“I was trying to manipulate you into asking me why I was mad. I was playing the petulant victim, and when you called me on it, instead of being an adult, I acted even more idiotic.”
He leans over and kisses me again, deeper this time. And then takes my face in both his hands, looks me deep in the eyes, and sighs. “I’m really, really sorry. I’m kind of an idiot about a lot of things, especially relationships. Promise me in the future that you’ll just tell me when I’m doing something that hurts your feelings so I can fix it.”
“Done,” I say. “Thank you for coming. It really means a lot to me to have you here.”
“It really means a lot to me that you asked. Even if I didn’t know it right away.”
I take a sip of my champagne and look at him. “I’m just going to say this because I’m feeling particularly brave right now. I know that when we began I made myself out to be the kind of woman who wasn’t interested in a serious or committed relationship. But lately, I’ve started to change my mind about that. And as a result, I wanted you to know that I have officially stopped seeing any other people. I’m not suggesting that that is where you are, and it’s fine with me if you’re not. But I did want you to know.”
He grins at me. “Want to know a secret?”
“Sure,” I say.
“I haven’t been seeing anyone else since before Christmas.”
“What about New Year’s girl?” I ask.
“What New Year’s girl?”
“When I talked to you New Year’s Eve, I heard a woman’s voice calling you back to watch the movie.”
He laughs. “That was my nephew Jimmy’s girlfriend.”
“Oh,” I say. “I have to tell you you’re pulling a real Jake Ryan on me here.”
Conner laughs. “I love
Sixteen Candles
,” he says.
“You’re kidding?”
“Not kidding. I love to watch it at about three in the morning.”
Jill will be very relieved to hear that, I think.
“Hey, you two,” Jill says, coming up behind us. Connor kisses her and slaps Hunter on the back.
“I’m so glad you could make it, man. It’s good to have you here,” Hunter says, glowing more than any bride.
“How was the drive?” Jill asks.
“Seven hours door-to-door. I even had time to take a nap.”
“Hey,” Hunter says. “Come here and meet my crazy family.” And he whisks Connor across the room to introduce them. I turn and look at Jill, who is beaming at me.
“You couldn’t give me a little warning?”
“He and I thought it would be a good surprise.”
“It is. A really good surprise. I told him. I mean about wanting to be exclusive.”
“And what did he say?”
“Apparently he’s been dating me exclusively since December.”
“I guess that makes you the ho in this situation.”
“True. But let’s be honest. In almost any situation, I’m probably the ho.”
“Not anymore,” she says and raises her champagne glass to mine. We clink and drink.
“How do you think our fans will react?” she asks.
“React to what?”
“If neither of the Spinster Sisters are spinsters anymore?”
“You know what?” I say.
“What?”
“We’ll just have to tell them to walk it off.”
“I think that’s an excellent plan, Butthead.”
“I think so, too, Moose Face.”
“Well, well, well. Looks like you’re not solo anymore,” Aunt Ruth says from my right elbow.
“Dears, I think we’re supposed to go sit down at our table, or they won’t be able to get anyone else to sit down for dinner,” Aunt Shirley says, coming up next to her sister.
“Well, then we should do that,” I say, and the four of us head over to the next part of the celebration.
“Hey, Jodi? You sleeping?” Connor whispers in my ear.
“No, not really,” I say.
“You don’t happen to have
Sixteen Candles
on DVD, do you?” he asks.
I sit up in the bed and look over at him. “I’ll get the DVD set up. You go get that leftover wedding cake out of the fridge.”
“Deal,” he says, kissing my cheek, and gets out of bed.
Whoever said you can’t have your cake and eat it, too, never met a Spinster Sister.