“It was really awkward trying to explain to everyone why one of my bridesmaids was MIA.”
“I know. I’ll make it up to you, I promise. I don’t know how yet, but I will.”
“Will you wear the Lilly dress to work?”
“Will that make you feel better?”
She shrugged slightly. “Maybe a little. It’ll be funny either way.”
“Then I’ll do it.” I got up to leave. “Thank you for being so understanding.”
“Just don’t screw up the time for the actual wedding. I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, but I should matter too.”
“Unless it’s wrong on the invitation, we’re good,” I promised and went back to my office.
I wrote a blog about Caroline before I did any work. The fake text messages were a whole new level of psychotic. But one thing she had said kept coming back to me. She said Caryn didn’t need me now because she had her. Was that what this whole thing was about? She just needed to be number one in Caryn’s life? Was she making her brother’s life miserable too? Or did she sense that Caryn had been trying to impress her for most of their lives and didn’t want to lose her little minion to a less fawning friend?
After I hit “Publish,” I leaned back in my chair. It was just after ten thirty and I hadn’t done anything remotely productive. Who had time to work with all of this pettiness? But before I dug into my work emails, I texted Alex. Thanks for the coffee. Drinks after work? You won’t BELIEVE the story I have for you.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Not that I had time to dwell on Caroline’s backstabbing. As much as she claimed she wasn’t thinking about me, I truly didn’t have time to waste on her after I got it out of my system by blogging. Jake and Madison’s wedding was the following weekend and I needed to get ready for Mexico.
I was briefly jealous of my parents, who were spending four days there before the wedding and three days after—they were getting an actual vacation. I, on the other hand, would fly down on Friday, go to the wedding on Saturday, and then go home on Sunday. According to Amy, I wouldn’t even have time to lie by the pool while a bronzed cabana boy brought me drinks.
“You should stay a few more days,” she said. “Tyler and I are making it a mini pre-honeymoon.”
“Didn’t you already get one of those when you went to check out the resort with Jake?”
She shrugged. “I mean, Mom and Dad are paying, so I wasn’t going to say no. Plus I can get a little color, so the yellow dress won’t be as bad.”
My mouth dropped open. They had said they would pay for my trip if I brought Grandma. Amy was getting a free vacation with her fiancé and didn’t have to do anything but show up and not get sunburned before her wedding?
Sputtering with the unfairness of it, I called my mother.
“You should have told us you wanted to stay longer,” she said. “I don’t think your grandma would mind, but I thought you would need to get back to work. Amy’s job isn’t exactly essential.”
“Well, I want to stay longer.”
“It’s too late now. The flights and hotel rooms have already been booked.”
I spent the day fuming at my mother and sister, then did my best to shrug it off. I was still getting a free trip to Mexico after all. And if nothing else, my grandmother would provide fabulous blog material.
“This is stupid,” Grandma grumbled as she opened her door for me. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
“I’m not your babysitter,” I said good-naturedly. “I’m just your travel buddy today.”
“I don’t need a travel buddy.”
“Well you’ve got one. And I’m your eldest grandchild, so how about we just enjoy the time together.”
“Don’t patronize me, Joan.”
“Lily.”
“I know your name, Joan.”
“It’s Lily, but okay. Do you have everything packed?”
“Of course I do. I’m not a child!”
“Do you have your passport?”
“What do I need a passport for?” This was going to be a long day.
“You need one for Mexico,” I said measuredly. “Do you have a valid one?”
“I’ve never needed a passport to go to Mexico in my life.”
“Have you ever been to Mexico?”
“No.”
I discreetly pulled my phone out and texted my mother, who was already in Mexico. Mom, she doesn’t have a passport.