Page 3 of Caught in Us
“I’m good.” I lift my water.
“I’ll take a beer.” Cam’s gaze darts to mine. Uncertainty and apology are clear in his wide-eyed expression. Doesn’t matter how many times I tell him, or how many days sober I am, some moments continue to be filled with uncertainty. I can’t fault him. He cares deeply and doesn’t want to do anything that might make me relapse.
“You’re good.” I reassure him after Jill hands him a cold one.
“You ready to be my errand boy for the next eight days?” Jill flashes me a grin.
“I’m officially on vacation and all yours.”
She laughs, taking a sip from her own beer and then setting it down on the counter. “You’re probably going to regret that.” She walks past and waves for me to follow her into the living room. “So, I am sure there will be some last-minute adjustments, but I’ve got everything broken down. After dinner we can go over your binder.”
“Binder?”
She picks one up with my name printed on the cover.
“Damn.” I chuckle, accepting the binder that is much heavier than I expect. “You don’t mess around.”
“I want to enjoy the wedding.” She saunters back toward the kitchen and pulls out a chair at the dining table. “I figure, the less I have to remember to remind you and everyone else, the better. The binders are more for my sanity than anything. Callie was the one to implement the color-coding.”
I take a seat across the table and chuckle picturing Jill’s best friend—who also happens to be one of my ex-girlfriends—putting all of this together. She always did have a thing for organization. Examining the daily to-do lists, color-coded and tabbed, I let out a long whistle. Damn. It’s gonna be a busy week. Not that I mind. I’d do anything for Jill and my brother. “I’m impressed.”
“At my organizational skills?” Jill lifts her brows in challenge.
“No, at the fact you still want to marry my brother.”
“Hey!” Cam calls from the kitchen counter, his hands covered in mitts as he brings over a steaming platter of food. “Not cool. You’re supposed to be on my side.” He sets the tray on the table.
“I’m sorry?”
“No you’re not.” Cam hurdles one of the oven mitts across the table, laughing as it connects with my chest. I pick it up, ready to retaliate, but he dodges behind Jill’s chair knowing I won’t throw it with her in the way.Yes, I might be a tiny bit scared of my future sister-in-law. I abandon the oven mitt and return to flipping through the binder.
“Be prepared for updates,” Jill warns. “I’ve already had two people cancel and the seating charts are gonna have to be re-done.”
“Anyone we care about?” Cam asks, filling the table with the rest of the food and retrieving his beer.
“One of the executives at my office and her husband.” She shrugs and hands me an empty plate. “And your cousin Larry.”
“I can live with that. Oh! Shit.” Cam’s eyes go wide. “That reminds me.” He rushes to the front room, riffling through a stack of mail. “We got another late RSVP.”
Jill’s brow furrows. “Who’s it from?”
“It came with a note from the post office. Apparently, it got re-routed and took the long way here.” He returns with a slight grin and plops it down on the table. “I’m just glad it didn’t get lost.”
Jill rips open the envelope with more exuberance than I expect for a late RVSP. Cam watches her expectantly, leaning against the counter with the hint of a smile. Something’s up.
A squeal, part scream, part laughter, bursts from Jill’s mouth. Her lips part with a smile that takes over her entire face as she jumps from her seat.
I give Cam a look. He must know what this is about.
“It’s Alicia!” Her voice cracks with emotion. “Fuck! I can’t believe it!” Jill waves the invite and then launches herself into Cam’s arms. “She’s coming to our wedding.”
What?
“I thought you might be excited about that.” Cam rubs his hand between her shoulder blades, hugging her close.
Past memories slam into my mind. I can’t find my breath. My heart drums against my chest as if it’d like to escape. Alicia. Here in Richmond.She’s going to be at the wedding.I can’t decide whether I’m elated or panicked by the idea.
She’s been gone so long. She essentially cut everyone out, even her best friends, Jill and Callie, after the summer we spent together. Not that anyone knew Alicia and I weretogethertogether.
