Page 4 of A Little Bit Engaged
Loki jumped onto the couch, and the cat bumped his head against Brody’s hand.
He rubbed Loki’s neck. “I hope you’ve been taking care of Cara.”
She wouldn’t let Brody distract her by talking to her cat. “I’m waiting.”
“I…” Loki climbed onto Brody’s lap. “This is more difficult than I thought it would be. I tried to talk Caitlin into coming, but she bailed.”
Caitlin avoided conflict by being indirect when she wanted something. Cara hoped Brody hadn’t been talked into doing her sister’s dirty work. He was too busy for that. Unless Caitlin wanted Cara to do something for her.
She scooted closer. “Hey. You can tell me anything.”
He nodded, but his gaze bounced from one thing to another, focusing on every object in the room except her.
Something was up. Something big. She knew his every expression, all his secrets. At least she used to. That was Caitlin’s job now.
But time and distance hadn’t changed Cara’s ability to sense what was going on in his head. Growing up, she’d believed nothing could come between them. Maybe things hadn’t changed as much as she thought. “Brody.”
“This isn’t easy to say.”
Cara’s stomach clenched. Maybe he wasn’t there with a simple request from her sister. “You’re scaring me.”
“Sorry. It’s just…” He stared at Loki. The cat was stretched out, purring. “Caitlin and I need your help.”
“You know I’d do anything for you guys.” Cara would, too. Caitlin and Brody might occupy a different universe from Cara’s, but the two, along with Loki and her parents, meant everything to her. “Just tell me what you need.”
Brody pulled something from his pocket—a black velvet ring box.
An engagement ring.
He was going to ask her sister to marry him.
Mr. and Mrs. Brody Simmons.
The phrase spiraled inside Cara’s brain like a cyclone.
Her stomach dropped. Her throat tightened. Tears stung her eyes.
She dreamed of living happily ever after, but she’d never come close to grabbing the golden ring. Caitlin, however, would have hers.
A mix of emotions swirled through Cara. Happiness for her sister. A knife to the heart for herself.
An awful and pathetic response, but a true one, nonetheless.
Caitlin marrying Brody wasn’t the problem. Her sister led a charmed life. Sure, she’d spent difficult years working both as a cocktail waitress and a cosmetic-counter salesclerk while trying to break into show business, but then her dreams came true as if a fairy godmother had waved her magic wand and cast a whatever-your-heart-desires spell.
Hit movie franchise, adoring fans, a loving boyfriend who would soon be her fiancé.
Once, just once, Cara wanted to be the princess. To wear the figurative tiara and hold the sparkling scepter like Caitlin. Was that too much to ask?
Probably.
A laugh bubbled inside Cara, but she couldn’t let it escape.
Now her sister would be adding a veil, a wedding ring, and Prince Charming as her husband. Her life would be even more perfect, a real-life happily ever after.
Cara wanted that, too. Someday…
At least an impending engagement explained why Brody was here. No trouble. This was a happy visit.
