Page 14 of The Wedding Wrecker

THREE YEARS LATER

"So," Brad said, cutting into his steak. "Lily tells me you're a wedding planner?"

I took a long sip of wine, buying time. Lily—my traitor of a sister—had promised this wouldn't be a setup. Just a casual dinner with her, her fiancé Marcus, and his friend from work who "happened" to be in town.

“Totally not a double date,” she had said.

Right.

"I do small events," I said carefully. "Intimate gatherings. Twenty guests max."

"Really?" Brad's eyebrows rose. "Because Lily was showing me pictures of that castle wedding you did in Ireland. Looked pretty major to me."

I shot my sister a look that promised revenge. She just smiled innocently and snuggled closer to Marcus.

"That was a while ago." I stabbed a piece of salmon with more force than necessary. "I prefer a... different approach now."

"She's being modest," Lily cut in. "My sister used to do the most incredible weddings. Still could, if she'd stop playing it so safe."

"I'm not playing it safe," I protested. "I'm being practical. I can do more weddings this way and there’s far less potential for disaster. Sure, they’re not as…epic,but it’s just a performative ceremony anyway, right?”

“God, listen to you,” Lily laughed, but there was a touch of worry in her eyes. “What did you do with my lovesick big sister?”

Marcus chuckled. "Practical isn't always better. Sometimes you have to take risks." He squeezed Lily's hand. "Like asking out the pretty girl at the park even though she's way out of your league."

They shared one of those sickeningly sweet couples' looks. Three years ago, I would have found it romantic. Now it just made me want to check their phones for dating apps. I could almost see the ghost of James “The Wedding Wrecker” Carter standing behind them, smiling with sinister promise that it would all come crashing down before the end.

God, I was turning into such a cynic.

"Tell me about your events," Brad said, drawing my attention back to him. He wasn't unattractive—tall, nice smile, probably made good money based on the suit he wore and his watch. In short, there was no reason I should feel such a natural aversion to giving him a shot. In fact, I probably would’ve been thrilled to be set up with someone like him before…

Before James.Sometimes, when I closed my eyes, I still saw that image of him standing in the middle of the ruined Harrison-McNamara wedding. That image haunted me.Hehaunted me…

"Not much to tell," I said. "Small ceremonies. Simple receptions. No surprises."

"Sounds boring," Lily muttered into her wine glass.

"Boring is underrated." I gave her a pointed look. "Boring means no one ends up crying in the bathroom or finding out their fiancé has been sleeping with the entire wedding party."

Brad's eyes widened slightly.

"What my sister means," Lily jumped in, "is that she's incredibly talented but currently wasting that talent on backyard barbecues and courthouse ceremonies."

"They're not all backyard?—"

"When was the last time you did something that scared you?" Lily challenged. "Something that actually mattered?"

"I came here tonight, even though I knew you were probably going to try to set me up with some guy.Again.”

Brad choked on his wine.

"Sorry," I told him. "That came out wrong. I just... I like knowing what to expect these days."

“All good,” Brad said. “Somebodytold me you agreed to a blind date. I didn’t realize you were caught off guard.” He gave Marcus a pointed look.

“Anyway,” Lily said carefully, cutting in with that way of hers. Lily was the baby of the family, and she’d been the cutest baby onEarth. Then she was the most adorable toddler anyone had ever seen. And now she was so eye-wateringly pretty that old men couldn’t help themselves from shuffling over to her and paying her creepy compliments wherever she went. In other words, she was used to batting her long eyelashes, smiling, and being forgiven for all her sins. “There’s something I wanted to ask you, Emma.”

I froze with my fork halfway to my mouth. "What?"

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