Fiance Next Door

“It’s fine,” I tell her.

“No, it’s not.” She plops down on the couch. “I’m a mess. I’ve turned into Bridezilla.”

I sit down without making a comment.

Giselle looks at me. “I have turned into Bridezilla, haven’t I?”

“A bit,” I confess.

She sighs. “I just didn’t realize this would all be so stressful. I mean, isn’t getting married supposed to be exciting?”

“I think you’ll get to that part,” I tell her.

“Will I?” She lets out another sigh as she stares at the ceiling. “I feel like I don’t even want to get married anymore.”

My eyebrows arch. She does?

She looks at me. “Should I get married, Aster?”

She’s asking me?

“If you want to,” I answer.

“Do I?”

That question surprises me even more. She’s not getting cold feet, is she?

I pat her knee. “Hey. I know things are crazy right now, but all that stuff you’re stressing out about, that’s not what marriage is about. This is about you and Bill, about the two of you starting a new life together because you love each other, because you can’t imagine the future any other way. That’s all that matters.”

Indeed, a man and a woman should get married because they want to, because they love each other, not for anything else. How could I forget such an important thing? How could I make fun of marriage?

Giselle takes my hand. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” I nod as I squeeze hers. “You’re really lucky, you know. You’ve found a man who means the world to you and who thinks the same of you. Nothing should stop the two of you from getting married.”

As for me, maybe I should drop this idea of a fake marriage, after all.

“Thanks,” Giselle says with a smile. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever told you this, but I’ve always thought of you as a sister.”

The warmth of her compliment nearly melts the burden on my chest.

“Really?”

She nods. “I mean, we grew up together and I don’t have any sisters, just two…”

She stops as the door opens. I turn my head. At first, I think it’s Mason coming back from whatever errand Giselle sent him on, but as he steps in, my heart leaps to my throat.

Giselle jumps off the couch. “Lee!”

Chapter Six ~ No More Mr. Nice Guy

Mason

Leander is home.

I realize that as soon as I come back from the florist. As I pull into the driveway, I spot the fiery red F-150. There’s only one person I know who owns a pickup truck like that.

My brother. The older, funnier, more charming Burke. Who also used to be the more famous Burke.

I decide to take the back door. I don’t want to ruin someone’s grand arrival or interrupt any tearful reunions.

Sure enough, when I peek into the living room, I see Giselle and my mother gushing over Leander. Yup. That’s what I was expecting. What I didn’t expect was that there would be two other people in the room – a woman, who judging by the way she’s clinging to Leander’s arm, must be his girlfriend, and Aster.

Aster? What is she doing here? Did she see Leander coming and rush over?

I frown. Well, I guess I should have expected that, too.

Strangely, though, Aster doesn’t look thrilled. In fact, she looks uncomfortable. She keeps fidgeting with her watch, a lock of her hair, and the hem of her shirt in random succession. And she’s not staring at Leander like she usually does. In fact, she seems to be deliberately trying not to look at him. She’s not even laughing at his joke. At least, not genuinely.

It’s painful to watch, and I’m about to go in and rescue her when she stands up.

“I’m sorry, but I have to go back.” She points to the house next door. “My dad’s waiting and I’ve got some work to do, too, so…”

“Sure, dear.” My mom pats her arm.

I bet she wants fewer people to share her favorite son with.

“She lives next door?” the woman with Leander asks.

She looks Asian but her hair is woven and dyed purple. She’s all clad in black, too, only her lips bright red like the pickup truck outside.

Hmm. Not the kind of woman I thought my brother would date after Sharon. Then again, a man’s tastes can change. Besides, it’s none of my business.

“She does,” Leander answers. “I’ve known her since we were kids.”

Liar. Aster and I were kids. He was twelve.

“Wow.” His girlfriend seems amused but not pleased.

“Yup.” Aster turns to her. “It was nice meeting you.”

Another lie.

And the other woman knows it, hence her grin.

Aster turns to Leander next. “And it’s nice seeing you again.”

How I wish that, too, was a lie.

“Yeah.” Leander gives her a perfect smile. “I’ll see you around.”

Aster nods and walks to the door.

Giselle gets off the couch. “Wait. I thought – ”

But Aster is already gone. I decide to take my leave as well. I go out the back door and around the house. I catch Aster just as she’s about to enter hers.