Page 46 of Perfect (mis)Match

Vincent held my gaze for a moment, and I wished I had a clue about what went on in that head of his.

“What?” I demanded.

He shook his head, and his face relaxed again. “Nothing. All good.”

“Hey Vinny-baby,” his friend Trent yelled down the table.

Vincent scowled at what must have been an old nickname. “Yeah?”

“When are you taking Piper to meet Nana Dee?”

He glanced at me. “Soon. Very soon.”

“Good,” Trent replied. “Because it’ll get her off my back. She keeps hounding me to settle down and give her grandbabies. Better you than me.”

Vincent choked on his drink. “Now hold on a minute.”

Everyone dissolved into laughter at the thought of Vincent running front for Trent. The rest of the meal was basically a comedy skit as the old friends tried to outdo one another with stories about how stupid they were during their college years. I didn’t believe Vincent would ever agree to go streaking, but Aiden managed to dig up a grainy photo that sure looked like a younger Vincent running across the quad, his white cheeks glowing in the darkness.

Did I study the image way longer than I needed to? Maybe.

A few hours later, we’d all nearly forgotten the reason why we were gathered until Paul pulled me aside on the way out.

“Hey, thanks for stepping up to help Chloe. She’s, uh, she’s sort of a mess these days.”

“It’s totally fine, I get it,” I replied. “You’ve got theNew York Timescovering the wedding, and Chloe told me a bunch of influencers are coming too. She needs it to beperfect.”

Paul sighed and leaned against the wall in the narrow corridor. “I wish we could scratch everything and go to the courthouse instead. The only thing that really matters is the two of us and not dress colors and chair sashes.”

“You actually know what a chair sash is?” I laughed. “You’re in deep.”

“Do I have a choice? I want her happy.”

I reached out to grasp his arm. “You’re a good dude, you know that?”

His face went red, and he stared at the ground. “Thanks. I hope Chloe still thinks so. It’s getting to the point where she’s stressed outconstantly,and I don’t know how to make it better.”

“Just keep doing what you’re doing,” I said, giving him a final squeeze. “Be her port in the storm.”

“Maybe once it’s over, the four of us can hang out? I want to bask in the kinder and gentler Vincent Forde, which is one hundred percent thanks to you.”

It was my turn to go pink. “What? You really think so?”

He laughed. “Uh, yeah. It’s like he’s back to the old Vincent now. He seems…I don’t know…lighter? I know all about the stress at work, but he’s managing to be present in the moment.” Paul paused. “You’re the change.”

“Change of what?” Vincent asked as he joined us. “What are we discussing? Napkin thread counts?”

Paul threw his arm around Vincent’s shoulder. “It’s brother-sister stuff, don’t worry about it.”

My heart warmed when Paul glanced over at me. His father had been a major roadblock in our relationship, but it was starting to feel like we could finally forge a real siblinghood.

“What about you?” Vincent asked. “Did you weather this latest crisis in one piece? You two gonna fight all the way to the altar?”

There was an edge of sarcasm in his voice I didn’t appreciate, like he doubted the strength of their relationship. I glared at him, but he was staring at Paul.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to marry that woman,” Paul said, his expression softening. “I just want her to feel like everything’s going the way she planned. She deserves it.”

Vincent shrugged. “More power to you. Can’t say I understand brides, but good for you.”

---