The Wrong Sister

The following night, I had a nightmare and woke screaming. It was the usual: either drowning or falling. In a flash, Lisa was beside me. I admired her silhouette in the dark—hair in a ponytail, spaghetti-strap tank, hipster panties. My arm hurt like hell, I missed Henry and Stacey, and yet I found myself admiring my future wife. She slid into bed next to me and gathered me into her arms. “I’m right here, babe.” My back pressed securely against her stomach. I felt a surge between my legs and was grateful to fall back asleep quickly. A few hours later, we sat on the bench waiting to be married. She wore tan slacks and a knit top in tan and white. I wore a pink dress. I wasn’t about to wear my sling. My arm was sore, but not unbearably. I felt her hand slowly take mine. “It’s about time you held my hand,” I said. She looked at me and grinned slowly. I leaned closer to whisper in her ear. “If you want the justice of the peace to believe we’re doing this for the usual reasons, you’ll have to pretend you actually love me.” She gently squeezed my hand and looked away, a strange expression on her face, making me wonder again if she could possibly love me for real. I knew I had feelings for her, too, but I wasn’t ready to admit it. A minute later, she looked back at me, a serious tone in her voice. “I’m also going to have to kiss you. Do you think you can handle that?” I giggled. Then our names were called, and it was done. I even enjoyed the kiss—and I was pretty sure she did, too. We took selfies on the way out. “Where will you two be honeymooning?” someone asked. “Uhhh…” Lisa hesitated. “San Francisco,” I said. We both laughed all the way to the trunk. “Your family’s going to shit.” Still laughing, she said, “Yup.” “Great acting.” She stopped laughing and looked at me, confused. “Huh?” “If that was an act back there, then you deserve an Oscar.” She slipped the key into the ignition. “I’m a lousy actress, Shaylin. And you?” “I’m a fantastic actress. But I only act if my life depends on it or someone pays me to do it.” She smiled as she maneuvered the truck out of the parking lot. “So… Lisa Marie?Lisa Anne?” “Lisa Michelle.”