Cutie Patootie

4. Too Cool for School

I woke up depressed. For one, I can't get Francesca's threats and her glares out of my head. Secondly, I can't freaking figure out what in the hell Lucy did this summer for Francesca to be so mad. Third, I still haven't sat down and wrote my maid of honor speech for my sister's upcoming wedding. She gets married next weekend. My speech has to be perfect.

I have to say all of the right things to encompass how amazing my older sister is and how perfect her husband is. My sister's wedding is something I dream of having someday, I don't want to be a blotch on her perfect day.

That's why at six in the morning when I should be getting ready for my first day back to school that includes more drama and of course cheer practice, I am sitting with my laptop open and my hands hovering above the keys.

Sighing, I leaned back against my desk chair, staring at my blank screen. I have absolutely nothing and honestly, I feel like crap. I have many tasks as Kasey's maid of honor, but this one...the one thing that might just be the most important, I can't even handle it. What does that say about me? And I want to be on Extra someday. I snorted.

Discouraged, I pulled out my phone and dialed up my sister's fiancé, Justin. I know he's awake in the studio, drafting up some new building.

"Hello?" he answered, voice pleasant and deep. God, he's so dreamy I wish I were old enough to attract men like him. Too bad he doesn't have a brother...

"Hey, I'm totally freaking out, Justin." Let me just cut right to it.

"And this is because...?" He sounds so calm.

My voice hiked up. "My speech for the maid of honor toast...this is the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life. What if choke and I can't even say a single word? What if I never even compose a speech to begin with? She'll be so mad. You know how she furrows her eyebrows together when she's worried or a little angry and doesn't want to hurt anyone? I will kill myself if I cause her to make that face on her wedding day. It's my job to make things go smoothly for her as emotional support and I refuse to mess up. I'm going to scream it's too much pressure. She should have chosen Milly, Milly can do anything."

"But Milly isn't her amazing as hell little sister," Justin said, voice confident. I sighed. "Miranda... you'll do fine. You don't have to write a speech. My best man is gonna wing it. It might be horrible, but it's the thought that counts. Plus, Kasey is marrying me a man who spent most of his life treating women like shit and yet I bagged the greatest woman on the planet. You messing up a toast...not that crucial. Although I have great faith that you will do fine when you deliver your speech."

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. Maybe he's right. "I wish I could be as calm as you."

"You are usually pretty calm except when it comes to Kasey you just become someone else. It's very intriguing. Listen lil shawty." I laughed. Justin is so weird. "You're going to be fine. You'll look amazing and you'll say amazing things. I'm not worried so you shouldn't be either. Kasey loves you and is so happy to have you in her life. Family is important to her, you know that."

"You're right." I shifted my phone from my left ear to my right, standing up to find something to wear for my first day back in school. I also need to pack my cheer stuff. Chad is going to get a kick out of the new spandex I bought for this year. "Are you even nervous a little bit? I mean you're getting married. Your life is going to change and blah blah."

Chuckling, Justin said, "I'm excited. I've wanted this for a while. Everything with Kasey has just grown on me and become a part of my life. Like this dog we have, Coco, I fucking love her, man." I laughed, head thrown back and all. Justin joined me. "She comes with me to work and she loves to just lay here while I draw up concepts and ideas. It's peaceful as hell and I used to hate her. She's a tiny shithead, but she's my tiny shithead. Your sister is just a blonde annoyance, but my blonde annoyance. I love your sister more than I love anything else in this world. What's to be nervous about? Nothing is going to change when we wed, except that she'll truly be mine and mine only. You don't know it, but so many men want your sister. But I'm the lucky man because she chose me. No nerves, Miranda, pure joy."