Page 119 of Shutout
Dee pauses from pouring herself another mimosa. “Suspicious.”
“Very.”
“What are we gonna do about it?” Maddie asks.
My shoulders slump. “Well, I can’t go out there in this to find out.” I motion at my incredible wedding dress, a mermaid cut cream number with delicate beading that makes it shimmer when I move, giving me the look of a real mermaid just emerged from the ocean. It’s gorgeous. I feel absolutelybeautiful in it. I can’t wait to see Brooke’s reaction to it. It’s not that I’m superstitious, but I don’t want to ruin that moment for myself.
“Leave it to your big sister.” Luz lifts her long skirt to not step on it as she gets up. “Because it turns out that I have a big weapon.”
I cock an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
“A husband who does whatever I want.”
“Oh.” Maddie snaps her fingers. “I too have one of those. I’m coming with.”
“Yo también,” Mom says, and joins the other two women as they walk out.
“Show offs.” Dee sighs.
Mina joins her at the bar. “Right?”
“Pff.” I shake my head. “As if you two also didn’t have guys who are wild over you in the wedding party.”
Dee grins, her cheeks deepening in color. “Well, Jamie and Dane aren’t our husbands yet.”
“Yet.” Mina narrows her eyes. “That’s the key word.”
We ended up dating the same group of hockey bros we went to college with, but wilder things have happened in my life. Such as me legitimately getting a job as a nutritionist for Brooke’s team, and also releasing my first book of allergy friendly recipes.
“I still can’t believe that we’ll never be able to breathe non-stinky air,” I joke about the unfortunate side effect of living with men who sweat for a living.
“Don’t get me started on that. The smells that come out of the digestive tract of my boyfriend are criminal.” Mina pretends to gag.
“I honestly stink worse than mine, but I’m starting to think that his nose doesn’t work.” Dee elegantly drapes herself on a settee, champagne flute in her hand.
Mina closes her eyes. “I wish my nose didn’t work.”
While I’m chuckling, the door opens again and the three women in my family walk back in. Maddie’s the one who breaks the news.
“Turns out that your future brother-in-law lost the rings.”
You could hear a pin drop.
My eye twitches. Slowly, I set my champagne on a nearby table by the floor length window. I remind my reflection that a blood stain would look much worse on my dress than a splotch of champagne, and that’s a good enough reason to not commit murder.
“Someone bring me Brooklyn.”
They all look at each other.
“Isn’t that bad luck?” Mom asks.
“Rather, I’m suddenly concerned about Brooklyn’s physical integrity.” My sister bites her lips.
“That’s not it.” With a few steps, I plop myself on the window sill with no elegance. “I just want to make sure he’s not freaking out about this.”
“Awww.”
“That is so sweet.”
