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CHAPTER 1

Grayson

I should have known that the offering of freshly poured coffee and scones would come with strings.

I mean, after all, this was my sister we were talking about.

“Please, Grayson, do it for me...” she whined, batting her long eyelashes at me, pouting like she used to do when we were kids.

I looked out the window of the cafe, sighing in exasperation because I knew I would inevitably give in. Because if I didn’t, I’d never hear the end of it from her, my mother, and God knows who else. But that didn’t mean I was going to go easy.

“You know I don’t really care for the bar scene, ” I said, my voice firm. But that never swayed Giselle.

“We have a month until the wedding, Grayson. Don’t get squeamish now when we’re in the home stretch.”

I scoffed at her remark. “Excuse me for having standards , Giselle.”

She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at me. “Impeccably high standards, might I add. You haven’t even had a date in what? Three years?”

I bristled at her words. It wasn’t like I couldn’t get a date. Honestly, I knew if I wanted I could just swipe right on about anyone I fancied, but truth be told, there was far more pressure on me to “pick the perfect match” since I’d come out to my parents.

Which was Giselle’s fault entirely.

Not to mention the dating scene, especially in this town, wasn’t exactly the most private. When you lived in a small town like Jasper Springs, and your family was one of the most well-known, everyone and their brother was up in your business.

Including meddling, pain in the ass siblings.

“It’s different for me, and you know that,” I said with a sigh, knowing my fate would be sealed soon enough.

To my surprise, my sister’s gaze softened, her lips frowning slightly.

“Oh, Grayson, I didn’t mean—”

“I know you didn’t, but the fact of the matter is you know mom and dad hold me to a higher standard now.”

“Like they didn’t have high expectations for me? And Aaron?”

“Aaron’s father is the CEO of a high-end realty company. There was never any doubt they’d love him,” I said, wanting to veer away from this uncomfortable conversation.

I loved my sister, and she was one of the sweetest, most empathetic allies I knew. But regardless of how understanding or big her heart was, she’d never really understand my station. The oldest sibling, the one our parents expected would lead this family into the next era with a bunch of crotch dumplings, a total Betty for a wife, with a seven figure stock portfolio and a house in the Hamptons.

And I’d shattered all their dreams of the perfect American family when they’d found out I was gay, in the worst way possible.

Caught red-handed with my tongue down my sister’s high school ex-boyfriend’s throat.

Talk about a scandal.

Our families knew each other well, and Cody and I just happened to be working at the same suit store at the time, and he and my sister seemed to be civil enough that inviting him and his family to the summer shindig was a no brainer, and it just sort of... happened.

After several martinis at the family bbq.

In the pool house.

Where we’d forgot to lock the door amidst nearly half the population of Jasper Springs, because we were drunk. But we’d been fucking around for weeks at that point.

Needless to say, the whole debacle was a nightmare, and when push came to shove, Cody clammed up and sang the tune of “He came on to me. I’m not gay.”

I was forced to come clean and tell my parents the truth, much sooner than I’d wanted to.

Of course, I’d planned on telling them... eventually. When I found Mr. Right, and knew he was the one, so they’d never question me or my choice, but now...

Now my parents were looking for any reason to remind me of my bachelor status, my eternal singledom after what had happened with Cody.

“I’m sorry,” I said, shaking my head as I dispelled the unforgiving, awful memories. “I’m just... All this wedding stuff is getting to my head, I think.”

My sister squeezed my hand softly, forcing me to look at her pleading eyes, her sympathetic face.

“Does that mean you’ll come? I promise it’ll be fun. We’ve been so hell-bent on planning, I think we could all use a drink and some tunes, don’t you?”

Damn it.

“Always a bridesmaid, never a bride,” I said, flashing her with a smirk as I pulled my hand away. “Perhaps I could settle for one drink. But that is it! I swear, I—”

Giselle’s smile brightened as she nodded in response. “Seven o’clock at M’s Place. Don’t be late.”