Page 56 of Bridesmaid to Bride

Paige flies in and flops down next to me on the couch. All the dogs move to her lap, and I actually feel a little sad. I thought at least Balls would stay with me. “This morning Zach and I were talking, and I mentioned what our dad could possibly have in common with Kat. Zach said they both love Fruity Pebbles.”

“Oh, yeah. I remember that.” Skye nods, sitting in the chair across from us. “He’s gotta have those.”

Paige pets Coco Chanel. “I asked Zach how he knew that, and he admitted that he ‘hooked up’ with Kat last year. For ten months.”

“Ten months?” I rub her back.

“Yeah. Met at the country club.” She stares out the window, her eyes misting. “I’m getting married, and instead of Mom being here, it’s Kat. Zach’s stupid ex.”

“Oh, P. I’m so sorry.” I pull her into a side hug.

Paige waits for a long moment before she whispers, “I did something.”

I hesitate, not sure I’m up to having the weight of Paige’s latest secret on my shoulders. But she clearly needs help, so I step away. “What did you do?”

“It wasn’t terrible.” She inhales, hesitating. “I just came from Dad and Kat’s room. Dad was down getting breakfast, so I told Kat to leave. But it doesn’t even matter because she said no.”

Now I give her hand a squeeze. I want Kat to leave too, especially if she’s the one screwing with this wedding. But trying to make Paige feel better, I say, “I know it’s hard, Paige, but if Kat leaves, it’ll crush Dad.”

“I dunno. I’m with Paige,” Skye says. “Kat’s a harpy with a possible agenda and no RSVP.”

“Evie, can you please talk to her?” Paige’s voice goes high. “I just need to know why she’s here. Why she’s with Dad. Apparently, she was still majorly in love with Zach when he dumped her. She better not be trying to get Zach back.”

I exchange a look with Skye. It has to be her who’s sabotaging this wedding? And that’s probably why she’s with our dad. Because let’s get real—a bond over Fruity Pebbles only gets you so far. “Of course we can, P. I’ll invite her to lunch today.”

“I’ll come too,” Skye says. “And I’ll help haul her out if it comes to that.”

“Thank you,” Paige says, but there’s no energy in it. Then she sighs, staring into the distance.

I cross my arms over my chest. “What else is going on? Spill it, Sis.”

She gives me that ‘brace yourself’ look. “I was in Dad’s room yesterday evening looking for the engagement ring he gave Mom. I’m sorry, but he cannot give that thing to the harpy. Anyway, he walked into his room while I was there, and I had to hide in the closet.”

“As anyone would,” Skye says.

“Right.” She switches to pet Dior, who’s licking her hand. “Anyway, I overheard Dad on the phone with Anne.”

“Okay.” Anne is his administrative assistant at the law firm.

“He was talking to her about doctors’ appointments and retirement stuff.”

“Oh,” I squeak out.

“Like he’s having heart trouble again,” Paige mutters, her fingers nervously drumming on Coco’s back.

“Shit.” My heart’s caught in a vise, squeezing tighter with every beat. I don’t know what Dad would do without the work he loves. And no wonder he’s scared about the future of his firm. “Did he mention anything else? Like, specifics?” I say, dreading her answer.

“No. But Eva, he sounded... tired, you know? Like, more than usual.”

“I’ll get the coffee brewing,” Skye says, rushing over to the breakfast bar in her room.

“Thanks, Skye.” Great, so now we add “Dad’s health” to the list of things keeping me up at night. “This isn’t good.”

“No, it isn’t, Evie.”

This is why Dad’s so adamant about me dating Foster—because he’s trying to pass the baton before he can’t run the race anymore. Everything’s starting to make a lot more sense, and I lean back, the cushions swallowing me whole. “I’ve been so wrapped up in my Atlanta satellite office dream, thinking it was enough. But it’s not—it’s just a band-aid.”

Paige puts her hand on my leg, a silent pillar of support. “Right. So, what’s the game plan?”

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