Page 4 of Faking it For Summer
“Why are you nervous to tell me?” I ask, my eyes narrowing as I think about what he could have to tell me.
“Did you open the envelope?”
“I just did. Let me take out the letter. Wait, what? It’s an invitation?” I stare at it in confusion.
“Rex is getting married.” He says the words like they mean nothing, but my heart stops beating for a couple of seconds. “Are you there?”
“Yes, I thought you just said Rex is getting married,” I whisper into the phone and quickly read the invite. “Please tell me if I’m hearing and reading this correctly. Is this for real?” My earlier joy evaporates, replaced by shock.
“Rex is getting married.” His voice is amused and yet worried. “You didn’t fall to the ground, did you?”
“No.” I roll my eyes. “Not at all.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I say, though I feel breathless. “Is this for real?” My heart drops.
“It’s for real.”
There’s silence on the phone while I process everything.
“Mia, are you there?”
“I thought you were calling ’cause you got a girl pregnant or something,” I joke because I don’t know what else to say. I need to think.
“Really, Mia?”
“True. You’d have to be having sex for that to happen.” I can’t help but tease him, even though I’m closer to being a nun myself.
“You can’t talk, queen of romance and empty beds,” Luke snaps back, and all I can do is laugh. “Are you okay?” he asks again, his voice soft this time.
I don’t answer immediately. Luke knows me better than I know myself. He knows that when I’m joking, I’m actually processing. And this is a lot to process.
Instead, I look past the book truck to the white sand, swaying green reeds, and turquoise-blue water of Coconut Bay and take three deep breaths. The water always calms me down when I feel anxious, overwhelmed, or just taken aback.
“What’s going on?” Wendy asks, concern in her eyes. “Is Rex your ex?”
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “He’s Luke’s older brother. My first crush. The man I told everyone I was going to marry.” I wrinkle my nose and laugh loudly, even though the merriment doesn’t reach my eyes. “I guess that proves I’m not a psychic.” I stare at Juniper, who rubs my shoulders.
All I can think is that the entire town will be there for the nuptials.
“That and many other reasons,” Luke says in my ear. “He was never worthy of your crush, you know.”
“I know, but I still can’t believe it.”
The truth of the matter is that I always thought Rex Haverbrook was going to be my one. Even though we’d neverkissed, never dated, never anything. We just had one moment when I was a teenager, where he carried me to my room after a party I’d gotten drunk at, put me to bed, and then whispered in my ear that he’d never let anything happen to me. And that was it. I spent the rest of my teenage years attempting to get his attention, but he never really noticed me. Everyone would stare at me, wondering if I was heartbroken.
“You and me both.” He sighs. “Did you read the actual invitation? It’s ridiculous.”
“No, let me read it now.” I stare at the words and read them out loud.
Ms. Mia Bishop,
You are cordially invited to the wedding of Rex Haverbrook and Andi Maggiano on the eleventh day of July at the Coconut Beach Cathedral. The wedding party festivities will begin on June 27, and we invite you to take part in a two-week celebration culminating in the coming together of our love. The festivities will center around the Grand Palm Resort of Coconut Beach, and we are delighted to offer every expected guest free accommodation and transport across the island to partake in the activities.
Please RSVP within the next week, as the festivities are soon to begin. We do understand this is short notice, but we hope you will be able to join us.
Rex and Andi
