Under the Same Stars(26)
“It’s great to see you!” she exclaimed, efficiently grabbing eight menus and gesturing for our group to follow her. “Marco mentioned…”
What? I thought, spine straightening. Marco mentioned what?
“Who’s Marco?” Davis and Natalie asked, but in very different tones. Davis was casually curious while his friend sounded like she’d discovered a juicy secret.
My clandestine lover, I thought about telling Natalie. He’s older; he’s worldly; he buys me expensive jewelry and top-of-the-line field hockey sticks…
“Her brother,” I said. “We went to school together. He was a couple years ahead of me.”
Carina seated us and menus were circulated. “Your server will be over momentarily,” she said, then to me: “Please tell Austin and Katie congratulations!”
“Who are Austin and Katie?” Natalie asked once Carina had disappeared. She and her date—Ben? Brett? Brent?—were sitting directly across from Davis and me. Ben/Brett/Brent was studying the menu like the rest of our table, but Natalie hadn’t picked hers up yet.
Learning my life story had apparently skyrocketed on her priority list.
“Austin’s my older brother and Katie is his fiancée,” I said. “Ember & Ash catered their engagement party two months ago.”
Every girl at the table’s head snapped toward me. If I had to wager a guess, their wedding Pinterest boards were plenty populated. “Ooh, how did he propose?” Rebecca asked.
“Paris.” I knew that one word would provide enough description. Whatever scene the girls conjured in their heads would not be unlike the overproduced Instagram Reel. I mean, it’s Paris!
“And when are they getting married?” Natalie asked.
“December fourteenth,” I answered, then elaborated because I knew the questions that would come next. “The ceremony’s going to be at St. Paul’s here in town, with the reception at the Bedens Brook Club.”
Dad and Da had been quiet when Austin told us last month, but I hadn’t. We were all in the kitchen, Da making dinner, Dad uncorking a bottle of wine, and Austin’s face filling the screen of my MacBook. Katie had gone out to dinner with friends, so he’d FaceTimed to catch up and say hello to Arthur and Francine. “Wait, you’re doing a country club wedding?” I’d asked. “Golf course ceremony and ballroom reception?”
“Not exactly,” he said. “I know we’re lapsed in the religion department, but Katie wants St. Paul’s. And then, yes, we’ll party in Bedens Brook’s ballroom. It’s nice.”
“But does it have character?” I asked, catching the corner of Dad’s mouth tip up. “Austin, I thought you guys would do something cool. I know you said it’d be in Princeton, but I thought maybe you’d change your mind and do something in Philly. I heard you can rent out the Reading Terminal Market.” I glanced at our parents. “Who told me that?”
“Probably Sam,” Austin said. “She’s determined to try every vendor, remember?”
Right, I thought, recalling last summer. Samira, Austin, and I’d spent a Saturday in Philly together. Reading Terminal Market had been lunch, where we’d eaten tacos upon tacos, devoured dumplings, and gotten about a dozen cannoli to bring home.
“It would be an awesome venue, Mads,” Austin said, “but Katie wants Bedens Brook.”
Dad cleared his throat. “I hope this doesn’t come to you as a shock, Austin,” he said, “but there’s no bride without a groom. This wedding is technically half yours. Do you want Bedens Brook?”
Onscreen, Austin shrugged. “I want Kates to have exactly what she wants.”
I looked away to roll my eyes while Da diplomatically said, “Well, since we’re adhering to tradition, it is the parents of the groom’s responsibility to host the rehearsal dinner.”
“Yeah.” Austin nodded. “The Gallants actually suggested—”
“That we should do something cool, classy, and not remotely country club–related?” Dad cut in, not giving time for Austin to answer. “Excellent, because that’s exactly what your father and I were envisioning.”
Austin was silent for a beat, his mouth twisting in thought before he smiled sheepishly and said, “Please make it cooler than cool.”
***
Connor had been right; Davis’s friend group started getting to know me after we ordered. Evan opened with, “So Davis told us you’re a field hockey superstar?”
It turned out Rebecca played lacrosse, so we talked all about the college recruiting process before I answered questions about school and hobbies and stuff. “I can’t believe you don’t play an instrument.” Ben/Brett/Brent shook his head, chuckling. “Davis has never dated anyone who wasn’t musical.”
I laughed a little, but before I could say anything, Natalie snorted. “Oh, come on. They aren’t dating. This”—she gestured between Davis and me—“is a cute little stunt.”
“Uh, excuse me?” My brows knitted together as the table fell silent. “Stunt?”
Natalie waited until after our appetizers were served to explain. “Yeah, a stunt. Davis isn’t really interested in you, Madeline. The only reason you’re here tonight is so he can make his ex jealous.”