Page 33 of With This Ring

Hudson rubbed his eyes. His sister was always so dramatic. Heresponded:Does that mean you and Shane are paying for the wedding now? Should I plan to only cover the cost of my own tux?

When his phone lit up with her number, he answered it.

“Is that your idea of an apology?” she asked.

“Not exactly.”

She was silent, but he could almost hear her seething over the phone. “How about this? We agree to disagree. I think you’re a jerk, and you disagree.”

“Layla—”

“Look, are you getting a tux or what? Are you going to give me away, or should I ask Aunt Trudy to walk me down the aisle?”

“You still haven’t told me who’s paying for this shindig.”

“If you’re going to treat my fiancé and me like children, then I guess we’ll be paying. That’s all you care about anyway.” Her voice sounded thick. “You really embarrassed me at dinner with his family. I can’t believe you did that to me.”

Hudson leaned back, allowing his head to hit the seat behind him. “I was only speaking the truth.”

“Well, you could’ve been a whole lot nicer and less snobby.”

“So you think I’m a snob?”

“Yes, a very big one.” She sniffed.

He looked out the window toward the line of cars heading out of the parking lot. “I don’t want to fight with you.”

“There’s a simple fix for that. Stop being a jerk.”

They were both quiet for a moment.

“Are you going to give me away or not?” she finally asked.

He blew out a puff of air and debated how best to convince her to see things from his point of view. Fighting obviously wasn’t working. “Of course I’ll give you away.”

“And you’ll go to the tux fitting?”

“Yes, I’ll go to the tux fitting.” He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “And what about the wedding? Should I send you a receipt for the down payment on the country club, so you and Shane can discuss making payments to me?”

She was quiet.

“Does your silence mean you need me to pay for the wedding?”

“I still don’t like how you embarrassed me in front of Shane and his family.”

“And I still don’t think you need to rush into this. You should take your time and get to know him better.”

“Like I said—what if we agree to disagree?” she asked.

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

“Good.”

“Good. And bye,” she said before the line went dead.

Shaking his head, he started his SUV. What on earth would help his sister see the light?

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