Page 37 of The Best Man Wins

“Me too.”

She points to the perspiring bottles on the counter. “Beer.”

I lift a finger. “Bottle opener.”

Susie hands off a twisted bottle opener from the counter.

“You have all the answers, don’t you?” I say as I take it from her and pop open the beers.

She shrugs. “Wedding planners are good for something.”

“Good for a lot of things,” I tell her, and that makes her smile.

The sliding doors hiss and we both stand a little straighter, like soldiers at attention.

“Whew! I’m calling it a night,” Roxanne says. “Past my bedtime. You kids get some rest yourself, you hear?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Susie and I echo at the same time, which makes the older woman chuckle as she toddles off to her bedroom.

I turn to Susie. Whatever spell fell over us, it’s been broken. “Shall we?” Susie asks, lifting the beers.

I motion to the door. “After you.”

I need a minute. There’s nothing family friendly about the tent in my trousers.

I collect myself and follow her back out to the bonfire. It’s still raging, the flames crackling and spitting over the dry logs. The circle has shifted now, though, and I’m surprised when I see Mandy and Cora sitting side by side, chatting amicably.

I hand off the beers and take my place on a log beside Cora.

Cora looks at me, and concern flickers through her eyes. “How are you doing, grumpy?”

“Fine,” I tell her.

“Good.” She rests her head on my shoulder. Mine. Not Ray’s. For once, it’s not a lie: I am fine. I was on pins and needles before, but with a sated Susie beside me and my little sister curled up safely against me, for a second, everything is all right with the world.

“What’d I miss?” I ask.

“Oh!” Cora says excitedly and lifts her head. “Mandy was just telling me about this perfume she makes—it’s all essential oils and flowers and such. It sounds amazing.” Cora clasps Mandy’s hands in hers and says, “You have to come with me tomorrow…the girls are all getting together to help me with my wedding dress, and then we’re going out. Mini-bachelorette party. Say you’ll be there.”

Mandy looks floored. “Gosh…of course! I wouldn’t miss it.”

They make excitable, pitchy noises that I’m sure send vibrations through the earth and crack icebergs in Antarctica. So much for atomic-bomb Mandy. I dig my pinky in my ear to clear out the noise and turn to Susie, curled up beside me.

“How the heck did that happen?” I mutter to her. “They’re friends now.”

Susie shrugs and warms her hands. There’s a sparkle in her eyes that has nothing to do with the reflection of the bonfire. “Feminine wiles, I suppose.”

17

Susie

“Thom, where the hell are you?” I pace back and forth in front of the bridal shop. I clutch the phone to my ear and glance through the shop window. “The bridal party is waiting inside and if they start throwing food in here, that’s a million-dollar mistake we can’t eat—literally—”

As I’m talking, I spot Thom’s long limbs climb out of the back seat of a car. He rakes his fingers through his slicked hair as he starts toward me.

“Oh my God, forget everything I said, I love you,” I finish my voicemail and quickly hang up the phone, stuffing it in my bra.

Thom closes the gap between us, and I hug his navy blue suit. “Thank God you’re here,” I say.

---