Wedding Date (Dating #6) - Monica Murphy Page 0,38
pathetic.
But hey. It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.
Twelve
Kelsey
“Oh my gosh, I can’t eat another bite,” I say with a groan as I lean back in my chair, as if creating distance between me and my plate will make me stop.
“There’s still dessert,” Patti chirps, and the entire table groans.
“We all don’t have your metabolism, Mom,” Ali says, making Patti frown. “She can eat whatever she wants and it never seems to affect her,” Ali tells me.
“That’s not true,” Patti says.
Ali rolls her eyes and giggles. “It’s so true. And so frustrating. I look at that chocolate cake sitting on the kitchen counter and gain five pounds.”
“Oh no, chocolate cake is my weakness,” I say with a little moan.
Theo’s brothers stare at me with open mouths. Theo clears his throat. “Good to know,” he says, his gaze all for me.
My cheeks go hot. Did I sound sexual with that moan? I was only thinking of food. Chocolate cake really is a weakness of mine.
Men. They make everything about their dicks, I swear.
“Perverts,” Ali mutters, making me burst out laughing.
We chatted continuously throughout the meal. Theo’s little sister—she’s only twenty-one and quietly confessed to me she just dropped out of college—is very talkative, which I appreciate, since that means I didn’t have to reveal much, while she’s an open book. Every question I asked, she gave a long answer, and I let her talk. It was perfect.
Every once in a while, Theo would shoot me a look, as if he was trying to figure me out, and I just smiled. Let him think I’m a mystery—let his entire family think so. Actually, let’s hope none of them notice that I’m not talking. That’s preferable.
“Hey, serious question right now,” Patti says, her attention turning to Theo. And me. “Are you two going to the wedding?”
“What wedding?” Theo asks innocently.
Mason and Max both crack up while their mother takes her napkin, wads it up into a ball and throws it at Theo, making direct contact with his cheek.
“You know what wedding I’m talking about. Your cousin’s,” she says.
“And Jessica’s?” Theo raises a brow, his expression downright defiant.
I rest my hand on his thigh, trying to tell him he should stop acting like this and just answer the question. The situation is awkward enough.
“Yes,” Patti says on a sigh. “And Jessica’s.”
“Are you going?” Theo asks pointedly, his gaze surveying the table.
“We were invited,” Max says.
“Every single one of you?” Theo seems surprised.
“We’re family,” Mason reminds him. “We grew up together. So yeah. All of us were invited.”
“And we’re all going,” Ali adds, her expression vaguely guilty. “Though it was wrong, what Craig did to you.”
I can feel the muscles in Theo’s thigh grow rigid. Clearly, this isn’t a comfortable topic of conversation, and they know it.
“We’re going too.” Theo glances in my direction, his hand reaching for mine, which is still resting on his thigh. “I need to RSVP.”
The table goes silent. In the distance, I hear one of the horses neigh. A breeze blows through the trees, making the leaves gently rattle. It’s a peaceful, sunny Saturday late afternoon, yet you could probably cut the rising tension at this table with a knife.
Such a cliché, but it’s true.
“Did Craig really ask you to be a groomsman?” Ali asks.
“Alice,” Patti snaps, and I startle. That’s the angriest I’ve heard her sound, and while shocking, it still wasn’t even that bad.
“It’s okay,” Theo says gently, squeezing my hand. Is he talking to me or his sister and mom? I’m not sure. “Yes, Ali, Craig asked me to be one of his groomsmen. He showed up at my office out of nowhere Friday afternoon and asked me to be a replacement.”
“A replacement?” Patti asks with a frown.
“I guess one of his friends got sentenced to jail time?” Theo shrugs.
Patti gasps, resting her hand on her chest. “Craig did hang around a dark crowd when he was younger.”
“The nerve of that guy, asking you to stand beside him while he marries your ex,” Max mutters, shaking his head.
“He’s got balls,” Mason adds.
Ali titters nervously. Both Patti and Jim send their kids looks that are meant to silence them, but I don’t know how effective they are. Everyone in this family has strong opinions, and they’re not afraid to voice them.
“Whatever. He’s ridiculous, always has been. But don’t worry about it. I’ll just—turn him down and we’ll attend the wedding. No big deal,” Theo says, linking his fingers with mine. His touch is an assurance, and