Page 2 of Pin-up Girl

“I have so many ideas,” Sylvie talked as we walked. “I’ve got them all written down. Organized. Tomorrow when we’re both done with work, we can start going through them. I have thoughts about my gown, but I want your opinion. You have the prettiest dresses. Flowers. Invitations. Guest list. Do you think we can use the church?”

“We can ask, but I think it’s more for members,” I said.

She frowned. “I’d love to do it outside, but it might be too cold.”

Mid to late September? There was a fifty-fifty chance it would either be freezing, or we’d be in our second or third summer. “It might be. But Evie has a huge back yard. And Brooke has a gorgeous barn.”

“Brooke?” Sylvie glanced at me. “The woman who stole your man?”

I bit the inside of my cheek at her phrasing. “She didn’t steal Deacon. He was never mine.” He should’ve been. I thought so for the longest time. But— “Besides, she’s really sweet.”

Sylvie shrugged. “I don’t think I could be as nice as you. He’s mine and I’m his and nothing will come between us.” There was an edge in her voice that very much reminded me of my sister. The driven woman who would achieve what she wanted, no matter the cost.

She was going to have an interesting time adjusting here. More than a couple of my friends were in three person and polyamorous relationships. The possessiveness didn’t quite work the same way for them.

Lucky bitches—every single one of them. I hadn’t even found one person who wanted to spend the rest of our lives together, and so many of my friends had two. These days I was happy being single, but for a long time it had gnawed at me that I wasn’t worth someone loving me.

“Anyway. Guest list. We have to invite the entire family. Everyone.” Sylvie had moved on.

I wasn’t sure I liked that idea. No family was perfect, including our extended one. “Even Aunt Neva? Even Grandma?” Was the next month enough time to brace myself for the inevitable barrage of so when are you doing this? Where’s your man? Why aren’t you tying the knot? Your younger sister is married, and you were already the old maid of the family.

Those questions would come on top of complaints that they had to make last minute travel plans. Last-minute all plans, since I was the only member of our family who lived here.

I couldn’t wait.

I stopped at the rear entrance to my shop and unlocked the door leading up to my apartment. Stepping aside, I let Sylvie in, then locked up behind us.

“Even them.” Sylvie sounded sympathetic as she started up the stairs.

It was her wedding, and she could have what she wanted. I’d suck up the barrage of well-meaning comments for her.

I pushed in the handle on her suitcase and tried to lift it, dropping it with a thunk on the first stair. “What do you have in here? Bricks?”

She glanced over her shoulder. “Clothes. Shoes. Bridal magazines. Leave it down there. I’ll make it lighter in the morning.”

“No arguments here.” I tucked the suitcase out of the way, and followed her upstairs.

In my apartment, she set her laptop bag neatly on the kitchen table, and we put her purse and carry-on in my guest room.

“Do you want something to drink? Soda? Wine?” I offered. “We have so much catching up to do.”

Sylvie gave me an apologetic shrug. “I really do have to work in the morning, I’m sorry. Tomorrow?”

“Yeah, of course.” I tucked away my sliver of disappointment.

“So you know, I take a pill to help me sleep, and keep my earbuds in, so I’m dead to the world until my alarm goes off. If the house burns down, don’t leave me behind.”

“I mean… What if I have to pick between you and the TV?” I teased.

Sylvie stuck her tongue out at me. “Then I understand.”

I gave her another hug. “I wouldn’t ever leave you behind. Go sleep.”

With my sister in the guest room, I crossed the living room to my own bedroom on the other side of the apartment. It was barely ten—too early for me to sleep—so I closed my door and turned on my computer.

With the silence settling in, so did the doubt I’d tried to ignore all night. I should be happy for Sylvie, no questions asked, and maybe it was just the idea of having my family here, but this didn’t feel right.

Grandma would probably tell me it was because I was still single, and I was jealous.

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