The Best Man's Speech

5: Welcome Back

✵ LYRA ✵

It had been two days since the day James had shared a meal with my family: a tragic breakfast. But it was a reminder than we had five days left till the wedding, which was to happen on Sunday. 

I stared at the ceiling above me, knowing that I was doomed to taunts when my sister got back. Today was the day she was coming back. In a few moments, my dad would be back with my torturously demanding sister and her fiancé, Nate. While my dad was away to pick them up, my mother wanted all hands on deck while we cleared out the house and our schedules, to ensure that all of the days before the wedding was free. We knew better than to argue with my mom and did request for days off.

James being so ever nice and kind, allowed me to get the whole time off, saying that we were both taking up important roles for the wedding and had to participate in the preparation. Luckily, we both got what we wanted and got to be free until the wedding was over.

"Lyra?" A voice sounded, while a head bobbed through the door. I turned to my left and saw Michael staring at me. Ignoring him, I looked back at the ceiling as he walked towards me, joining me on my bed. We both lay completely still, on our backs, "Did James call?"

I looked at him, "Why would he?"

He responded with: "About the days off?"

"Oh yeah, I get them all free." I smiled as we continued to stare off into space.

"Can we talk about it?" He asked me, turning onto his side.

"About what?" I did the same, making sure that my eyes met his.

"What I saw when I walked in on you." He suggested.

My lips formed a perfect "O" in response.

"What is going on between you two?" He questioned. Despite him having to play the role of my defensive bodyguard, he was currently too busy being my sweet brother, whom I could talk to.

"I don't know." I whispered to him.

"Meia!" We could hear my mother call out my sister's name as the front door opened and shut. The both of us immediately jerked up and started to adjust out hair and clothes, ensuring that we weren't covered in creases and that our hair looked neat.

"How do I look?" I asked Mike, after fussing around with my appearance.

"You look fine. I like that look on you." He smiled, complimenting my plain grey top that I had matched out with black jeans and a Gucci watch. "You look good yourself." I smiled as I spoke, finally making my way to the arriving mess.

Before I could walk out of my room, Mike had held me back by grabbing onto my arm, "Find out before things get messy."

"It won't." I ensured him, looking right into his deep brown eyes.

"Keep in mind that anything that isn't a commitment or a one-off fling will get caught out on by mom and dad." He warned me before walking out of my room, with me puppying around behind him.

"Michael!" Meia had lovingly called out his name as we descended from the stairs. He went straight into her arms to give her a hug, before leaving her to greet Nathan.

"Meia." I smiled as I walked to her and hugged her.

"I missed you all." She exclaimed, gazing upon all of us as she did so.

"We missed you too." My mother replied, looking at her perfect daughter lovingly. There was no denial in the fact that my mother did prefer my sister over me, all because she obeyed mother's every word while I grew up with a twin brother and refused to always be so womanly.

"How about we all catch up in the kitchen?" Meia offered, smiling away while dragging her luggage to the side of the room.

"Sounds perfect. You women can go do that in the kitchen, while we will handle a few tiny details in the study." My father planned, trying to get himself out of any drama that my sister and mother might start. They were both known to being dramatic, whether it was in the good or bad way. They would always talk and make a huge deal of tiny details in the stories they wanted to share.

My sister nodded happily while my mother glared at my dad, annoyed that he managed to escape the get-together. "Don't kill him dad." Meia called out before leading everyone to where they were meant to be.

"Mother told me that the James Stone was over for breakfast... after carrying you to your bed the night before and asking you to stay." Meia entertained aloud, looking at me and making me want to be swallowed up by the ground.

"Father recently found out about how you and Nathan really met." I smirked, knowing that she was playing her game a little too well for my liking. But as they say, it does take two to tango.

"So have you finalised the wedding plans?" My mother hassled as she walked into the kitchen with a wine bottle in her hand, and Victoria behind her.

"Yes mom." Meia answered politely before looking at the wine, "What is that for?"

"Your mother suggested that we celebrate your wedding with a family dinner." Victoria informed us.

"Where?" Meia interrogated.

"In a restaurant that your father had made reservations at, for tonight." She responded.

"Is it just us?" I asked.

"We are inviting Mr Stone... who is Nate's best man. And Nathan's sister, Nora. As well as his parents." My mother answered. I looked over at my sister who was smirking away at me, I rolled my eyes at her before looking away.

"Mr Stone? As in James?" Meia purposely questioned.

"Yes him." My mother simply replied before pouring glasses of wine for each of us. I gulped before taking my own glass and sipping it all down.

"I want you all to dress properly and smartly. Keep it simple though." My mother instructed, after glaring at me for chugging down the whole glass of red wine.