Page 156 of Wingwoman
My brothers and sister all stood before me, cowering, backing up as Carrow and Maxie pulled the umbrella out of my grasp. Neil, my dad’s oldest son from his first marriage, rubbed at his temple where I’d struck him. “Told you guys surprising her was a bad idea.”
“Neil?” I blinked back the tears that formed in my eyes. “I’m so sorry!”
“It’s okay,” he waved off the injury and tugged me into a hug. “I was a stuntman for years… this cranium’s had more of a beating than that in its lifetime.”
“Hey,” Liam said, stepping forward. “At least we know you can fend for yourself out here.” He wrapped his arms around me, too, joining in on the hug.
“Yeah,” Finn added, “you’ve got that fight or flight thing down.” Finn dove like a golden retriever puppy into the group hug.
With a roll of her eyes, but a good-natured smile, Addy was the last to join in on the hug. “I told these idiots we shouldn’t surprise you at nine p.m. on a work night. But no, no one listens to the fiery redhead.”
Of course I knew they were all coming for the wedding. I knew I’d be meeting them in person. I just had no idea it would be here. Tonight. While I was in a robe and mud mask. But I didn’t care. These were my siblings. They were my people.
Through my tears I asked, “How did you arrange this?”
“We happened to be on the same flight as your friends,” Finn said as we all pulled out of the hug.
Liam coughed into his fist. “They hatched a plan on the flight so that after we landed and got set up in the hotel, we would then surprise you and Dad.”
Maxie chewed her fingernail. “A plan I’m realizing was better in theory when we were a couple glasses of champagne deep.”
“No,” I said, hugging Maxie and Carrow into me. “It’s perfect. Thank you.” Then I turned to look at my siblings. “But Dad’s not here. He’s living with Vi–”
“Vivian, yeah we know. We surprised him first,” Finn said, wincing.
“Unfortunately, that surprise went even worse than this one if you can believe it,” Addy said.
I grimaced. “Worse than an umbrella to the face?”
“Yep.”
“Yikes.”
A flash of concern knotted in my stomach. An unease I couldn’t quite place. Dad was doing really well… and he had Viv there. He’d be fine. Even with this little emotional surprise.
“Well come in!” I waved them inside and hugged the robe tighter around me.
Unfazed, Maggie popped up from where she’d watched the whole thing from the couch and waved. “Hi, everyone!”
I pointed to the bedroom. “I’m just going to change and wash this mask off. Make yourselves at home.”
* * *
A couple hours later, I waved from my front door as everyone left to head back to their hotel rooms. Shutting my door, I turned the deadbolt then slumped against it. That was surprisingly easier than I had suspected—hanging out with my siblings for the first time in person rather than via Zoom.
And now, this condo felt even more empty than usual.
I tidied up, putting away wine glasses. Luckily, I had one more bottle of wine to offer to my guests, but I had happily stopped drinking two hours ago. I picked up a fallen blanket, folding it before I realized I didn’t have my phone on me. I had brought it into the bedroom when I went to change after everyone arrived and I must have accidentally left it in there.
Sure enough, there it was, sitting face down on my dresser.
When I picked it up, there were two new voice messages waiting for me.
The first was from Brent.
“Hey,”he said, his voice crisp and clear. The exact voice you could imagine belting out long notes fromThe Phantom of the Operafor the Broadway stages. “I know you said you were fine, but seriously. These tabloid speculations about you and Josh breaking up are relentless. Trust me, I know from experience how they can be.”
I snorted to myself and rolled my eyes despite my ex. Always managing to throw it in there how he’s also famous. A fact he won’t let anyone forget. “Anyway, I just wanted to check in on you and let you know the apartment here in New York is yours if you want it. My broker emailed you the paperwork today.”
