"You . . ." Tiffany hesitated. "Wonderful?"
Mom smiled politely at my aunt and uncle. "I'm sorry. I think we just need a moment-"
"That's right," Dad said a little too loudly, raising his beer in the air. "It's wonderful. A graduation and a wedding. What a night. Isn't it, Cathy?"
None of us knew what to do. Manning stepped forward, as if to diffuse the situation. "Sir-"
Dad transferred his beer can to shake Manning's hand. "Congratulations."
"You're happy?" Tiffany asked. The hopefulness in her voice both hurt me and made me hurt for her. She so wanted his attention-good or bad, it didn't matter.
"I am," he said, and then brightened up. "In fact, let me make a call. You remember that friend of mine over at the Ritz? He's the manager there, and he owes me a favor."
Tiffany gasped. "As in the Ritz-Carlton?" She squealed so loudly, even the kids yelling in the pool looked over. "On the cliff? Overlooking the beach? Are you serious?"
Words and hands flew by me. I couldn't keep up. Dad laughed at Tiffany as she bounced up and down, and a hesitant smile broke through my mom's skepticism.
"Tiffany, hang on." Manning wiped his upper lip with his sleeve and turned to my dad. "Thank you, sir, but the Ritz is-it's the Ritz."
Dad waved his beer but his other arm tightened on my shoulders. "Don't worry about that. It's customary for the bride's parents to pay." He nodded at my mom. "Cathy's father footed the bill for our wedding."
"He did," she agreed. "And don't let Charles try to convince you he protested. He was happy to accept the help."
"Bullshit. I did some protesting, but in the end, I realized it's a father's honor." Dad kissed the side of my head, then held open his other arm to Tiffany. She slipped into his side, looking up at him. "Besides, this is why I work as hard as I do." He locked eyes with Manning. "To see my girls happy."
If he wasn't going to put a stop to this, I had to. But how? I had no claim over Manning, not even a real kiss or a whispered promise. He'd never told me he loved me. I'd based an entire future with him on the things we hadn't said, on looks exchanged and almost-touches. I knew I hadn't imagined it, but I had no evidence of it whatsoever, not even a complete, unwavering certainty that Manning felt the same way I did.
Tiffany glowed. Mom saw it, too, how she and my dad wore matching smiles. My eyes watered. I wanted this for Tiffany, her happiness, my dad's approval. I never tried to steal her attention, because I didn't want it as badly as she did. But I couldn't find the graciousness to celebrate with her tonight. Instead, I wished all of this away-so I could get what I wanted. Did it make me selfish that given the chance right then, I would've taken Manning for myself?
"Hello?" came a familiar voice.
We all turned as Corbin came through the back gate into the yard. "It was unlocked, so I just-"
"Please," Mom said, beckoning him. "Come in. How are you, sweetheart? How's your father?"
Corbin crossed the lawn to us and I'd never been happier to see anyone in my life. I ducked out from under my dad's arm and vaulted myself into the comfort of my best friend with a hanging-on-for-dear-life hug that he answered with a deep laugh. "I appreciate your enthusiasm, Kaplan."
I buried my face in his sunscreen-scented neck. Corbin understood me. He wanted me to be happy. He'd never do anything as awful as fall in love with my sister and announce his engagement to her this way.
"Watch this one," Dad said to Corbin. "You thought she was a handful before? She's really on the loose now."
"You mean the Range Rover out front?" Corbin asked. "It'll be a shame to see such a beautiful car just sit in the driveway."
I turned, keeping Corbin's arm around my shoulders. "I'll get my license, geez," I said, my bad mood clearing a little. "I've just been too stressed the last few months to-" Manning's glare stopped me cold, and it wasn't even aimed at me-just behind me. "-to concentrate."
Corbin squeezed me to him. "Congratulations on today," he said. "You want to grab your friends and we'll head out?"
"Where are you going?" Tiffany asked.
"Bonfire," Corbin answered. "Bunch of people down on the peninsula celebrating graduation."
"Is that legal?" Manning asked.
"All the kids do it," Mom explained before telling us, "Go ahead, you two. No need to hang around with us old folks."