Harry:
“You want a piece of my lasagna?” Ayla offered as she cut a portion of her lasagna and was about to add it to my plate.
“No thanks. The last time I was here they used way too much garlic in their marinara. That’s why I ordered the chicken.”
“I should have known better than to come with a chef. You’re ruining my meal.”
I raised my hands in defense. “How am I ruining your meal? I didn’t oversaturate the sauce with garlic.”
“No, but I didn’t notice it before. Now all I’m going to do is wonder if I’m warding off vampires the rest of the night.”
“So send it back.”
“You are so pretentious. I’m not sending my meal back.”
I wiped my mouth and looked at her sideways. “I’m pretentious? You picked this place. I hate eating in Times Square. It’s overpriced and packed with tourists.”
“I am a tourist,” Ayla snapped in return.
“You’re not really a tourist,” I said, trying to smooth things over. “You’re an exchange student.”
“Ugh. I still think NYU only let me in because I’m related to David Archer.” Ayla rolled her eyes and finished her martini, then signaled for the waiter to bring her another one. Gotta love how easily my cousin could slam back the gin. “I swear, if my flat mate asks me one more time for a meet and greet, I’ll shove her out the bloody window.”
“Ahh life in David’s shadow. Welcome to the club.” I clinked my coke against her glass of water.
“Which brings me to the reason why I asked you out for lunch.”
“Of course there had to be a reason. Why would you want to hang out with me, the not famous cousin?”
“Well, our famous cousin called me. He was rather upset. Why did you refuse him?”
“What do you mean? The wedding thing?”
“Well, yeah. He asked you to be his best man. Why would you say no?”
“You know why.”
“Harry, I know things were weird between the two of you. I mean, yes you made a move on his finance when he was back home in London…” She shrugged and accepted the fresh martini the waiter gave her. “But we all make mistakes, love.” While she took a hearty sip, I dove in.
“Ayla, you know that mistake was what caused my downward spiral. How can I give the speech at his wedding to Kristen when two years ago she was visiting me in rehab? And you’re right, I did make a move on her. Several moves. I may not have been sober when I did it, but I got high so I could do it without my conscience tapping on my shoulder.” I must have been upset because my hands were flying all over the place. Ayla twirled her olive in her martini glass, listening attentively, and I knew the minute I stopped talking she would argue on behalf of why I was an idiot. “I don’t even know why he asked. I mean, he’s a fucking rock star for crying out loud. You’d think he’d have more people than me in his life.”
“Are you done?” she asked, and I knew she was about to attack. I nodded and leaned back in my chair.
“Did you ever stop to think that maybe the reason he picked you out of all the people that surround him is that you actually mean something to him? I mean, before he was this huge success, he was the guy who sat next to you on the couch playing video games every night.”
I snorted. We did play way too much Xbox.
“Harry, I know that what happened between you and Kristen was… awkward to say the least. But David is marrying her. You can either keep the walls up around you for the rest of your life or try to move forward. David has offered you an olive branch.”
“You don’t think it’s weird?”
“It’s only weird if you still have feelings for her.”
At the mention of feelings, Tiffany flashed in my mind. We hadn’t spoken in almost two months, but I still missed her. There hadn’t been a day that passed so far that I hadn’t regretted ending things. I tried my best to avoid her, which wasn’t easy when we both shared the same small town. Good thing our paths hadn’t crossed. That would have been uncomfortable. But despite how much I missed her and how much I dreamt of what could be, her mom made it clear: I was a distraction—a dangerous distraction, and she was better off cutting ties and getting her focus back.
“No, I don’t have any feelings for Kris. Not anymore. That ended a long time ago.”
“Then you really have no reason to say no.”
“People will talk.”
“What people? Your parents don’t even know the whole Kristen part.”
“And I’d rather they never did. My mom went through enough.”
“Then who exactly are you worried about?”
The way Brit and Erik looked at me when Tiffany brought me to dinner flashed in my mind. Is that the way they would all look at me while I made my speech?
“To be honest, I’m not sure… I guess Kristen’s friends.”
“Oh screw them. David is your blood, not Kristen. I mean, I like her and all, but David asked you to stand beside him as he makes this huge commitment. You knew David before she did. Remember that.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“I usually am.”
“Except about the sauce.”
“Always a wise guy.”
I smiled and shrugged.