was relieved to find him unharmed, though I couldn’t guarantee he’d stay that way. We were going to have strong words later, but for now, I was starving and really wanted to eat a whole pizza. By myself.
The waiter chose that moment to come around and take our orders, finally. I waited my turn and listened to everyone else order the most delectable food on the menu, and when the waiter looked at me, Jack cut me off before I could speak. “She’ll have a garden salad, hold the dressing.” He smiled at the waiter, handing him the menu before discreetly sliding my wine toward him and replacing it with a glass of water.
My teeth clenched as I fought the urge to slam his head into the table, but that would have caused a scene, and I was too hungry and increasingly furious to deal with that drama. I didn’t dare look at Nate or Linc. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I sighed and let my head drop. Don’t cause a scene. Don’t cause a scene. I glanced up in time to see Ryder sliding a wine glass my way, with one eyebrow raised, as if challenging Jack to argue with him. No one argued with Ryder.
“You’ll thank me later when she hasn’t ripped your balls off and fed them to you,” Ryder said, making Jack chuckle quietly and nod in agreement.
“Okay, while we wait, I wanted to talk to you all about the wedding on Saturday,” my mum said, completely oblivious to the tension emanating from everyone at the table, no thanks to Jack. We all turned to the top of the table and waited for her to continue. “As you know, we’re renewing our vows on our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.”
Jack coughed out a laugh and muttered, “Well, duh, that’s why we’re here.” Thankfully, no one heard it but me. And I couldn’t argue with him; I was thinking the exact same thing. Trust my mother to make a big speech out of something we already know.
“And this time we want our children to be part of the wedding. You missed our first one, for obvious reasons.”
Like not being born.
“But you’re here now, and we’d love nothing more than to have Nate and Indie be part of the ceremony this time…” She paused and smiled before setting her sights on Linc. “And, of course, Lincoln, we’d love for you to have a role as well. You’re as much our son as Nate.”
“Lord knows you eat more of our food than he does,” my dad joked.
“Uh, sure. If that’s what you want, I’d be happy to.” Linc’s eyes widened in surprise. He smiled awkwardly and reached for his whiskey glass.
“Great. Okay. Nate will walk me down the aisle. Indie, you’ll be my bridesmaid, and Lincoln, dear, we’d like you to be Steve’s groomsman,” she announced happily. “We have a lot to do before Saturday, so be prepared for some dance lessons and rehearsals for the ceremony and dinner. Otherwise, all this week is yours to relax and have fun.”
But all I heard was “dance lessons.” My eyes were wide with shock. I didn’t dance. I couldn’t dance. I was known for having two left feet. Actually, it was more like one foot when I danced because I tended to just hop awkwardly on the spot.
“Yes. You and Lincoln will have a special dance during the reception.”
“Pretty sure it’s the bride and groom who have the special dance at the wedding, Mrs. K,” Linc interjected helpfully, flashing me a giant, eye-crinkling grin. I swooned. Literally swayed in my seat and stared glassy-eyed at him. No more wine for me.
“Cool down, baby cakes.” Jack nudged me with his elbow.
“Thank you, Lincoln, for clarifying that,” my mother said sarcastically. “Yes, I’m aware it’s the bride and groom. We have done this before, you know? But this time, we want you kids to join us for the first dance.”
“Uh…guys?” Nate raised his hand awkwardly and cleared his throat. “I walk you down the aisle and hand you off to Dad, then take my seat in the front row. I don’t have a dance partner.”
“Oh, nonsense. Don’t you worry. I have this all sorted out. As long as you show up when you’re needed, it’ll be fine,” she reassured Nate smoothly.
I had a sinking feeling Jack wasn’t the only one with a plan this week. There was a glint in my mother’s eye. I just wasn’t sure what it meant.