Page 35 of Contingently Yours
“No,” she laughs. “We’ve got that covered. I don’t think I need my brother’s help to plan a bachelorette party.”
Chuckling with her, I’m relieved to hear there’s one less unpleasant task on my plate. “Good. Glad to hear it. I didn’t feel like shopping for penis headbands or whatever it is women wear for those things. That might kind of ruin the memory of braiding your hair when you were little.”
There are only so many places I can look in this little bakery. When I find my gaze crossing Andrew’s, my cheeks burn at the sight of his amused and rapt attention. I’m not sure which is worse at the moment, that I said penis in front of him when we were just talking about mine or that he just learned I know how to braid hair.
“Uh, yeah! And don’t worry. Mom already bought the penis headbands.”
“Gross,” I whisper, pinching my eyes shut. “So…what’s up with the bachelor party?”
“Um…so, Tyler and Ricky were wondering if you’d want to go.”
We hadn’t discussed anything about bachelor or bachelorette parties, so it hadn’t crossed my mind. I guess I didn’t even contemplate if the boys were going to have one or even wanted one. Now I feel like a jerk for not suggesting it or planning one for them. Yet, I’m flattered that my future brothers-in-law want me to come.
“Uh, yeah. Sure. If they want me to. That was nice of them to invite me.”
“You’re our brother. Of course we want to include you in everything. The guys love you. You know that.”
When she pauses, I can’t help but get a sneaking suspicion that this call isn’t just about an invite. “Is that why you called? Just to see if I want to go?”
There’s a pause, and I hear her take a breath. “Well, Tyler wasn’t sure…I mean,weweren’t sure if you’d want to be there,” she says, referencing her fiancé.
“Why wouldn’t I want to be?” I laugh. “Is it at a mud wrestling place or something?”
“No,” she laughs, but it sounds like her nervous laugh. Julia rarely gets nervous. What is the deal? “It’s just that…Well, Mark will be there too,” she lets out with a sigh. Her next words come in rapid fire. “Tyler doesn’t know what to do. It’s his brother, you know? He can’tnotinvite his brother, but you’remybrother and his future brother-in-law, and you’re giving us away. So, he can’tnotinvite you either.”
“Oh…” I mumble, picking at the mangled roll in front of me, unsure of what to say. And here I assumed I’d thought of everything to make things go smoothly for the girls. I didn’t want them to have a bad experience like I did, but I guess youcan’t prevent every awkward moment. I just didn’t expect I’d be involved in one of those awkward moments.
“We just don’t want you to be uncomfortable, you know? So…I thought I’d better warn you and see what you think.” She sighs again, and I hate the sound of her distress. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what to do.”
“No. Hey. It’s fine. I’ll be fine going or not going. Tell Ty not to worry about it. And if he doesn’t think it’s a good idea for me to be there, I can miss it. It won’t bother me. Mark and I…” I rub my eyes, remembering the first time I saw him and Shannon together after we broke up. My oldest friend and he just stared at me like I was an alien while he had his arm around the woman I once thought was going to be my future. I was more embarrassed that seeing them together made much more sense than Shannon and I ever did, except I pretty much lost a friend because of it. Some levels of awkwardness you just can’t fix, I guess. “We’re fine. I mean, I don’t know if we’re fine, but to me, it’s fine. I’m over Shannon. Over…it. Seriously. I know they’ll be at the wedding, so what’s the difference if he’s at the bachelor party, too? It’s just part of it. Okay? Don’t even worry about it.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah.” I nod, even though I know she can’t see me. “Jules…everything will be fine. It’s about you and Ty. No one’s going to ruin anything for you. If they do, I’ll break their legs. Okay?”
That has her chuckling, making me smile. “You really deserve better than her,” she adds. “Just so you know. Maybe you can bring a date to the wedding and make them both regret it.”
Oh, brother. She’s always been the feisty one of the two girls.
The bells to the shop chime, and I hear voices, three male voices with varying accents. Glancing over my shoulder, I see the Hepperlys streaming in, faces alight with curiosity as they take in the bakery.
“Uh, what part of ‘I’m not going to let anything ruin your wedding’ did you miss?” I tease Julia.
“I’m just saying, Lucas! You’re handsome, smart, kind—you’re a good guy. You deserve to be happy.”
“I am happy,” I defend, and yet my words sound like a lie, even to my own ears.
“You know what I mean. Just…if you ever meet someone who makes you as stupidly giddy as I feel when I’m with Ty, I hope you know I’ll welcome them with open arms. We all will. You deservethat, Lucas. That’s what I mean. Okay?”
Her sentiment has my heart overflowing, and a tear forming in my eye. It’s surreal sometimes to see her as a grown, responsible, compassionate woman when I often still think of her as a little girl. I sure never thought she’d be giving me well wishes and life advice.
“Yeah, okay,” I laugh to hide my emotions. “I’ve got to go, though. Our clients are here. I’ll talk to you later.”
“All right. Knock ’em dead. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I exhale the weight of the conversation without thinking, momentarily forgetting where I am, or rather, who I’m with. When I look up from my phone, Andrew’s gaze is fixed on me. I don’t know what his peculiar expression means. It’s not like he could hear Julia or possibly know the entirety of what we conversed about. Maybe he’s just surprised to have heard what it’s like not to argue with or lie to someone.
