Page 81 of How to Ruin a Wedding

I slap a hand over her mouth and apply pressure as she squirms. “Say it louder; I don’t think he heard you.”

She mumbles into my hand, repeating the words, and I practically choke her until she licks me. I peel my hand back, and she whips up. “You’re so far gone. You’re freaking out so bad.”

“This is so inappropriate of you,” I snap.

She cackles. “Oh, Lucy, you’re adorable. Let me get my phone, you have to see how red you are.”

“Taina, go back home. Mathew is probably so upset that you left him.”

She frowns. “Why would he be upset?” Then, “And if you ever listened to what I tell you, you’d remember he’s away this week. Or are you too lost in Anders to remember things about your poor little sister?”

There’s a light knock on the door. I open my mouth to say go away, but Taina covers my mouth and shouts, “Come in.”

Just as Anders lets himself in, Taina yells as I bite her hand.

She mutters, “You’re not being very attractive right now.”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Anders says, his gaze traveling between us, then falling on Taina. “The sushi you ordered is here.”

“You ordered delivery?” I yell, just as Taina runs off and leaves Anders and me by ourselves.

“I’m so sorry.” I stand. “She did not tell me she was coming. And I didn’t tell her to come. She wanted to come, sure, but she said she’d stay at a hotel, and I said I would see if I would even have time.”

“It’s okay.”

“It’s most definitely not.” I rub a hand over my face. “But I’ll deal with it.”

“Really, it’s okay,” he says, then pulls out his phone. “This is my aunt. She wants me over for dinner. I told her you weren’t feeling well.”

I’m very clearly feeling better, seeing as I just wrestled with my sister.

But not only is Taina something I need to deal with at this moment, she’s a reminder of why I need to finish this job well. I need to get my money, leave her place, leave her and her husband alone, and focus on building my career—the real one outside of this one.

So I say, “I’ll pass on joining today.”

Anders’s shoulders stiffen as he smiles and nods. “Okay.”

And he leaves.

I wait until I hear the front door shut before joining Taina in the kitchen. She’s spread out her food on the counter and has already cleared out a box of California rolls.

“There’s some vegan ones,” she says, mouth full. “Take a bite, then take a breath.”

“You can’t stay here.”

She rolls her eyes. “Duh, I’m not a cockblock. I got a place. I just wanted to see Anders in person, check for signs of life. Sue me for caring.”

I rub a hand over my face. “I’m having an incredibly stressful day, and you’re making it so much worse.”

She drops the two rolls in her hands. “What’s wrong?” She looks around, like she’s just realizing Anders isn’t here. “Did he upset you? I’ll kill him. The bastard.”

“No, he didn’t do anything wrong,” I say. “It feels like I am, though.” It feels like any choice I make isn’t a good one. Being there for Anders is crossing a line. Not being there for him is causing him pain when he’s been nothing but good to me. It’s too frustrating.

“Talk to me.”

“I don’t really want to talk about it,” I say. “I just, I need this to go well. So please don’t show up unannounced again. Or track my location when I’m out and show up there to spy, either.”

She pouts. “You’re being so secretive with me.”