pte

nce five in the morning, and it w

had enough on his mind today without her

in the carpet," her oldest brother Darius called from the door

sted, even though she absolu

ond-oldest brother, James, appeared behind D

of clothing covering her bed, chairs, and most of her floor. "I can't upstag

was fond. At thirty, he'd seen Kate through enough social an

oft blush pink, the other a sophisticated navy. "Pink says 'sweet

y. Her third brother, David, poked his h

hrew a shoe at him, which he d

e. It's just a wedding. Seris has been to hundreds of events with you. He's

wasn't just

fun of her for being small, for being the only girl in a family of boys, for not fitting in. He'd sat with her for hours, and when she'd finally stopped crying, he'd

d been nine. And she'd

like her seventh brother, the one who actually understood her. The

was marrying S

wrinkle the navy dress. "I just want eve

anged a look that Kat

he edge of her bed. "You know Seris can take care

stressed with the Jessica situation, and the compa

hand. "His parents pus

d said too much. "I di

tle but firm. "Does Seris actu

proposed, didn't he? Well, technically, she asked him, but he said yes

r brothers spoke in unison, thei

g but coldly polite to her. "She saved his life. After that car accident two years ago. She was ther

ist," Dari

eval," David

t it was strange too. "She loved him enough to ask. And Seris is honorable

you can't actually think this is

hat Silver seems nice. And Seris n

hinking the name mad

n genuinely in love with her, or at least Kate thought he had been. For two years, he'd

ths ago, the sca

een spectacular and public, and Seris had shut down in a way that terrified Kate. He'd stopped calling. Stopped showing

xactly twice at business functions-she'd been relieved. Not because Silver seemed p

, accomplished, from a good family. She doesn't party or

us said quietly, "is

another s

I love that you love your friends. But you can't fix Seris by being ex

ying to be supportive. He's my best friend, and today is important to him, s

edieval marriage customs, and Kate closed the d

holding it up to herself in the mirror. It was perfect-eleg

Seris, confirming timing or asking her opin

up, the message was f

umber from Seris's contact list. I wa

ement had been announced. She'd sent friendly texts, invited her to coffee, tried to establish some kin

wedding day, she

ers flew ov

o talk to you. Are you nervous? Do you need anythin

onse cam

I wanted t

d. *Apologi

nothing but kind, and I've been s

logize! I know this has all been overwhelming. N

red, disappeared

the things Seris always says about y

heeks warm. *He

You're very im

te typed. I'm so happy he foun

e took long

seem hap

the keyboard. It was an odd question

dered if it was true. Seris had seemed... fine. Calm. Pro

ded. *I really do. You de

I'm so excited to officially welcome you to the family. I know we haven't b

eared and disappea

ke that too. Mo

est. See? Silver was lovely. Just nervous

could help you get ready! Or just keep you co

ay. I just wanted to clear the

a bride emoji and several sparkles. You're going

or everything. You

for everyone. Silver would warm up once they were family. They could have coffee

ss and headed to the bathr

a beautiful day.