Paper Thin

Maybe my sister wasn’t a superhero after all; maybe she had finally hit her tipping point. Thanks to me.

“Okay.” My voice was soft and smooth, as though I were talking someone off a ledge. “Let me go get the bags.”

There were seven bags of stuff in the hall closet, as well as three boxes. I understood now why she had been freaked out.

“Wow, don’t you think you went a little overboard with the decorations?” I teased.

“No.” She picked up one of the boxes. It said Fondue Fun on the side in bubbly brown letters. “It will be just the right amount.”

I pulled a string of white lights from one of the bags, snaking it along the floor in front of me. “If you say so.”

Silk tablecloths, more white lights, napkins, the fanciest paper plates and plastic silverware I’d ever seen, and loads of crape paper decorations were what I found in the other bags.

A heavy sigh escaped me. There was so much to do, and hardly enough time. I wished I had realized what she wanted me to do hours ago.

SIX O’CLOCK CAME FASTER than I thought it would. I barely had enough time to shower and get ready before the first knock sounded at the front door. Smoothing my hands along the fabric of the black dress Sadie had said would look fabulous on me, I gripped the knob and opened it. Twice I had almost talked myself out of wearing the dress, but decided against it because I was hoping Dawson would be among the invite list. Time had not been on my side tonight to ask Emma if he was. Heck, I hadn’t even gotten a moment to ask who she was marrying. Every time I entered the kitchen, she kicked me out.

I swung the door open and the person who stood on the other side made me glad I’d stuck with my dress decision.

“Hey.” Dawson flashed me that charming smile I adored.

My heart pounded in my throat as I took in the sight of him. The light blue button-up shirt he wore did wonders for his ta

“Hey, yourself.” I tossed his words from last night back at him, along with a smile of my own. Nerves pinched at my stomach seconds later, making me feel stupid for doing so. I was being cheesy. I hated cheesy people.

“Can I come in?” His grin grew, making me realize I was blocking the doorway with my body.

“Yeah, sure.” I stepped to the side in a swift movement. “What are you doing here?” I was puzzled by his presence. When I thought for a moment, it made sense. Emma and Dawson had gone to school together. He’d lived down the road from us our whole life. Parish Cove was a small town. I was sure Emma had practically invited everyone to be polite.

“I—” He was cut off by Emma entering the room.

“You’re here! Thank God.” She walked straight to him and tossed her arms around his neck, pulling him against her body. “How does the place look? Is it too much?”

My heart stopped as I stared at them.

I watched as Dawson shifted his stare from me to the decorations, and then to my sister. “It looks good. You did great, babe.”

Babe. He’d called her babe. Emma had her arms wrapped around his neck. Their bodies were pressed so tightly against one another that I doubted you could fit a pe

Dawson freaking Phillips was marrying my sister.

The pressure of my nails digging into my palms brought me back to reality. I released my fists and painted a smile on my face.

Emma got everything, didn’t she?

I couldn’t help the thought. It pounded through my head. Gathering my emotions, I closed the door.

“It really does look nice,” I agreed. My voice was more composed than I thought possible. It also reminded Emma I was in the room. Dawson didn’t need a reminder, he knew. He’d never forgotten my presence. He had gauged my reaction to the news. Sympathy entered his stare and I shifted my gaze to Emma, refusing to gape at him as though he had broken my heart any longer.

“Hey, you remember Dawson, right?” There was a light in her eyes I hadn’t seen in forever. It made everything I was feeling ten times worse.

“Yeah, I do.” I forced my smile to remain in place. How could I forget? He’d been my first kiss. He was my first real crush. Of course I remembered him.

“I figured you would. Well, um, he’s my fiancé.” She gri

Emma would get to keep the guy I had always wanted. Dawson was hers. He would never be mine no matter the timing. He was another Will Pelzer. I wasn’t sure why this hurt as much as it did. After all, I hadn’t seen him in five years. It was hard to explain, but the sight of him had brought back all those feelings I’d harbored as a teen, shoving them to the surface of my mind again. For whatever reason, I’d thought this time things would be different, that this time Dawson wouldn’t see me as a child. I wouldn’t be the awkward girl he kissed on the dock that summer night so long ago, that I would be a woman he suddenly couldn’t live without.

I’d felt something between us last night. Dawson had been flirting with me, but then he’d remembered my sister. It was clear now why he had shut down. He’d shut down because of her.

Holy shit, this couldn’t get any more awkward.

“That’s great. Congratulations to the both of you.” I forced my smile to widen, hoping the twinkle in my eyes resembled happiness and not the tears of sadness I was trying to hold back. “I’ll let you two catch up. I’m going to finish setting the food out for you, Emma.” I speed walked toward the kitchen, only releasing my smile once I crossed the threshold.

Fate had screwed me over. Again.

The back door was wide open when I stepped into the kitchen. A sinking feeling slipped through me at the sight. Mom had been getting something to drink before I answered the door. Now she was gone. She couldn’t have gotten far; that’s what I told myself at least. When I reached the back door and didn’t see her, I realized that just because she wasn’t all there in the head anymore didn’t mean she couldn’t move fast. I sca

Shit.

I wasn’t sure if I should tell Emma or continue searching on my own.

“What are you doing? I thought you said you would set the rest of the food out for me,” Emma called from behind me.

“Mom’s gone,” I admitted. “She was in the kitchen getting something to drink when I answered the door. When I came back, the back door was wide open, and she’s nowhere in sight.”

“Damn it!” Emma muttered. She backtracked to the living room. I could hear her shouting for our mom, but I knew she wouldn’t get an answer.

I started around toward the front of the house, because the thought of Mom tromping through the woods didn’t seem likely. She wasn’t there either. The front door swung open, startling me.

“I’ve got it. I’ll find her,” Dawson assured my sister in his deep, soothing voice. “You wait here and greet everyone. I’ve got this, sweetheart. It’s okay.” I watched him kiss my sister on the forehead. It was such a sweet gesture. He loved her. He really loved her. My stomach turned.

I swallowed hard, and then spoke up. “Do you want me to help him, or stay with you?” I asked Emma. I wanted to stay with her. I didn’t want to go off with Dawson, because I couldn’t trust my mouth not to make an idiot of myself once I was alone with him. There were too many questions and harsh words waiting on the tip of my tongue for him.