Page 50 of The Wedding Twist

Celeste felt her throat constrict. “I don’t know. The job was a total surprise. And I guess I just thought if it was real, we’d make it work.”

“That’s a really long way away. Especially for a new relationship.”

She took a sip of her drink. “I think I ruined everything.”

“And you’ve fallen for him,” Ava said softly.

Celeste swallowed. “Yeah.”

“Is this new job… Is this what you really want?”

Celeste shook her head. “I don’t know. But I put myself second before—with Matt. I don’t want to do that again.”

“I can respect that,” said Ava.

They sat for a moment in silence as the lanky twentysomething host of the karaoke night took the mic.

“Llllladiesand gentlemen, welcome to Best Case Brewery’s karaoke night!” he called. “Write down your song fromAtoZ; it’s time to let those vocals free. This is not a night of competition, just a place of musical ignition!”

Celeste looked at Ava and rolled her eyes. “This could be bad.” She did, however, remember a few of the lodge’s guests coming back after a night at the brewery remarking on “decent local talent.”

The host read out instructions for signups, then launched into “Kiss from a Rose.” He had a good voice, as far as talent went in the Keystone Ridge area.

A red-haired woman in her early fifties was up next and did a pretty decent job with “We Belong Together” by Mariah Carey, and by the time she got to the chorus, Celeste nodded to the door. “I’m out,” she said. “What is this, the heartbreak hotel?”

“Lyrics just hit you differently when you’re hurting,” Ava said with authority. Celeste found it very hard to believe anyone had ever hurt Ava. But maybe she was wrong. “Stay here,” Ava said, hopping off her stool.

Celeste watched as her sister strode to the bar, then picked up her phone, hoping that maybe Jack had texted, but the only message that had come through was a reminder from her hairdresser that she had an appointment scheduled in the morning.

Ava slid back into her seat moments later and slid a rocks glass across the table. “Drink that. We’re up next.”

“Forget it!” Celeste said. She stood up and looked around for her coat, but it had disappeared from the hook beside their table. “Where’s my coat?”

“I hid it,” her sister said, a look of mischief in her eyes.

“Give it to me. My keys are in it. I’m going home.”

“Exactly,” Ava said. “I’ll give you your keys after you sing a song with me.”

“Fine. I’ll stay at Mom and Dad’s.”

Ava leaned in, grabbed Celeste’s chin, and looked her straight in the eyes. “Veruca Salt.”

Celeste shook her head free from her sister’s grip. “You’re using it onthis?”

Ava nodded, a small smile threatening to spill. “Yup.”

Years ago, on Quinn’s sixteenth birthday, when Quinn had begged them all to go to the local pioneer village and participate in a historical reenactment of a town-hall debate, costumes included, they’d begrudgingly agreed but only after making it clear to Quinn she’d used up her one trump card. “Volcano Girls” by Veruca Salt had been playing on the radio in the car on the way over, so they’d used the band’s name to coin the phrase they could use when they wanted to veto a decision, a one-and-done card they could play. And now it seemed Ava was cashing hers in.

“You’re evil. Are you kidding me right now?”

“Drink up,” Ava said as the host took to the mic.

“Calling up Celeste and Ava,” he said, and there was a smattering of applause through the room.

Before she could protest, Ava linked her arm in Celeste’s, picked up both of their drinks, and seconds later Celeste was standing on stage with a blinding bright spotlight on them.

Ava shoved a mic into one of her hands and her drink in the other, just as the opening chords of the most outrageous karaoke song Celeste could think of came through the speakers.

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