Mine To Kiss (Southern Wedding 0.50)

"Yes, Mom, you are the last one to complain." I stop and sit on a bench under one of the trees. Putting my bag beside me, I look over at the front door and watch as people come in and out. "I can’t remember the last time you complained about anything. I mean, there was that issue last week when you were complaining that no one invited you out anymore."

"I was not complaining. I was merely pointing out the fact that no one has time to have lunch with me anymore," she huffs. "Anyway, your sisters are not talking to me."

"Oh, here we go," I mumble, watching Harlow walk out of the building with her bag slung over her shoulder. She looks left and right before walking down the steps and heading in the opposite direction of me. "Which sister is it?" I have three sisters. Shelby is the eldest, older than me by ten months. Twelve months after me is Clarabella and then fourteen months after her is the baby of the family, Presley.

"It’s all three of them!" she shouts. "They are ganging up on me. All I want is what is best for them and their business." Two years ago, my sisters started a wedding planning business called Happily Ever After. I didn’t know how big that industry was. Not that I ever gave it a second thought, but the three of them have worked it up from a small family business and are getting ready to buy a colonial house for office space with an adjoining barn to fix up and use as a venue. From the pictures they showed me and the work they plan to put into it, it will be beautiful. "They know they can ask me for anything, and instead of asking me to give them money," she says, "they decided to apply for a loan." She shrieks, her voice going even louder, "A loan. I have this big-ass house." She mentions the house passed down from my great-grandfather to my grandfather and then to my father. "And the three of them not once think to come to me."

"Okay, well, maybe they just want to do this on their own." I try to play devil’s advocate. "Or they are going to use you as a backup plan."

"What?" Her voice goes softer.

"Well, they are trying to see if they can do it by themselves, and then after, if they can’t, they know they have you to back them up," I explain, grabbing my bag and getting up from the bench. I look over to where Harlow was walking, but she’s gone.

"Why didn’t they just say that? Why are they so secretive?"

"They get that from Dad," I say, chuckling. "I have to get to my next class."

"Call me later," she says. "Love you."

"Love you, too," I reply softly and hang up with her.

Taking my phone out, I pull up the group text I have with my sisters.

Me: Would you guys please talk to Mom? She said no one is talking to her.

Clarabella: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

She uses all caps, so I know she’s pissed. Actually, all caps means she’s beyond pissed.

Shelby: She went to the bank and told them to cancel our loan application.

I want to say I’m shocked, but then, I’m surprised I didn’t see this coming.

Presley: CANCELED, which means we have no money, which means we have no money.

Shelby: Oh, we have money, according to Mom. We just need to ask her. Who does that?

Me: Have you guys not met Mom? She needs to feel wanted and needed.

Clarabella: Then you should call her more and ask her to come and stay with you. I’m sure your roommates would love home-cooked meals and your mother waiting by the window for you to come home.

I laugh and shake my head. They would love the meals, and it would end there.

Me: I guess I have to come home this weekend, then, and make sure everyone plays nice.

Shelby: Kiss ass.

Presley: Mamma’s boy.

Clarabella: Fuck you.

Me: Is that any way to talk to your big brother?

I laugh, knowing that if I was in front of her, she would flip me off.

Clarabella: Bye.

I receive a notification.

Clarabella has left the conversation.

Shelby: Now you’ve woken the beast.

Presley: RUN.

Me: See you Saturday!

I put my phone away, knowing it’ll take a day before someone adds her back into the chat. I stop walking and look over, feeling eyes on me, but it’s all in my head when I see no one there. Turning, I walk with my head down, and the only thing I can see is Harlow and her smile. "She’s out of your league," I mumble to myself, and for once, I look forward to going to my early class.

three

Harlow

The sound of knocking has me looking up from my book toward the closed door and then glance over at the clock beside my bed. It’s 9:27 a.m. "Come in." I sit up in bed as the door creaks open, and Rachel comes in.