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Andi clearly smelled something amiss. I didn’t want to lie to her, but Melena’s medical condition was none of my sister’s business.

“Why would you think something’s wrong with her?”

I couldn’t help the way my volume increased with every word. Andi knew how to get me going and what would make me squirm. Her talent for catching and releasing moths in my room was legendary. I wigged out every time, and she cackled with glee as she rehomed them back outside.

“You’re marrying...Melena is it? And I’ve never met her? Something must be wrong. She’s not blackmailing you, is she? You know your crew won’t care you slept naked at church camp and everyone saw your dong. No one will give you grief that you and Chase once made your own NSYNC music video. I know I tease you with blackmail about these things but suck it up and deal with the embarrassment. It’s not worth shackling yourself to some stranger.”

“Ouch. I’m not sure who should be more offended: me or Melena. You’re going to love her. She’s awesome.”

“Not if she’s blackmailing you into marriage, I’m not.”

I groaned. “Andi, how could you think that? She’s just a wonderful woman I’m marrying. On Saturday.”

“See, that’s where I have the problem. What’s the rush?” she asked. “Wouldn’t she be as wonderful in six months to a year?”

I shrugged before I remembered she couldn’t see me sprawled across my couch. “The time’s right.”

“How could the time be right? I haven’t even met this woman. How can you be ready to marry her?”

“I just am.”

Stupid and stubborn, maybe. Didn’t mean it was wrong. Melena needed me, and the sliver that recognized Mark was right about finding purpose outside of work exhaled for the first time at the thought of coming home to her. I took a deep breath and stared at the ceiling. I wanted to marry Melena. Against all reason, and beyond my protective instincts, something about it felt right.

“Jimmy, I checked my receipts, and I didn’t order any of your bullshit. What’s the real deal?”

I sighed. Would she hate the idea of my marriage more or less if she knew what was driving it? I went for a half-truth instead. “Spending time with Melena brings out the best in me. She accepts me, perfectionist quirks and all. There’s something about her.”

“It’d better not be her broken wings, Jimmy.”

Melena may be going through a tough time, but there was nothing broken about her. In her own way, she was competitive. Driven. A lot like Andi actually.

They were going to hate each other.



















Chapter 8

Melena – It’s a nice day for ... an awkward wedding.