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As the best “mate,” it’s my duty to make sure my brother is well taken care of and gets to the damn altar on time. Last time a Marcon got married, he stumbled to the altar thirty minutes late. His poor bride then realized that she had set herself up for a life of disappointment. That’s how you get Serena Marcon to be my mother.

Ourmother.

My father’s been in and out (half-drunk, of course), and a few of Ted’s other friends came in to shake his hand, but I’m the only one who hasn’t left the chamber. Ted is all smiles as he claps men on the back and steals a kiss from some housekeeper who swears she’s never seen a happier gay couple get married at that vineyard. Really. How many have been done since it became legal in Oregon? I honestly want to know.

“Chin up, Alessa!” Ted approaches me, grinning so wide that I can count every one of his pearly white teeth. “It’s my wedding day. The least you could do is pretend to not be a heartbroken sack of shit.”

“It must be that graceful tongue that made Jordan fall in love with you.” Mr. I-Have-A-Bachelors-Degree-In-American-Poetry that my brother is marrying…

“Oh, it was the tongue, all right.” Ted leans against the windowsill I have yet to detach myself from. His cologne is heavier than my perfume. This is why I change my scent every few months. I know about olfactory fatigue and how it leads to fine women such as myself to bathe in fragrance so she can smell it again. “Also, the same tongue that made that housekeeper cry before Jordan and I got back together.” He winks at me. Subtle.

“You don’t even remember her name.”

“Does it matter? Do you ever remember their names?”

You know whose name I remember right now? Alessa’s.

“Come on, Jules. I know you’re heartbroken for once, but it’s supposed to be a happy day. My only wish is that you had brought a date with you. One to scare Mother, of course.”

I had lots of lovely women offer to come with me to my brother's wedding. But unless Alessa changed her mind, I wasn’t bringing anyone.

Besides, I have… Presley. Who is here with her new date since apparently, she wasn’t as fallen for Cher as I was for Julianna. Whatever.

“Damnit.” My big brother ignores his buzzing phone and sits next to me. “We’re gonna have to talk about this, huh?”

“About what? I don’t recall asking for your opinion about Alessa.”

“Jordan told me the details.”

Of course he did. I had drunkenly said a few things at the bachelor party, didn’t I?

“It’s none of your business,” I hastily say.

“Maybe so, but I don’t like seeing my little sister so torn up over someone.”

He said that in all seriousness, didn’t he? This lying asshole dared to say that to my face. I don’t think I could broadcast how pissed that makes me any more than I have.

“The hell is that face for?”

“Seriously?” I push away from the window, the fresh flower clipped to my front pocket losing a petal from my irrational movements. “Seriously, Ted?”

“What?”

I lock the door before anyone has the bright idea to interrupt us. My brother and I have needed this chat for years now. Perhaps it’s not the best idea to have it on his wedding day but fuck it.

“Savannah.”

My voice reverberates against the thin windowpanes. Ted frowns, chiseled chin propped up on his hand. “What about Georgia?”

“No, Ted. Savannah. My girlfriend you stole.”

He doesn’t answer.

“Why, Ted? Why the hell did you go out of your way to steal one of my girlfriends?” I leave out the part where Savannah was the last woman I had a somewhat serious relationship with. Before Alessa, anyway. “You never had enough of your own? For fuck’s sake, your dating pool is even bigger than mine. You get any woman or man you want.”

“Like you don’t get any woman you want…” He snorts. “I promise you, Jules, if you ever have a bisexual awakening, I’ve already paved the way for Marcons around the world.”

“Stop it.” I’m regretting not indulging in a drink yet. I had been saving it for the open bar at the reception. Join my parents inthe alcoholic festivities while my father parties and my mother washes away her shame for having two queer children.