Page 21 of From Best Friend to Bride
“I’ll tell Si that you’re bullying me again.”
“When he learns why, he’ll probably agree that you should be bullied.”
Lucy blinked at us both and, when Jess had disappeared to the other end of the bar to serve a customer, said, “But, seriously, why? Why would you propose to my sister of all people?”
That sounded a bit too much like an insult for my liking.
But a very fair question, all the same.
Fred cocked his thumb in my direction. “This one needs a fake lover because her mouth works before her brain does, so being the generous and understanding best friend that I am, I offered my services.”
“Right. Nana.” She nibbled on her thumbnail before Fred gently pushed her hand away from her mouth. “Did you really have to propose, though? Can’t you just… fake date? Call me old-fashioned, but getting married just because Nana wants someone to look after this moron seems like a ridiculous idea.”
I resented being called a moron.
Besides, I wasn’t the moron who suggested it in the first place.
“For what it’s worth, I happen to agree,” I said, cocking my hip and leaning against the bar. “Granny also told us that if we get married, an annulment or divorce isn’t allowed, and I really don’t want to be responsible for this one for the rest of my life.”
Fred cleared his throat. “You’ve been responsible for me for twenty-nine years. What’s another fifty?”
“A bit of a nightmare, if I’m honest.”
Lucy laughed. “You already argue like an old married couple. And you used to take baths together, so you’ve already seen each other naked.”
“We were children!” I snapped. “Didn’t you just say that us getting married is a ridiculous idea?”
“No. I actually think you two should get married. I am a card-carrying member of the FreDeli ship. Or I would be if we had cards.”
I blinked at her. “The fucking what now?”
“The FreDeli ship. You know, both your names together?”
“I wish that was something I didn’t know.”
“Amen,” Fred muttered. “I can never unhear that.”
My sister waved her hand. “Nana started it back when you were teens and went to prom together. She’s the captain of the ship.”
I was starting to think her last wish was less me getting married and more me getting marriedspecificallyto Fred.
“Okay, well, it was nice talking to you both, but I don’t think I ever want to do this again,” I said, pushing off the bar.
“You’ll have to. At your wedding.” Lucy grinned.
“Whose wedding?” Si asked, stepping up next to me and resting his elbow on my shoulder.
“Oh,” I said flatly. “Have you finished your very important paperwork, boss?”
“Just taking a break. All that typing makes my fingers stiff.” He wiggled his fingers in front of my face. “Whose wedding are we talking about?”
Lucy’s eyes flickered to me, but before I could threaten her with revealing her true cravings to our mother, she quickly said, “Deli and Fred’s.”
Si cocked his head down at me. “It’s about time, isn’t it?”
“Thank you.” Fred raised his hand in triumph. “That’s another point for me.”
“We’re not keeping score, numbnuts,” I quipped. “Besides, your grandmother and Si aren’t exactly a large survey pool.”
