It's a Wonderful Lie

Chapter Seven

Emery

“Did you go to the spa this morning?” Ava scans me with a curious look, her arms still holding me captive after the hug she just greeted me with, “You look much more rejuvenated since yesterday.”

I stifle a laugh, not needing my baby sister to know that the reason for the change in my complexion between when she saw me last night and my arrival to breakfast this morning is because I was properly f****d for the first time in my life. All. Night. Long.

“Uh, yeah,” I do my best to let the lie casually slip off my tongue, “I had an early morning massage.”

Actually, the more I think about, I’m technically not lying. A little after three this morning I woke up to soft caresses all over my body. As I grew more responsive to the touches, I eventually was treated to a long-winded c**t massage where he edged me until finally pulling me up to sit on his face. I rode his tongue until I came so hard I passed back out.

But yeah, she doesn’t need to know that…

And I definitely don’t need to be thinking about it now. I can already feel myself growing warmer at the memory and the last thing I need is to get myself hot and bothered at brunch. Especially with the entire bridal party present.

“Well you’re glowing!” Ava enthuses, “Bennett, isn’t Emery glowing?”

I turn around to find Bennett Davis, the best man and Micah’s older brother, smiling up at me from the table. We grew up together just the same as Ava and Micah had. But where they were obviously made for each other, we were always chill. I never saw him as anything more than a pseudo brother and he felt the same.

“Stunning,” Bennett stands and wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me into him and placing a friendly kiss on my cheek—that’s new, “you both are, as always.”

“Emery, you’re next to Bennett,” Ava flutters her hands to the empty chair on his right before bouncing off to talk to someone at the other side of the table.

“Alright, then,” I shrug at her sudden manic energy, “guess I’m with you.”

He pulls out my chair—also new—and helps me get situated before taking his seat once more.

“Micah said that we’re gonna be paired up pretty much all week with the whole best man, maid of honor deal,” he smiles as he leans into me and nudges my shoulder with his, “hope you don’t get sick of me too quickly.”

I laugh, but it’s a little forced. I can’t put my finger on it, but he’s acting kind of weird. Like he’s reading from a script or something. Maybe I’m just overthinking everything the men around me say after what happened with Merrick. I’m looking for red flags in someone I’m not even interested in.

But you weren’t overanalyzing the stranger at the bar last night…

“So,” I speak up, maybe a little louder than I anticipated in an attempt to quiet my own thoughts, “what’s new with you?”

As we eat from the family style buffet, Bennett drolls on about whatever he does for work and something about being up for a promotion, I think. I’m not really paying attention. My eyes keep catching the front of the restaurant as patrons walk in, secretly hoping last night’s mystery man appears, sees me, and whisks me away like he would if this was a movie.

But it’s not a movie. It’s real life. So I smile and nod in reaction to Bennett’s update and then do my best to provide a surface level life overview without going into the thick of it, when he asks how I’m doing in return.

“I don’t want to press, but I just think you should know that Micah told me what happened with Merrick,” he catches my gaze and I can tell there’s genuine concern for me behind his eyes, “I’m sorry you had to go through that. I just had a pretty messy break up myself, so… it’s not the same, but I’m here if you need a friend.”

This is the Bennett I know. The kind boy who was around if I needed him, but never inserted himself into my business when I didn’t ask him to.

“Thanks, B,” I rest my hand over his on the table and squeeze gently, “I appreciate that.”

“Attention!” A glass clinks from the head of the table and Ava squeals with excitement as she calls everyone’s focus to her. I let go of Bennett’s hand and turn to take in my sister, who looks so happy to be basking in her bridal spotlight time.

Micah sidles up next to her and wraps his arm around her waist, pulling her close to his side with sheer joy on his face.

“We’re so happy you’re all here!” Ava excites, leaning into Micah with big hearts consuming her eyes, “The countdown to the wedding is officially on and as the men and women we need by our side on the big day, we wanted to kick things off with a toast to all of you.”

She raises her mimosa and the rest of the table follows.

It’s a pretty big group. In addition to me and Bennett, there are six other bridesmaids and groomsmen, but I know they’ll all have it pretty easy this week. Ava has always been a major control freak and would not ever relinquish any part of her big day to anyone. She’s enlisted me to be by her side for all her final appointments, but I believe her own words were, “I love my friends, but I don’t need their opinions or mistakes.” So no one else from the bridal party will be joining for the more laboring tasks.

Lucky them.

“Thank you to you all for being the absolute best people in our lives. We’re so lucky to have you!” Everyone takes a sip before Ava continues, “And a special thanks to my sister and maid of honor, Emery, as well as Micah’s brother and best man, Bennett. You two mean the world to us and having the two of you walk down the aisle together on our big day is just the cherry on top of everything. Cheers to Emery and Bennett!”

I reluctantly take a sip of my drink because…that was weird, right?

Bennett coughs a little on that one too, so it seems I’m not the only one who noticed.

“I think my sister’s high on being a bride,” I lean into Bennett and laugh, deciding to make a joke at her craziness.

“She’s just excited,” he quirks a smile and shrugs, setting his drink back on the table, “she’s been dreaming about this day for a long time, right?”

“Yeah, I guess,” I sigh, unable to stop myself from thinking of the fact that I’ll still be dreaming of my own wedding for a long time to come.

“And I’ll be here to make sure this week is fun for you too,” he nudges me once more, “I promise.”

I smile, but don’t say anything else. Bennett looks like there’s more he wants to add, but before he does, Ava rushes to my side and grabs my arm.

“Sorry, B, I gotta steal my sister for the rest of the day,” she squeals as she pulls me from my seat.

I don’t know why she’s acting like Bennett is in charge of me, but she’s already dragging me off before either of us have a chance to interject on her choice of words.

“What’s the plan for the day?” I ask as she links her arm through mine and scurries us both through the lobby and to a waiting car out front. I’m a little bummed that it’s not Robert chauffeuring us today. He was cool and based on how flighty Ava’s been all morning, I have a feeling I could use someone in my corner for whatever she has scheduled today.

“It’s my final dress fitting!” She shrieks as she bounces into the car and I am very glad I’m not yet in the confined space with her, “Plus we’re making sure your maid of honor dress is all set, and then I have an appointment at a lingerie store to create a custom piece for my wedding night to surprise Micah, and after that, as a thank you, we’re getting mani-pedis before heading back to the hotel to get ready for the big cocktail party and dinner tonight.”

“Wow, that’s—” I don’t know how well it would go over if I told Ava I don’t think she needs me to help her pick out lingerie for her wedding night, so I hold my tongue since it’s only day one, “a big day!”

“Yes! So fun!”

My sister and I have very different definitions of fun.