“’Cause the whole time I’ve known you I’ve been careful not to bug you about your love life. I wanted to respect it, but now—”

“Now she knows there’s a freak in you,” Robyn went on, rolling her eyes.

“If there’s anything I love more than my man and my art it’s inserting myself into people’s love lives. I’m gonna try to get the Big Pleasant’s phone number for my baby sister before the weekend is out.”

“Oh, hell no,” Robyn said, her eyes wide with sudden horror.

“Why not?” Helene replied. “He’s fine as hell. All three of them are.”

“Yeah, but he’s so big and he doesn’t smile. I’m down for a challenge, but I don’t want to crack that giant grumpy egg.”

“They’re like the Three Bears. One big, one medium, one mediumer. All pretty hot,” Helene said. She wasn’t wrong. While Sam was the shortest of his brothers, he was far from little. And unlike Baby Bear, everything about him was just right, Amanda thought before she immediately made herself swear she would never utter those words out loud to anyone.

“We can all agree that Sam and his brothers are very attractive,” Amanda said. “Now let us never speak of them again.”

“Fine,” Helene laughed. “Let’s talk about me instead!”

“Let’s!” Amanda agreed. “I don’t have anything to toast with at the moment, but here’s to you, our darling Helene. I am so happy to celebrate your happily ever after.”

“Amen!” Robyn said, her palms turned upward.

Helene smiled even wider, tears glinting in her eyes. “To me and my man.”

True, Amanda didn’t have time for anything other than keeping up with Dru, but in her heart, deep down, she hoped that one day she would find something close to what Helene and Ignacio had found together. Love, respect, and friendship.

Her phone buzzed with another text from Dru. She sighed.

One day, maybe. But clearly not now. And not with Sam Pleasant.

* * *

As soon as more of the wedding party and members of Helene’s family started to arrive, Amanda did what she did best: She faded into the background. Normally she’d volunteer her services as a friend of the bride, but she understood how these things worked, the hierarchy at play when it came to bridesmaids and friendships. Plus the planner and her assistants were also at the ready. Amanda would step up if needed but for now, it was time for family and close friends to bond with the bride and groom.