I put a hand over my heart. “Awww, she thinks I’m a saint. Should I be flattered or concerned about what I’m walking into?”
“Definitely be concerned,” he mutters. “My family is overbearing, loud, and way too invested in my personal life for anyone’s good health.”
I rub my hands together. “Like those Italian mafia families?”
“We don’t actually murder people, Scarlett.”
“Well, that’s disappointing. I was hoping for some excitement.”
“Message from Carmen: Did I mention she’s gorgeous too? Good job, little brother! Never thought you’d get her back, but I TOLD YOU SO!!!”
The car goes deathly quiet as Brendan’s face matches his ears.He fumbles frantically with the Bluetooth controls, shutting off the connection like it’s a bomb. “Remember what I said about my family being overbearing? Case in point,” he mutters under his breath. “Don’t listen to anything my sister says about me.”
“Okaaaay,” I say with a nervous laugh, even though I’m dying to know what she meant.
Why did she tell him he’d “get me back”? He made it clear from that beginning that he chose me as his wedding date because hedidn’twant to date me.
I grab my phone to pull up Carmen’s number. “I’ll send her my sizes so you don’t have to endure any more Bluetooth humiliation.”
His eyes dart my way, then back to the road. “Thank you.”
“So,” I say, typing a quick response and then hitting send. “On a scale of one to ten, how intense are the Marco women when they’re together?”
“Remember that nature documentary about shark packs?”
“That’s not at all comforting.”
“I’m serious, Scarlett. They mean well, but they’re a force. They’ll be asking personal questions, making assumptions about our relationship, and probably dropping hints while we’re in the wedding boutique today.”
“Oh come on,” I tease. “It can’t possibly bethatbad.”
He lifts an eyebrow.
Thirty minutes later, I have my answer.
It really can be that bad.
The Marco luxury vehicles are parked next to the wedding boutique. Thank goodness I didn’t show up in my dented sedan.
Brendan stares at the shop, and I can tell he’s contemplating whether jumping out of a moving vehicle would be less painful than the next two hours.
“I just want to apologize in advance,” he says, looking at me with actual concern.
“Why?”
Before he can answer, the boutique door flies open and Isabella Marco bursts onto the sidewalk. “There you two are! Just in time for the fitting!”
“That’s why,” Brendan groans.
I barely have time to take a deep breath before I’m kissed on both cheeks, then engulfed in a hug so tight I can’t breathe. This tiny, Puerto Rican woman in a bright, coral dress with equally colorful glasses apparently has the strength of a professional arm wrestler. Her dark curls bounce as she steps back, and her warm smile makes it clear why everyone likes her. In less than ten seconds, she’s made me feel like I belong here.
“My dear Scarlett,” she says, keeping her hands on my shoulders. “We are so excited to have you in the family! Well, notofficiallyyet, but you know what I mean!” I shoot Brendan a panicked look over her shoulder.
“Isabella,” I say. “It’s good to see you too.”
She releases me only to smother Brendan with the same enthusiastic affection, pulling his face down for multiple kisses.
“Hello, Mom,” he chuckles, wrapping her in a bear hug.