Page 83 of Nothing to the Wedding

“He’s not an idiot,” she reassured her brother.

“Porter was an idiot.”

“And maybe when you put on your big boy pants and bring someone home to us, we’ll return the favor in passing judgment on your love matches.Just shake the guy’s hand, geez, Sam.”

Breathing in, he boosted his shoulder from the pillar and shook hands with Zairn.God, she could’ve squealed in delight.Jane would’ve done it for her, if she’d been present.

“She’ll drive you crazy,” Sam said.“You’ve gotta watch her ‘cause she gets mixed up in shit.”

“I’ve noticed that about her.”Zairn flashed her a smile.“I’m blessed she lets me ride along on her adventures.”

“Most of the time you ride along.”

“Most of the time,” Zairn said in agreement.“Sam, you didn’t sit up front with the family.”

“That’s not his style,” she said, resisting the urge to loosen some buttons and slip a hand into Zairn’s shirt.It had been too long since they’d been alone.“Sam is five years older than me.We were his annoying, sometimes flamboyant, younger sisters.I can be quite loud, and Sonia likes to perform.Sam stayed in the background.He’s always been a background kind of guy.He’s a watcher, not a doer.”

“But you still asked me to dance with you.”

“Well, you know, some might say it’s a miracle I got down the aisle.Guess this is a ‘stranger things have happened’ kind of day.”

“How long are you in town?”Zairn asked.

“A while.”

See, just like she said, a ‘stranger things have happened’ day.

“You’re staying in LA?”Could he tell that was just hilarious?The strained smile torturing her lips had to become a laugh.“You?In LA?For more than a minute?”

“Don’t worry, you won’t have to witness it.”

“Oh, I will,” she said, nodding vigorously.“I would not miss this for all the rubies in the world.My big brother in LA…” She patted his arm.“In the big, bright, shiny city.My awkward and uncomfortable big brother—”

“Don’t you have a honeymoon to go on or something?”

“Nope, we did that already.And we’re loaded, we can vacation whenever we want.”She’d thought getting married or the wedding were supposed to be the highlights of her life.Sam, in LA, it would be like an SNL skit.“Did you bring your sunscreen?”

“I spend a lot of time around the equator.”

“Ew, is that like a sex thing?”

Zairn squeezed her.“Since when do you ew at sex things?”

Her expression probably said it all.“Since they were coming out of my big brother’s mouth.”

“Is that how I get you to go away, Talks-Alot?Talk about sex?”

“Talks-A-Lot?”Zairn’s amusement needed no translating.“That’s what you call her?How come Blayne never told me that?Tells me everything else.”

She coughed.“Didn’t I tell you you’re not allowed to talk to Blayne?”

“Why is he not allowed to talk to Blayne?”Sam asked.

Her regard flattened.“Would you want your other half talking to Blayne?”

“Good point,” he said with the slightest nod before returning to his inspection of the room.

“Oh, oh…” She grabbed his hand, holding it in both of hers between them.“Does that mean there is another half?Do you have another half?Is that why you’re here?Is she here?”