“Hey, Tim,” I mumbled. “What's up?”
“Not much,” he answered. “How was your trip? You snag any good looking men while you were there?”
“Very funny,” I said. “I didn't, but Rachel did. You wouldn't believe what happened?”
I grabbed the blanket from the back of the couch and pulled it over me as I told him the story. He burst into laughter.
“Guess it bit that guy in the ass, didn't it?” he asked. “He'll get what he deserves for what he did to that poor girl. I bet he never saw that coming.”
“What's new with you?” I asked.
“That's the other reason I'm calling,” Tim said. “I wanted to make sure you were okay, but I also have something to tell you.”
“Okay,” I said.
“I'm getting married,” he said. “I asked Renee to marry me.”
“And she said yes,” I joked. “Maybe I should call her.”
“Shut up,” he said. “We want you to be in the wedding.”
“When is it?” I asked.
“In two weeks,” he said nervously.
“What?” I yelled into the phone. “Don't mess with me like that, Tim. You totally had me believing you.”
“It's not a joke, Tina,” he said. “We are getting married in two weeks, and I need you to be there.”
“Um,” I began.
“Don't say a damn thing,” he said. “You will be there. You're my sister and one of my best friends. I need you there. I don't know what's had your ass running from here for the last ten years, but this is important. I've come to visit you so many times. It's time you came home for once. I'm not taking no for an answer. If I have to, I will come and get you. Whatever your beef is with Florida will have to be put aside for one weekend. It's not like whatever it is will be at my wedding. You can come straight here and go straight back.”
I sat silent for a moment.
“Tina,” he said softly.
“I'm not sure I can get the time off,” I said.
“You don't work the weekends, dork,” he said.
“Why do I tell you so much about my life?” I asked in a sad tone.
“I need you, Tina,” he said. “Say you'll be there for your big brother's wedding. This is important to me.”
“Big brother by ten minutes,” I said with a snicker.
“Tina,” he said sternly.
“Fine,” I said.
“Really?” he asked.
“Yes,” I answered feeling defeated.
He was right. I hadn't visited at all, and he'd come to see me so many times. Renee had even come with him several times. They'd been together a little over a year. I was surprised they were getting married so soon. We were close to thirty, so I guess it wasn't soon in that way. I just figured he'd date her longer or at least have an engagement, but who am I to say what's right. I didn't know the first thing about relationships. I'd been able to avoid anything serious my entire life. One man had managed to ruin all of that for me.
I wanted to ask Tim if Jackson was going to be there, but I didn't want to give the jerk the satisfaction if my brother told him I'd asked about him. Of course he'd be there. He was the only person closer to my brother than I was. There was no way he'd miss my brother's wedding.
I hung up the phone and pulled the blanket over my head. It had been ten years since I'd seen Jackson. He'd been stuck in my head ever since my thirteenth birthday when he walked up behind me and scared me worse than I'd ever been scared in my life. That was the day I knew I had a crush on him.
My stomach twisted in knots, and I felt like I couldn't breathe. All I could think about was how I was going to face him after all that time. I only had two weeks to prepare myself for what I was about to walk into.
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Out of My League, Part 3 Page 26