"You and Phil are getting married in three days. We're all family here—nobody meant any harm."
"Look, both sides got a little out of line. Just drink one as an apology, and we'll put the whole thing behind us."
At some point she'd gone to the living room and come back with a glass of wine. She held it out toward me as she spoke, not bothering to hide the triumph in her eyes.
I gave Claire one cold look, then shifted my gaze to Phil, standing right behind her.
Gone was the irritation he'd just shown me.
Now Phil was smiling, watching Claire's back with an easy, indulgent look—like nothing else in the room even registered.
As if she were the only person in the world who existed for him.
When I said nothing, Claire turned to Phil.
"Sister-in-law's still upset with us. I guess we really did take the joke too far."
"How about this—I'll drink one myself. Don't be mad, sister-in-law. Nobody meant anything by it..."
Before she could finish, Phil had already snatched the glass out of her hand.
"Come on, put that down. Drinking's no good for you."
"Hanging around with us all the time—what, you actually think you're one of the boys now?"
Claire laughed and punched his arm playfully.