Page 109 of Instigator

Not that marriage is a little thing. It’s a pretty damn big thing. Kids too. We had that conversation on our first date, and we’re on the same page. What that looks like for us won’t be the same as other couples.

But it doesn’t have to. As long as it works for us—and for now, it seems like it does—that’s all that matters.

Ceci turns to Hailey. “Okay. You’re getting married. What do you need us to do?”

“Just show up,” she replies. “Show up and support us.”

“Like there’s anywhere else we’d rather be,” I scoff.

“You have a dress?” Ceci asks. “Shoes? You want hair and makeup done?”

Hailey hesitates. “I was just going to do it myself.”

“You know, Riley used to be a makeup artist before she married Gonzo,” Ceci points out. “If you don’t want her to do it, I can call and get my glam squad to come by.”

“I don’t want to take advantage…”

“It’s not taking advantage. I’m gifting it to you,” she says, leaving no room for argument. “Do we need to find you a dress?”

When Hailey pauses again, I clear my throat. “I want you to have the wedding of your dreams, Hay. Whatever it takes.”

“Well, you can’t bring back Mom and Dad.” Her eyes flood with tears, threatening to fall. Mine get a bit misty too, if I’m honest. “Ryan’s parents are coming in tomorrow. We were going to have dinner with them, then spend the next day getting a preventative IV and maybe a trip to the nail salon.”

She never knows what her capacity is, how many spoons she has on any given day, but there are ways of hedging her bets and trying to improve the odds of a good day. There’s just the risk of fallout.

“Let me make a few calls,” Ceci says. “We can have the nail salon brought here. You can even get a pedicure while you’re doing your treatment.”

Hailey gapes at her. “I can’t ask that of you.”

“You’re not asking. I’m offering. I want to pamper you on your wedding day.” Ceci glances at me, then back at my sister. “I don’t want to overstep. But if you want the rest of the WHAFFLs to join, I’m happy to host them at my house.”

“Or here,” I chime in. “This is still your home, even though you don’t live in this apartment anymore. No matter where I am, you will always have a home with me.”

Ceci gives me a fond smile. You okay? she mouths.

I nod, and she squeezes my hand.

It’s a lot to navigate. The chaotic roller coaster of the last ten minutes has left my head spinning, but if I focus on the wedding, and on trying not to spiral over it, then I can’t think about the complete nonreaction and support for my big revelation. I’ve been agonizing over telling her for years, and she just… accepts it? Loves me unconditionally? Sounds fake.

Ryan turns to me. “I was hoping you and I could have a dude day. I don’t want an actual bachelor party with debauchery. Maybe a game of pickup basketball and a few beers over FIFA or Madden?”

“Sure, we can do that.” I have no desire to go to a strip club or any of the other stereotypical bachelor party activities, and I’m glad he’s not interested in them either. No shame for people who like that kind of stuff. Just not for me. “Do you want to invite the rest of the guys?”

He blows out a breath. “Yeah, I think so.”

“Consider it done. Sunday afternoon, while they get their nails done, we’ll hang out. Celebrate you.”

My best friend scrunches up his face. “Gross, dude.”

“Hey, it’s Hailey’s wedding, but it’s your wedding too. You deserve to have at least a little bit of the spotlight on you.”

He shakes his head, running his hand over her ring again. “I get enough attention on the ice. I don’t need it elsewhere.”

“Do you need anything?” Ceci asks. “Photographer, flowers, cake?”

Hailey looks to her fiancé once more. “We wanted to do something small and intimate. Not a huge thing. Just dinner. Send the team a message in the group chat and then they show up.”

“Consider it done,” she says. “I’ll make sure it’s everything you’ve ever wanted.”