Page 61 of Unexpecting

″So I’ve decided not to take anyone to the wedding next weekend,” Morgan told me after we’d put on the dresses and were standing at themirror while a seamstress bustled around us with pins. I tried to stay still so I wouldn’t get pricked.

″What wedding? My wedding isn’t until September!” Brit cried.

″No, Marie and Michael’s wedding, remember? There are other people getting married in this world, you know,” Morgan told her mildly.

″Well, it’s kind of difficult to remember that, since I’m pouring my life energy into making this the best wedding ever. I thought you were taking J.B. to that one?” she added curiously.

″I was, but because of recent events, I’ve changed my mind,” Morgan said self-righteously. “He’s being an ass to Casey.”

″Thank you,” I said quietly.

″And this has nothing to do with the fact that Anil is laid up with poison ivy over half of his body?” Brit asked archly.

″Really?” I laughed.

″I didn’t know that.” Morgan didn’t even try to hide her smile. “Marie told me he wasn’t coming, but that’s not why I decided not to bring J.B. I was actually debating whether I should invite Derek.”

″Who?” Brit asked.

″You don’t mean…” I trailed off weakly.

″I know, it’s kind of weird for you,” Morgan said apologetically. “But he’s really, really nice. We’ve texted and talked on the phone a couple of times, and he’s always sending me these funny e-mails… Casey’s mother’s new boyfriend’s brother,” she said to Brit, who was practically bouncing up and down with frustration that she didn’t know who we were discussing.

″Oh, my God!” she cried with disgust. “You can’t be serious!”

″He’s nice,” Morgan told us defensively. “You’re okay with it, aren’t you, Casey?”

″Other than feeling extremely nauseated, just hunky-dory.”

″Really?”

I looked at Morgan and saw the disappointment in her eyes. “Do you really like him?” I asked despairingly.

″Kind of,” she admitted. “I think he’s waiting for me to give him the go-ahead before he asks me out. I wanted to clear it with you first.”

″Oh, Morgan,” I closed my eyes. “Fine. Go ahead; date the man who might be my step-uncle, but I do not want any details. And please, please, please, don’t start inviting my mother to parties and stuff.”

″Really? Oh, Casey, thanks! I know you’ll like him when you give him a chance. Eric sounds great, too. Derek says he and your mom—”

I held up my hand. “No details. Please.” Especially since I was feeling wretchedly guilty about my run-in with Terri this morning. I’m truly a horrible daughter. How was I going to be able to be a good mother if I kept messing up my own mother-daughter relationship?

″He’s a nice guy,” Morgan was saying happily. “I’m going to text him and ask him for dinner tomorrow night as soon as we’re done here.”

″At least Morgan’ll have a date now for my wedding,” Brit said, as always bringing the conversation back to her. “I was getting worried that my whole wedding party was going to show up single and miserable.”

″I’m not miserable about being single,” I said coolly.

″Whatever,” Brit waved my protest away.

″Is—?” Morgan began. “Is he still standing up for Tom?”

″Who?” Brit was leafing through a magazine, impatiently waiting for the seamstress to be finished.

″Anil,” I supplied, so Morgan wouldn’t have to say the name.

″Well, of course,” Brit said with irritation. “Tom can’t dump him from being one of his ushers just because the two of you aren’t together! It would screw up the numbers, and really, he hasn’t got another friend he’s close enough to. Do you think that would be a nice thing to do? It’d be like me dropping you because of Anil. Tom and I need to stay neutral during this difficult time with you two, until you can begin to coexist civilly. I’m really hoping that will happen by the wedding, you know,” she finished pointedly.

″You’re not making her still be paired up with him?” I asked, incredulous. “Because that’s just mean.”

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