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Feeling annoyed, I asked as gently as possible, but there was really no way to take the bite from my words, "Melaniewhy are you here?"

Her cheeks colored again "I know this is unexpected" She shook her head and sht it would be"

Suddenly she riffled through her bag and pulled out two envelopes "I know you probably got these already Weand the rehearsal dinner It’s next weekend"

"I know," I said through nuot them"

"Yes, well I’d love for you to be there Justin and your motherwell, they’ve told me all about you"

They did?

"Did my mom send you? Or Justin?"

Her pretty blue eyes widened "Neither one actually sent me But they know I’m here Your mother is heartbroken that you won’t come"

I sed back a snort In order for her to be heartbroken she would have to possess a heart "What did she tell you?"

"Er, just that you two had a fight a while back"

Try five years ago

"I know it’s none ofto pry It would just mean so much to her and Justin if you caht it would be nice to have a sister-in-law" She s self-consciously in front of her Genuine and self-effacing, and the insane urge to tell this girl to run as far as she could from my stepbrother andinto one ginormous hot mess of a family Mom Justin Even my blah of a stepfather All three of them equated the family from hell A crazy impulse, of course If I did that I would have to explain why, and I wasn’t having that conversation Especially not in front of Shaw

Not for the first tied The possibility--the hope--had been there ever since that phone call Melanie seee without knowing theShe at least knew him better than I did These days anyway I couldn’t claim to know Justin at all anyo?

"Here, just take themin case you lost the others" She thrust the invitations intos Daddy pulled soot last year’s Ja"

"Sounds fabulous," I ht’s rehearsal dinner is at the Four Seasons, overlooking the Public Garden Your ht even outdo the wedding" Melanie started to edge out the door, but she hesitated before turning back around and folding"I hope we can be friends, Emerson" Her lips brushed my hair as she spoke