The Reality of Now

Ten

"I ship it."

"You... you what?"

"Saya, dear, clearly you don't spend enough time on the Internet."

As I leaned against the counter of Amberley's a little while before lunch, I knit my eyebrows. Ruby wasn't making any sense.

"It means," Sapphire explained, getting to her feet from the closest booth, "that she thinks you and Jules make a good couple. She enjoys your relationship and is invested in it."

I put my hand under my chin. "Huh. That's cute."

"Jules certainly thinks that of you," Ruby sang, arranging money at the cash register.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah yeah."

"A Roman man walks into a bar, holds up two fingers, and says 'five please'." Jules' voice came from the kitchen. "And she's right," he confirmed, walking out, holding two plates. After he gave them to a middle aged couple in a booth, he came back to  stand beside me and lightly nudge my arm. "I do think you're cute."

"You're pretty cute yourself," I noted.

"Hey hey hey," Sapphire interjected waving her hands. "I don't need to see my little brother and his girlfriend being all adorable. Don't do that in front of me."

Jules kissed me on the cheek.

Sapphire brought a hand to her heart in mock pain. "Do you not care about me at all? Is that it?"

I leaned my head against Jules' shoulder, and felt him chuckle. "You're one to talk, Miss getting-married-in-one-month," he told her.

Sapphire blew a strand of hair out of her face. "That is rather soon, isn't it? By the way, Ruby, you're coming with me to look at bridesmaids dresses today."

Ruby groaned. "Do I have to?"

"Yes! I only have so many people I can have in my bridal party."

"I believe you have a total of two close friends who are girls," Ruby smirked. "Including me."

Sapphire seemed exasperated. "That's true! I had to convince Jack to only have his best man and one groomsman."

Jules raised his hand. "Groomsman right here. And Jack doesn't make me go try on suits."

Ruby pointed at her younger brother. "See? He doesn't have to suffer. Why do I?"

"Because you're my maid of honour, and the best sister ever," Sapphire insisted.

Pursing her lips, Ruby sighed. "Fine, fine."

"At least I'm finally getting a brother," Jules said. "I've always wanted one."

Ruby looked affronted. "You can do brotherly stuff with me. We can look at hot girls together. I'd love that, it'd be fun."

Jules shook his head. "I'm pretty sure being a brother is more than that."

"I don't agree."

Sapphire leaned forwards. "Regardless," she interjected. "We've got to get going."

"Who's the other bridesmaid?" I asked out of curiosity.

Sapphire tilted her head at me, and then her eyes widened. "Oh, love," she said. "I forgot to ask you, didn't I? Saya, I was hoping you'd be my bridesmaid."

I blinked, feeling suddenly elated. Even my own sister didn't want me to be in her bridal party. Mom practically forced her to even give me an invitation. "Are you sure?" I asked Sapphire in disbelief. "I've only known you for a month."