Page 190 of The Art of Almost Losing It
“Uh, Hannah? Bridget?”
For some reason I’m shocked to see my younger half sisters. I had not, admittedly, informed either side of my family that the other was going to be there. I guess I was hoping that if I didn’t say anything, it wouldn’t be real.
“You came!” Dani, thankfully, is still in tipsy-hostess mode. “Don’t worry. You didn’t have to bring any food or anything like that. And Graham already had gifts bought on all of your behalves.”
“What?” Spencer recovers first. “You didn’t tell me you were buying gifts.”
“I wouldn’t have bought anything if I’d known you were,” Finn complains.
“I didn’t bring anything.” Connor looks up from his phone.
Dammit. Now the rest of my half-siblings are coming over.
“Is this the famous Connor who ruins cars?” Ryan grins and holds out his hand.
Dani makes introductions. I realize I’m holding my breath.
Ryan looks between me and my brothers. “Man, you guys look a lot alike.”
“Genetics are weird,” Hannah chirps.
Thank God the younger two weren’t invited. My half-siblings are blatantly staring.
I tried really hard to keep the two sides of my life separate. It seemed better for everyone.
“You know, we should all hang out,” Bridget says brightly.
“Really? Because I have a yacht that I’ll take any excuse to use,” Spencer says lightly.
“Ooh, can we host Claire’s bachelorette party on it?” Dani’s excited. “Sorry! You probably already have a wedding party and everything. I’m just in unofficial maid-of-honor mode and can’t help but plan.”
“What? You have to be in my bridal party!” Claire grabs her hand.
“Especially if Graham’s paying for everything.” Hannah grins.
“I love a bachelorette party. And if you need a stripper…” Spencer smirks.
“No.” Grayson’s shaking his head.
“Not me! I think Connor needs to pay off some debt.”
“I didn’t lose that much on crypto.” Connor snorts.
“Dude, I was going to say the car.”
“Oh no.” Dani’s shoulders slump.
Across the room, my mom is yakking a mile a minute with Dani’s parents, who are nodding along politely.
“Let me just go run interference. One sec, then I’m going to give you girls a tour since we’re prepping for Claire’s wedding. There’s a blank check with your name on it, isn’t that right, Graham?”
“You don’t have to, Graham,” Ryan tells me. “We have a budget from Mom and Dad.”
Aaron and Grayson exchange another look.
“He might as well,” Dani tells Ryan. “He never buys anything fun.”
“I don’t have to, because Spencer just buys whatever the hell he wants. He has a helicopter.”
