Chapter Thirty-One

AFTER BREAKFAST, JOEY called Taylor to let her know she’d arrived safely and fill her in on what was going on.

“Not dead?” Taylor said as she answered the phone.

“Sorry,” Joey said. “I should have called as soon as I landed. You wouldn’t believe everything that’s happened since I got here.”

“I could say the same. Want to go first?”

“No. What’s up?”

“Well, I’ve been offered a spot in the National Orchestra.”

“You what? That’s amazing!”

“I know! I can’t believe it,” Taylor gushed. “It’s with the local portion that plays in and around London so I can keep going to school. But if things go well, I could join the touring group once I graduate.”

Joey was so relieved. She wasn’t sure this was exactly how Taylor’s life had gone before, but she knew this was a huge opportunity and was thankful she hadn’t knocked her completely off course.

“So, basically, it also means I can move off campus,” Taylor continued. “But we can talk about that when you come back.”

“Ah, yeah, about that,” Joey said. “I’m not sure when I’ll be coming back.”

“Did you and Dan…”

“No. No, no. He actually proposed to Betty last night.”

“He what?”

Joey filled Taylor in on everything that had happened since she landed.

“Wow,” Taylor said. “How do you feel about all of that?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure,” Joey said. “I want them both to be happy. I’m just not sure they will be happy together.”

“Yeah. I can see that.”

“So, I guess wedding plans are full steam ahead, and since I’m maid of honor, I was thinking I should hang here for a while to help.”

“Of course. Well, I’m here if you need me. I’m always here, Joey.”

Joey whispered, “Thanks, bye,” before hanging up. Speaking of people she didn’t deserve, could Taylor have been more understanding? And not just now, but about everything. Joey had come crashing into her life one year ago and Taylor had never, not once, made her feel anything but welcome. Even now, after she’d embarrassed herself by almost proposing, Taylor wanted her to be okay with this news.

And so, Joey kicked off Operation Dan and Betty. She’d been in a few weddings and always took her role in the bridal party seriously. You don’t stand up and vouch for just anyone. She had just agreed to be Betty’s maid of honor. Everything that happened before and between the three of them was irrelevant. And if her sister was getting married, she knew it was up to her to make sure the guy was worthy.

“Hello, Daniel,” she said when he picked up the phone.

“Hello JoEllen,” he said.

“I hate when you use my full name.”

“You started it,” Dan laughed. “What’s up?”

“Well, since you are marrying my sister, I thought I should get to know you.”

“You’ve known me forever, weirdo.”

“Yes, but that was before. I’d like to get to know this new Dan and see what my new brother-in-law will be like. Want to meet up later?”

“That sounds like a date,” he said quietly.

“No, er…” she replied. He was right. She couldn’t just go out alone with him like they used to. “I mean with Betty. We can go out together.”

And thus, her stint as a third wheel began. They decided dinner together would be nice and Joey let Dan call his fiancée to propose the idea.

“Hey!” Betty said, appearing at the door to Joey’s bedroom a few minutes later. “You, me, Dan, dinner?”

“Sounds perfect,” Joey said before Betty could bounce away.

Joey unpacked her suitcase and sighed when her hand touched the ring box from the antique store. She opened it and stared at it for a minute before deciding it was too pretty to sit in the dark. And since she was about to be out with Dan and Betty, a little something sparkly to grab on to when she felt nervous seemed like the perfect totem to keep herself calm.

She lay down on her bed to rest a bit to try to clear the jetlag from her brain, but accidentally fell asleep. When she woke up, she saw she only had ten minutes to get ready. She hadn’t packed much because she figured she could just wear her old clothes, but quickly realized they no longer fit. And thus, she wore jeans and a sweater to dinner on a day when most people were in shorts and T-shirts.

She heard the front door open and knew Dan was there to pick them up. He’d long since forgone the hassle of ringing their doorbell or knocking, but Joey thought that was just for her. Apparently in her absence, he’d extended the same level of casual dating technique to Betty.

But when she came out of her room to say hi, she realized the casual vibe ended with his entrance. Dan was dressed in slacks and a collared shirt, something he rarely did when he and Joey went out, especially at this age. He must have seen the look she gave him because he looked down sheepishly and said, “Oh, yeah, Betty prefers this.”

Of course she did. Where Joey had liked going on cheap dates with Dan, even sometimes competing for who could find the least expensive outings, Betty preferred her dates a little fancier.

A lot fancier, actually. When Betty came out in a new dress she’d apparently shopped for while Joey napped, Dan’s reaction was subtle, but Joey saw it. He immediately stood up a little straighter and quickly told Betty how pretty she looked.

He’s uncomfortable, she realized. He didn’t look unhappy, per se, but he definitely wasn’t at ease around Betty the way he’d always been with her. Betty liked things to be a certain way and in Joey’s absence had molded Dan into the version of him she preferred. His new car suddenly made more sense. It wasn’t like him to splurge on something like that, even if he did have the money.

But Betty wouldn’t have been caught dead in his old car and had likely told him so.

Joey knew this wasn’t the Dan she’d left behind and felt immediately protective. She reminded herself to give them a chance before judging. Sure, she could tell Dan was uncomfortable, but maybe he just still got butterflies around Betty in a way he hadn’t with her. That could be a thing, right?

“Dan, I thought I told you not to wear that belt with those shoes,” Betty said, by way of greeting.

Dan looked down, clearly embarrassed, and Joey’s heart sank.

Strike one, Betty, she thought as she followed them out of the house. She wasn’t sure what she’d do if Betty amassed three strikes, but she was keeping score in the meantime.