Page 10 of Saved By My Buyers

Bronwyn doesn’t have a single one, despite her red hair and pale complexion.

“If you believe that, then I think I’m not doing a very good job at being a good sister,” she grumbles. “I’m an only child, but I’ve always wanted someone to hang out with all of the time. Do you think we can at least be friends?”

Sighing, I watch as Jack walks into the garden where the wedding will take place. Bronwyn and Gareth’s house is behind us, and it’s freaking huge. I’ve already gotten lost multiple times. The maids have had to help me find the kitchen three times this week. I can’t help it if I can’t keep it all straight.

I swear it’s large enough for us all to live together and never run into each other.

“I think I could use a friend,” I say softly. “I haven’t had many of those in a while.”

“Why not?” she asks. Bronwyn is shorter than I am, perky, and cuter than a button. I imagine she’s really popular in school as well.

“There’s a lot of reasons,” I hedge as I see Jack’s eyes find me. I didn’t think he was serious when he said he was moving to Detroit, but he said he can work from anywhere, as long as he can meet clients as needed.

“Spill. And who is that guy?” she asks, looking worried as his long legs begin to stride toward us. Jack’s a big guy, I imagine it’s jarring to see him.

“He was my dad’s best friend,” I tell her. “Jack is kind of my hero, I just don’t think he realizes it.”

“Dolly, you look…” He frowns at my dress and I roll my eyes.

“I look like a cake about to topple over,” I finish. Jack covers his mouth as he attempts to stifle a laugh, but it doesn't bother me. Facts are facts.

“I wasn’t going to say it,” he says. “I wanted to make sure you were doing alright.”

“Why wouldn’t she be?” Bronwyn asks, bristling. “Is there something wrong?”

Closing my eyes because I’m not the best about keeping my feelings to myself, I open them to find Jack merely looking bemused.

“Jack, this is Bronwyn, my soon-to-be sister. She’s very invested in making sure I settle in well,” I explain.

Understanding fills his blue and green eyes as he realizes he kind of offended her.

“That’s good, because I’m also invested in that,” he says. “Dolly hasn’t had the best year, and I want to make sure that changes.”

“You mean Dahlia,” she corrects. “Do you have a secret name I don’t know about?”

The question is directed at me. Is she jealous that I have inside jokes and things with Jack?

I’ve known Bronwyn for five minutes, if that.

“No,” I say, lips twitching. I’m incredibly amused by this for some reason. It’s as good of a reason as any to ignore this big, lavish wedding. There’s giant white flowers everywhere. It looks like Martha Stewart threw up outside.

It’s pretty, just overwhelming. “Jack has known me since I was born, Bronwyn. Fifteen years is a long time to know someone.”

“Wait, I thought you were fourteen,” she says, confused and I blanch as I realize my fuck up.

Jack pushes his hand through his hair, fucking up the perfectly styled strands.

“More secrets, Dolly?” he mutters.

“It’s inappropriate to have a birthday in the midst of all of this,” I say primly. “So I’m pretending it’s not today. It’s not a secret if everyone else has forgotten about it.”

“It’s your birthday?” Bronwyn hisses, pulling me around to face her. I giggle at being manhandled, but she’s so tiny, it’s really adorable. “Why didn’t you tell anyone? Your mother suggested this date because she said it felt important to her.”

“And now you know why,” I say, snickering. I shouldn’t be laughing, but I can’t stop. Gasping in a breath, I shake my head because I can feel it becoming a panic attack. I’ve had two over the last year, and I had to look up the symptoms to make sure I wasn’t dying.

“Dahlia, you’re okay,” Jack says roughly, rubbing my back. “I would love to believe Lucia forgot your goddamn birthday in a fit of excitement, but I don’t believe in humanity enough.”

Forcing a shuddering breath through my body as I struggle not to cry, I nod. Bronwyn is watching with wide eyes as she holds my hand tightly.

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