Six

~ Ziah ~

I can’t believe this is happening. What is hot party guy doing here?

This is not what I need today. It’s still hard to breathe after getting text number one million from both James and Alyssa.

James. Alyssa. Their names have been spinning through my head all afternoon. I don’t have the details, and I don’t want them. The only text I read from Alyssa says I’M SORRY.

Things between James and I haven’t been perfect, but they haven’t been bad either. My stomach turns over again. I’m still numb. In shock. Someone clears her throat, and I’m brought back to the present—the part of me that’s still functioning anyway.

My eyes go from Derrick, attached to Lora’s side, to party guy, back to Derrick. Same blue eyes. Same almost-black hair. Same smug smirk. Oh. No. She is NOT marrying into that family. Half the table is staring at me. Right. I should probably move.

Lora gives me her best exasperated, wide-eyed, clench-jawed look that says I’d better find a way to get to my seat. But the only chair is sandwiched between Dad and hot party guy.

Not good.

My phone beeps with another text, which almost pushes me into another round of tears. I’m not crying at the table so I pull in a deep breath, keep my eyes focused, and take the seat next to Dad. No reason for this guy to think I even recognize him.

“Hey, Dad.” Dad smells like hospital, as always, and his dark blond hair is in serious need of a cut. I lean into him, bumping our shoulders together, and try to pretend everything’s perfect.

“Hey, sweetie.” Dad pecks a kiss on my temple.

“Ziah.” Lora’s smile is too bright, and her eyebrows are seriously threatening to take over her hairline.

“Yes?” I smile back, really glossing it on. Can’t she see it’s more than the stupid wedding I’m upset over? She’s my sister. She should see this isn’t all about her.

“This is Derrick’s brother Dylan.”

“Derrick and Dylan. Cute.” But then my eyes meet Derrick’s dad’s, and I feel like crap for making a comment about their names.

His hair’s as dark as theirs, and he looks like the cover of some over-priced menswear magazine. These guys seriously won the genetics lottery.

I take a long drink from my champagne before turning to look at Dylan. Then I say, “Hey. I’m Ziah.” He doesn’t need a hand. Who knows what he’d spill on me this time.

“Cool name.” He smirks.

Is he seriously making fun of my name? Never mind that I made fun of his and his brother’s names—seriously, theirs match. Mine is awesome. Anyway, I don’t have to like him. His brother is messing up my sister’s plan.

“Yeah. Thanks.” I pick up my champagne again. Not that I’m a big drinker, because I’m not. But I think the occasion is extreme. I’m also a bit surprised Mom’s risking giving me a glass. I’m sure some inspector someone wouldn’t be happy about it, but right now, I’m not about to question.

Lora kicks me under the table, and I almost call her on it. But the death glare I’m getting says I’d better keep my mouth shut. I down the rest of my champagne. Dad raises an eyebrow, but I pretend not to see.

Okay, so I might have sort of freaked out on Lora before the party. And her fiancé might have heard part of it because they were on the phone, and I might have stayed in the kitchen way longer than I needed to (seeing as I can barely make toast) just to avoid the dinner. But she didn’t have to torture me by putting me next to hot party guy, who smells freaking delicious and has the most awesome eyes I’ve ever… Crap. I need to stop.

My phone buzzes with another text. Alyssa this time. I delete it without reading and pull a shaky breath in to keep from crying.

It’s pretty egotistical for Lora to think I was upset over her anyway. I lost James. And the worst part about it is that he should have been the safest guy ever. Him and Alyssa? What have they done? Is it still going on? Was it a one-time thing? A many-times thing? How far did they go? That thought makes me feel like someone just dropped me out of a plane.

My phone buzzes. Another text. I’m almost afraid to check, but it’s Lora. Amazingly, she seems like the safest choice right now.

LORA: BEHAVE

ME: R U KIDDING ME? I KNOW HIS BRO. DO U KNOW WHO UR MARRYING?

Lora scowls as she reads my note, and then she starts frantically texting. Mom and Dad are probably telling some embarrassing story because there’s chuckling around the table, but Lora and I have business.

L: HOW ON EARTH DO U KNOW DYLAN?

ME: WE MET AT A…

Crap. Now what?

STUDENT FUNCTION.

I hit send.

She snorts from across the table. Yeah, I didn’t think she’d buy it. We don’t go to the same school.

Dylan sounds like he’s holding in a chuckle. I glance his way to see him and his brother give each other the look that Lora and I usually exchange when something’s going on.

“Ziah?” Mom leans forward. Her in a chair at her own restaurant is a bit of a miracle.

“Yes?” I lean forward, and Dad nearly tips his chair back trying to get out of the way. Guess there’s sort of a mood around the table.

Now I’m getting the glare of death from Mom.

Perfect. Does everyone think I’m so immature that I’m overreacting this badly to a wedding? I mean, I’m not for it, and I think they’re making a huge mistake, but seriously.

I slump down in my chair and make a point of shoving my phone into my pocket so Lora can see. Neither of them asks why my day’s sucking. At the same time, opening my mouth to say that James at some point hooked up with Alyssa… or is maybe still hooking up with Alyssa…

I wish I had more champagne.

Dylan leans toward me, and I breathe in like an idiot. “Having fun?”

He so knows Lora and I were texting. I don’t make eye contact, just lean back. Anger is better than hurt.

“Where’s your armrest?”

“Armrest?”

“The one decorated like…nevermind.” He knows who I am. I could see it across the table before I sat down.

He stops. He’s probably counting back girls to remember who on Earth he was with.

“Have you been thinking about me, Hanes?” He chuckles.

“You wish.” Hanes? I open my mouth to ask as my fingers twitch, as I wonder what the chances are of my getting a refill on my champagne glass.

“Maybe.” He’s smiling like this is all some big joke.

It’s not a joke. I don’t want to think about him, and I don’t want him to want me to think about him. I also don’t want Lora to get married. And I don’t want Alyssa to be with James. The thought of it digs at my chest. And this hot guy is just messing with me for fun.

Wait. I turn to face him. “What did you call me?”

“What?”

Ha. I’ve thrown him.

“What did you call me?” I ask again.

He glances up at his brother, who’s nuzzling Lora’s neck again. Gag.

Maybe Alyssa and James did that. Maybe they hated that I was in the middle of what they wanted. I swear my stomach is turning inside out. I can always eat. Always. But I have zero appetite tonight.

Dylan stares at his plate for a sec, looking almost… sad? Mad? I do not want to feel bad for this guy. He’s on the enemy side. I don’t know what’s going on, and I need air. My chair scoots back so fast, I almost tip over. Mom’s eyes are on me.

“Ladies’ room,” I spit out as I almost trip over myself getting around the table. What’s my problem? It’s just Lora and some hot guy, and James and Alyssa. And just… Hanes. What does that mean?

If hot party-guy’s brother is ready to settle down, what does that say about the guy who was supposed to be solid and steady, and who apparently hooked up or something with Alyssa? He has things he needs to apologize for, and she’s my best friend! Tears start pushing at my eyes, but I don’t want to cry. I actually wore mascara.

I lean over the sink and stare at myself in the mirror. Okay. I have to pull it together.