Shelly pouts. “You should. I’m sure your wife would love to have a big wedding to celebrate. And I want a chance to hook up with a sexy groomsman.” She bats her eyes seductively at me. I know she doesn’t mean anything by it; Shelly is like another sister to me.
“We’ll think about it,” I say to get away.
I frown as I hobble along to my office. The rest of my day will go better. Shelly is nosy, that’s all.
However, news of my wedding and ankle spreads around the office until even patients are coming up to me congratulating me and wanting to hear the story of how I broke my ankle rescuing my wife.
Eventually, Shelly got me to spill, and then she blabbed to everyone until I eventually had to lock myself in my office to get any work done. My day is usually about answering emails, taking meetings, ensuring the staff has everything they need and are up to date about the latest techniques to help our patients.
I also handle the financials. We’re a non-profit that helps people. My salary barely covers my car payment, not that I need it. My family owns a restaurant chain, several bars, and a few hotels. Money isn’t an issue. And money wouldn’t get me out of bed every morning anyway.
But by lunch, I’ve had enough. When another loud knock raps my door, I decide it’s time to work from home the rest of the day. I can’t handle any more questions about Millie. How did we meet? How did I propose? How did I break my ankle? What does she do for a living?
The questions are endless.
I hop on my one good foot to the door to turn away whoever is at the door. When I throw it open, I realize that I shouldn’t have opened it.
Kade and Larkyn are smiling at me with knowing expressions on their faces.
“What are you two doing here?” I ask my brother and sister-in-law. Kade works in an office building uptown, taking care of the part of the business that makes money. And although Larkyn runs the non-profit with me, she doesn’t usually come into the office but a couple of times a week, usually preferring to work from home where she can be near her kids.
“Taking you out to lunch.”
“I was going to skip lunch and head home.”
“To Millie?” Larkyn’s eyes light up.
“No, my ankle is just killing me,” I lie.
Larkyn frowns. “You should invite Millie to meet us for lunch. Where does she work? We can pick a spot where she can meet us.”
“No,” Kade says suddenly.
Both Larkyn and I snap our heads to him.
“We need to talk with just Sebastian,” Kade says.
My brother and I exchange icy glances. Of all the people that I have to convince that my marriage is real, Kade is the toughest. He knows me better than anyone. He knows that all I’ve talked about for years is never wanting to get married.
And then all of a sudden, bam, I’m married. I know it’s going to lead to some suspicions, and I’d rather be anywhere but at lunch with them.
“When did you and Millie start dating?” Kade asks me.
“Six months ago,” I answer, lying through my teeth.
“Oh, it’s so romantic. Why didn’t you tell us you were dating and getting serious?” Larkyn asks.
“Because I knew you’d do this.” I stare at my brother as I pop a bite of my salad into my mouth, challenging him to be different. To not criticize me, or say that my marriage is going to fail. That I’m not cut out for marriage. I already know all of this. I don’t need my brother telling me.
Larkyn looks from me to Kade, completely oblivious to our battle of wills.
“We just want to know because we love you. Now, tell us about the honeymoon and the romantic way you saved her and ended up breaking your ankle,” Larkyn asks.
I sigh and then go into the story of us hiking and how I ended up hurting my ankle before carrying her to safety.
Larkyn swoons, but Kade looks at me like he isn’t buying it. He’s not buying that I’m spontaneous, or adventurous, or married for that matter.
“Excuse me, I need to go the bathroom before we leave,” Larkyn says, getting up from her wicker seat where we are sitting on the terrace of an upscale restaurant. She squeezes my shoulder. “You have no idea how happy I am that you found someone. I was worried about you, but you look so happy now. We need to plan a get together soon so we can get to know her better.”