my time and emotions into someone, shouldn’t it be with somebody who at least has the potential to be permanent?”
“I suppose, but you like him, right?”
“Of course I like him. I wouldn’t bother thinking about this if I didn’t like him. That’s half the problem. I like him too much. If I just wanted a fling, fine. I’d have a fling. But the more time I spend with him, the harder it will be when he leaves.”
My sister gazed over at me, her expression gentle. “Brooke, you and I are not exactly wired the same way, and I can’t say that jumping into bed with Chloe’s dad before we got married was a great idea. But jumping into bed with Ryan was a huge risk, too, and now look at us. Engaged!”
Her grin returned and she flashed her ring at me, making us both laugh.
“That rock is gloriously ostentatious. You could direct freighters through the fog with that thing. How many carats is it, anyway?”
She held her hand out and gazed at the ring, rotating her wrist to make the stone catch the sunlight. “I don’t know. Seems like it might sound a little mercenary to ask Ryan how much he shelled out for this bauble.”
“Aren’t you curious?” I was certainly curious.
“Oh hell yes, but once we’re married I’m sure I can find the receipt!” We laughed again.
“What if you find out it’s a cubic zirconia?” I teased.
“I’m pretty sure it’s not. Ryan told me it was designed by the guy his mother got all her jewelry from, and my impression is that she had pretty expensive taste.”
“So, no off-the-rack ring for you, huh? You’d better not lose it. Or let the jewel thief swipe it.”
“No kidding, and speaking of off the rack, we need to get Lilly back here so we can all go wedding-dress shopping. Oh, and since we’re talking weddings, I should make this official. Will you be my maid of honor?”
“Me?” I felt a swell of tenderness and sisterly affection. I thought for sure she’d ask Lilly, or one of her friends from the island. But I was the chosen one. It felt overwhelmingly good. It made up for the fact that my dad, and Chloe, and Tag, and Lilly had all known about the engagement before me. “Of course I will. I’d be thrilled.” I leaned over for a clumsy hug, but the blanket and the lattes in our hands did not cooperate.
“Hug me later,” she said, pushing me away as I nearly dumped my latte in her lap. “But tell me now, what are you going to do about Leo?”
I leaned back against the cushion, tucking the blanket back in around my very stylish pajamas. “I have no idea.”
“Well, I say go for it. What have you got to lose?”
“Um . . . my heart. Like I said, what if I start to really care about him and then he leaves?”
“Is that worse than ending it now and never knowing what might have been? I know you, Brooke. You’re going to overthink this. Don’t think about it. Just feel it. Trust your gut. If you want to roll around with Leo, then roll around with Leo. For God’s sake, if Gigi can take a lover, you should, too.”
I smiled. “Leo says sometimes you have to just jump without knowing where you’ll land.”
Emily smiled. “Exactly, but I bet if you jump right now, you’ll land on him. How bad could that be? Now get dressed, because you and I are heading over to Manitou for mani-pedis and maybe a little shopping. I want to buy some bridal magazines, and you need a nice outfit for your next date. And for gosh sakes, let’s find a Victoria’s Secret over there so we can get you some pretty underwear and some new pajamas!”
“Why are you so certain I don’t already have pretty underwear and sexy pajamas?”
Her expression said it all.
“Okay.” I nodded. “You’re right. We’d better go shopping.”
“I’ve never actually been to Victoria’s Secret before,” I admitted to Emily as we walked into the store full of pink walls and glimmering chandeliers. She stopped in her tracks and looked at me like I’d just admitted to an alien abduction.
“Never? Where do you get your lingerie? Oh, wait. I’ve seen your pajamas. You get your sleepwear at the Disney Store. But what about your bras and underwear?”
“Target.”
I could almost feel the effort it took for her to resist a snarky remark. She patted my shoulder instead.