Hot Stuff

“Everything is ready out front,” Chloe announces proudly. About ten minutes ago, we sent her on an errand to get an idea of timing, and she’s wearing the responsibility like a badge of honor. Seriously. I should’ve hired her as my wedding planner. “The reverend says he expects everyone to be seated in about ten minutes, and then we’ll get started.”

“Garrett and the guys are ready too,” Shell supplies helpfully. “Dad’s a little bit of a mess, but he said he’d meet me here in a couple minutes.” She smiles cheekily. “I think he needed a moment alone to powder his nose.”

Everyone laughs, and Bethanny shuffles a little on her feet, obviously flirting with feeling uncomfortable. I smile welcomingly at her and wave her into the room.

“Come on in, Beth. Have a glass of champagne.”

“Oh no,” she refuses, shaking her head. “I’m just here for Sarah. Garrett…um…wanted to see her really quick before things get started.”

“Oh! Of course!” I say, turning my head to Sarah. She rolls her eyes first, but it’s all for show. She doesn’t dally as she gets off the couch and walks to the door to meet her mom.

“Be back in a minute,” she says on her way out, but Bethanny doesn’t follow her.

It looks like she wants to say something, so I lift the corners of my mouth in an encouraging smile. Her shoulders rise and settle, kind of like she’s just taken a deep breath, and then she curves her mouth into a friendly smile of her own. She’s gorgeous—so freaking pretty, it’s unbelievable—but I swear, seeing her smile today is the first time it’s been as obvious as it probably should have been all along.

“You really look beautiful, Lauren,” she says then, making my throat get tight with unexpected emotion. “I’m happy for you both.” She shrugs, clearly embarrassed by her audience, but she pushes through it anyway. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you, Bethanny,” I say softly. She nods, glances at several sets of shocked eyeballs, and then makes her way through the door and down the hall to catch up to her daughter.

“Okay, I demand answers right now. How on earth did you tame Satan’s mistress?” Holley asks, and I burst out laughing.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Bethanny!” Holley whisper-yells, just in case the woman in question is lingering right outside the door or something. “I’ve seriously never seen her looking anything but constipated with a whole shitload of anger.”

“Come on.”

“No,” Chloe remarks casually. “It’s true.”

I raise my shoulders slightly. “I think…I think I just treated her with kindness.”

Holley’s eyes bug out dramatically, and I can’t help but giggle.

“And I really, really love her children.”

“Bingo,” Shell says softly from her spot at the mirror putting on another coat of lipstick. “It’s the kids. When it comes to a mother, the key is always her kids.”

Holley sighs heavily and walks to the box of tissues again, yanking one out with a violent tug. The rest of us try not to laugh at her, but it’s useless.

“Shut up,” she demands playfully, and our laughter only renews. “Anyone else have something noteworthy to say? Want to make me cry some more? Come on,” Holley teases, pretending to glance at an invisible watch. “We’ve got another five minutes or so. Rock me. Really bring the pain.”

Most of us laugh, obviously taking her words as a joke, but one of us—Shell, I believe—says something with words.

I whip my head to the side at what I think I heard, but I’m pretty sure I must be imagining it.

“What did you just say?”

“I said I’m leaving Phil.”

“Oh my God,” Holley breathes. “What is going on at this wedding?”

“Is this…is this a wedding present?” The question pops from my lips before I can stop it, and Shell actually snorts.

“It’s just…it’s something that needed to happen. And I finally got the courage to do it.”

“I legitimately cannot believe this is happening,” Holley whispers under her breath, making Chloe reach out to wrap an arm around her shoulders as she laughs.

I turn back to Shell and take her by the shoulders, looking directly into her eyes. “Are you okay?”

She nods. Smiles. “Yeah. Better than okay, really. This is something I should’ve done a long time ago.”

“I am so happy,” I state with a shake of her body. To an outsider, that might sound cruel or coldhearted, but I know my sister, and even more, I know what she’s been through with Phil. I’ve seen the downright horrible way he treats her. His mind-blowing apathy to everything related to her and the kids. When my father says he’s a shithead, he’s not wrong.

I’m happy because my sister deserves better.

So. Much. Better.

And thankfully, she understands why I’m happy.

A small laugh jumps from her throat. “Yeah. I knew you would be. If I didn’t, I probably wouldn’t have told you right before your wedding.”