“She did?” Kitty tried not to look as surprised as she felt.
“Of course she did,” Pilar said. “We told her all about how we’ve been your best friends since fourth grade, which makes us like your sisters, really, and how the rest of the Bunco Babes are like your family, so she invited us all to come. She seems perfect, Kit, not at all like your dad’s usual type. You must be so happy!”
“I am,” she admitted. And she was. Yes, of course she was.
“How’s your mom taking the news?” Pilar asked.
“I haven’t spoken with her yet,” Kitty admitted.
“Don’t put that off,” Shea said. “You know how testy she can be. So what are you wearing to the wedding? I hear you’re going to be the best man,” she added with a giggle. “Which is just so dang sweet.”
“I’m going shopping with my dad later this week.”
“Wear green. You look fabulous in green,” Shea said.
“Shea’s right,” Pilar said. “Pick out something green. Or blue. You look good in that, too.”
“And the wedding is going to be at the Methodist church? What about the reception?” Frida asked. “And who all is going? We want details!”
“Rehearsal dinner is at The Harbor House and the reception will take place immediately after the ceremony at my house, catered by some company in Panama City that Steve’s assistant found. It will be simple and elegant. Cold shrimp, canapés, champagne, and cake. The flowers and the organist have already been taken care of and Sharon’s two daughters will be her matrons of honor. They’re wearing peach, so I’m not sure about the green. Dad will be wearing a dark blue suit, so I was thinking of coordinating with him. As for the guest list, it will mainly be Sharon’s family and Steve and I. And well, all of you, I guess.”
“Wow,” Shea said. “You did all that in two days? I’m impressed.”
“Actually, Steve did most of it. I told you, he’s really into this wedding.”
More silence. Which wasn’t like them at all. Usually her friends had absolutely no trouble saying exactly what was on their minds.
“Okay, what’s going on?” Kitty demanded.
Frida sighed. “I think this should come from one of you,” she said to Shea and Pilar.
“Rock, paper, scissors?” Shea asked.
Pilar nodded. She tossed out scissors but Shea won out with rock.
“Best two out of three?” Pilar pleaded.
Kitty crossed her arms over her chest. “Out. With. It.”
Pilar put on her I-have-to-give-someone-bad-news face. “Did it occur to you that maybe the reason Steve is so into this wedding is because he’s trying to avoid another wedding?” she suggested softly.
Kitty opened her mouth to speak, then snapped it shut. Damn it. She really hated when they were right. She blinked back a tear. “It might have occurred to me, maybe. I don’t know.”
Frida took her hand. “I swear, Kit, just say the word and Steve is persona non grata here. If he wants coffee, he’ll have to go to the Starbucks in Destin. Or make it himself.”
What?
Kitty snatched her hand away. “Is that why you were so rude to him the other morning? Because you think he’s just messing with me?”
“I wasn’t rude to him. Not really,” Frida said defensively. “I just told him he had to pay extra for his milk.”
“I’m only going to say this one more time,” Kitty said as sternly as possible. “Steve and I are fine. And if we’re not…then we’ll work it out. But if you’re rude to him, then you’re rude to me. Got it?”
Frida’s eyes widened. “Got it.”
“We’re sorry, Kit,” Pilar said. “It’s just sometimes we get carried away. But it’s only because we love you.”
Shea nodded. “The whole town loves you. Remember that.”