Page 57 of Holiday Vibes

I don’t look to see if this Danny person is dressed—Timothy’s smiling this dopey smile at me and I rush straight to him, wrapping him in a hug. I guess my holiday plans of fixing my relationship with him will have to be extended into the foreseeable future. I’ve been distracted by Nic, he’s been distracted by Mina. But it feels like we’re in a better place already.

“I am so happy for you.” I manage with a sniffle, batting my eyelashes to keep from crying and ruining my makeup before the wedding starts. He’s had a shit year recovering from his injury and retiring from the job he loved. I want to tell him how proud I am that he didn’t let it destroy him, how lucky he is to have Mina, and how scared I was that I’d lost him, but I can’t force any of the words out. Not in anything more elucidating than a squeak, anyway.

“Thanks, J,” he says softly, crushing me, understanding anyway because he’s my twin, and something of the bond we used to have must still be there. “That means a lot.”

I sniffle again. “Mina is great and you make each other so happy and I just—” can’t or I’m going to be bawling and I need to walk down the aisle looking composed soon.

“Told you so,” he says, pulling back and grinning at me. His eyes are all teary—he’s going to cry during his wedding and I love that for this family. We’ll roast him forever. “How’s my wife doing?” he asks.

“About the same as you. Freaking out.”

“What? I’m not freaking out. Guys, am I freaking out?”

There’s a resounding “yes” and someone throws a little squishy basketball toy at him, bouncing it off his head.

Timothy digs around in his pocket, pulling out a tiny Tupperware. “Give these to Mina. Don’t let her eat them all unless you want to hear some wild shit about jellyfish.”

“Goddammit, Timothy, really?” I shake the container of edibles in front of his face.

He shrugs, but he’s still grinning.

Nic opens the door for me, leaning in close to my ear. “You look beautiful.”

“I want to rip your clothes off,” I whisper back, pulling the Tupperware out of the way when he reaches for it.

“Fontana!” Timothy bellows and I run, my laugh ringing through the hall and turning a few heads in the chapel.

I burst into the bridal suite, handing the Tupperware to Mina. She takes one look inside and laughs. “No.”

My mom homes in on it, plucking it from Mina’s hands. “You kids need to get your own damn edibles. Stop stealing mine.”

We laugh and talk and drink champagne until showtime when nervous energy takes over again as we file out of the room.

Mom, Amanda, and Hazel head down the aisle to find their seats. Timothy is already standing by the altar, looking far too jittery to have taken one of Mom’s edibles.

I fluff about with Mina’s dress, but honestly, it’s perfect. She’s perfect, smiling and glowing, joy radiating from her.

Soft music starts and Liam, adorable in his suit and holding the rings, goes first, Evie following and scattering red rose petals.

There’s a brief panic next—we haven’t rehearsed, and no one has a clue who’s supposed to go next.

Lexi solves the problem, snagging the grumpy-looking groomsman whose name I don’t know because he didn’t make it to the bachelor party, and pulling him toward the aisle. Charlotte follows shortly after on Danny’s arm.

Mina squeezes my hand and waves me off toward Nic.

I take his arm, my heart beating so loud that for a moment, I can’t hear the music. He takes the first step and I stumble, a startled laugh ringing out of me as he steadies me.

“Please tell me you didn’t have one of the edibles,” he murmurs to me as he leads me down the aisle. “I can’t take more Muppets discourse.”

A girl gets stoned one time—ONE TIME—and tells anyone who would listen, in graphic detail, what sex position each cast member of The Muppets prefers and why, then spends the rest of the night convinced light switches are little penises, and suddenly everyone is like ‘don’t touch the edibles.’ Sheesh.

“You wouldn’t stop flicking the lights on and off,” Nic says under his breath.

“I’m going to murder you later,” I say with a smile, squeezing his arm. Everyone is watching us and I want to laugh. This is so absurd, but I’m having fun with him. I wish things could always be like this, with us.

“Looking forward to your attempt.”

The way he says that sends tingles through my body.

---