Chapter Text
The restaurant that Jane picked for brunch was pricey, crowded, and absolutely stunning. Elizabeth blew warm air into her hands and glanced around the main room while the host flicked through names on an iPad. The walls were blindingly white, and sunlight poured in from the large front windows. Tiny succulents sat beside tea candles in the middle of each table.
Classic Jane, Elizabeth thought to herself with a smile.
The host found Jane’s reservation. He guided Elizabeth toward a corner booth in the back and placed several menus on the table. Elizabeth thanked him and settled in, pulling out her phone.
She knew she was in for a wait. Her sister Kitty had offered to pick Jane up from her townhouse, and then would get their other two sisters, Mary and Lydia, from the home they still shared with Elizabeth's parents. That meant Jane would be seeing Mrs. Trevelyan, their mother, less than a week after her engagement. If the four of them were anything less than half an hour late, it would be a miracle.
By the time Elizabeth heard her sisters laughing near the door, she’d read the menu twice, and had moved on to a crossword. She put her phone away and stood, grinning. The youngest two, Kitty and Lydia, hugged her tightly before shedding their coats and slipping into the curved booth; Mary forewent the hug and simply gave her a nod.
“How did you beat us here?” Lydia asked Elizabeth. She fixed the messy bun that had been trapped under her hat. “There was so much traffic coming from your end, I thought for sure we’d be first.”
“We’re twenty minutes late,” Mary told Lydia. “Because someone had to redo their eyeliner twice.”
“Well someone didn’t knock when I was doing it the first time.”
Elizabeth and Jane exchanged a grin before hugging last. “Good choice,” Elizabeth told her. “The food looks great.”
Mary was reviewing the menu with a frown. “At these prices, it'd better be.”
“Oh, lighten up,” Lydia said. “Jane’s buying.” She shuffled through the menus, then glanced across the table. “Is that the cocktail menu?”
“Lydia,” Elizabeth said. “It’s ten thirty.”
Lydia pouted. “Yes, but we’re celebrating."
Sighing, Elizabeth passed her the menu.
“How was the bus?” Kitty asked.
“Not bad, for a Sunday,” Elizabeth replied. Despite moving further out from Ostwick a year ago, she remained firm in her decision not to own a car. It was an easy way to save money. She lived within walking distance of her teaching job, and the bus went almost everywhere in the city. If she needed a car, she could borrow one. “How’s Denny doing?"
Kitty scrunched her nose. “Okay. They doubled his hours. But at least he’s getting overtime.”
The sisters chatted for a few minutes until the server came by. Elizabeth ordered soft-boiled eggs with toast, Jane chose the avocado toast sans bacon, Mary and Lydia got the waffles, and Kitty decided on a cheeseburger with fancy local cheddar. Lydia also got herself a bloody mary, and insisted that Jane get a mimosa (“Because we’re celebrating,” she reminded everyone again). Once the menus were cleared away, and the drinks had been served, attention turned to Jane.
“Well,” she said, folding her napkin across her lap, “as you’ve probably guessed, I planned this brunch for a reason.” She smiled down at her hands. “Cullen and I have set a date.”
Elizabeth had heard the news already, but she still squeezed Jane’s arm, grinning. Lydia and Kitty squealed. Even Mary looked pleased.
“When?” Kitty asked. “Where?”
“August 17th,” Jane said. “In Ferelden. We’re booking a mountain resort. It’s adorable, you're going to love it.”
Elizabeth's smile faded. “Really?” she asked, confused. Last she heard, the plan had been a local wedding, at the restaurant where Cullen had proposed.
Jane began to dig through her purse. “It’s in the Frostback mountains.” Glancing up, she added, “Oh, and I’d like the four of you to be my bridesmaids! If you think you have the time, of course.”
“Yes!” Kitty exclaimed with a fist pump.
“Told you so,” Lydia said to Kitty smugly.
"Of course we have the time," Elizabeth said.
Mary broke in. “Actually, I have a couple of questions. Will there be specific requirements leading up to the wedding? For example, who's planning the bridal shower?”
"Ooh, and the bacherlotte!" Lydia said excitedly, clapping her hands.
Mary ignored her. “And will you make us get our hair done by a professional?”
“Andraste, Mary,” Kitty complained. “Just put on a dress that Jane likes and call it a day.”
“I like to know what my responsibilities are before I agree to a commitment.”
“What, like you're going to say 'no' if she tells you she's getting a stylist?” Lydia asked. "Give me a break."
Mary sniffed. “Maybe. I don’t like strangers touching my hair.”
Jane put up a hand for silence. “Ladies. You don’t need to do anything you don’t want to,” she assured them. She smiled. "I just want you all there with me.” Kitty let out a quiet ‘aww’ . “And you get to choose your own dress.”
Mary looked cautiously interested. “Really?”
“Yes." Jane saw the look Elizabeth was giving her, and hesitated. "Within reason. Cullen and I just need to decide on colors.”
Lydia gasped. “Colors!” she exclaimed. “Oh-my-gosh-Jane, please tell me I can help you pick out the colors. Please-please-please!”
“No,” Elizabeth said firmly, just as Jane gave her a tentative, “Uh, maybe?”
But Lydia had already taken out her phone and was typing with both thumbs. “I’m making a Pinterest board and sharing it with you. Which do you prefer, Jullen or Cane?”
“Um,” Jane said.
“Jullen,” Lydia decided without input. “Cane sounds stupid.”
“They both sound stupid,” Mary said.
Lydia kept typing. “Jul-len Wed-ding Ins-po Board,” she read out loud.
“Add me!” Kitty said.
“Don’t worry, I’ll add all of you,” Lydia promised, typing some more.
“I don’t have a Pinterest,” Mary told her.
Lydia ignored her. “How do we feel about neons?”
“Tacky,” Kitty said. Lydia shot her a wounded look. Kitty backed down, apparently only just realizing that Lydia’s sweatshirt was electric blue. “But, like, in a cool, Blessed Age way. Like Jazzercise. Or fanny packs.”
“You guys,” Jane interrupted, holding back a smile. “Calm down. You haven’t even seen the venue yet!” She took two brochures out of her purse. One, she passed across the table to Mary, and the second, she unfolded into a large, glossy map. It depicted a blob of blue surrounded by green. Various grey rectangles and circles dotted the green part, labelled with names like ‘Indoor Pool’ and ‘Entertainment Center’, and ‘Pavillion’.
“‘Bunny Slopes?’” Kitty read from one corner.
“It’s a ski resort in the winter,” Jane explained. “But during the warmer months, they rent it out for events. Like weddings, and corporate retreats.”
Lydia gave Jane a flat stare. “You’re getting married at a corporate retreat.”
“No,” Jane said with what was, in Elizabeth’s opinion, an unbelievable amount of patience. “I told you, it’s a resort.”
Lydia looked skeptical. She grabbed the first brochure from Mary, who hadn’t opened it yet. Elizabeth peered over her shoulder.
Jane continued, “We have the whole place to ourselves Thursday through Sunday. Two days for family, and two more for the whole party. There’ll be activities. Games. Contests.” Her smile widened. “A ropes course.”
Elizabeth looked up, studying her older sister. Something felt off. The resort didn’t sound like a place Jane would choose. And while Cullen could have a secret lake obsession she did not know about, Elizabeth could not see him insisting on having his wedding near one. The name at the top of the map caught her eye, and a faint bell rang. She frowned.
“... wait a second. Grand Haven Resort.” She blinked. “Why does that sound so familiar?”
“Grand Haven Resort?” Mary leaned forward, curious. “Oh! Is this where Mama and Father got married?”
Oh. The other shoe dropped. Elizabeth stared at Jane. Kitty and Lydia did as well, raising their eyebrows. Jane avoided meeting any of their eyes. “It is," she admitted.
“Jane,” Elizabeth said slowly. “Did Mama pick this place?”
Jane bit her lip. “...we’re getting an excellent discount.”
“Oh, Maker, Jane,” Kitty said.
Elizabeth couldn't help but agree. “Please tell me Mama isn't planning your wedding.”
“Ugh,” Lydia groaned. “Imagine the precedent that would set. Half of us would end up getting married in Orlais.”
“She’s not planning anything,” Jane assured them. After a long pause, she relented: “Okay, so the resort was her suggestion. But I like the look of the place. I promise!” She gave them all a beseeching look. “Just because it was her idea doesn’t mean it’s a bad one.”
Elizabeth frowned. “I’m pretty sure that the Venn diagram of ‘Mama’s ideas’ and ‘Mama’s bad ideas’ is this close to being a circle,” she said, holding a half inch of air between her thumb and finger.
“But look how cute it is!” Jane insisted, turning back to the brochure. “It'll be like summer camp, with a fancy party at the end. Room and board are included with the cost, so no one has to pay for anything. Most guests will be staying here.” She pointed to an area with dozens of red squares marked ‘Residential’. “Each cabin has three or four rooms, plus a shared bathroom.”
“A shared bathroom?” Lydia exclaimed.
“I said most guests,” Jane said. “The people who are only staying a night or two. The wedding party will be staying up here, in the bungalows. They’re like little one room huts with a fireplace. And a porch. Here.” She turned the brochure, folding it in half, and showed them a picture on the back. Three little red huts with white trimmings sat on a sparkling lake, surrounded by trees. “See? Cute, right?”
Elizabeth tilted her head to look. She was determined to dislike any plan of Mrs. Trevelyan's, but she had to admit, the bungalows were pretty cute. In fact, it almost felt as if she’d seen them somewhere before.
Kitty realized at the same time. “Oh. Jane! It’s just like Dirty Dancing!”
Jane smiled, relieved. “That’s what Cassandra said.”
“You should have just said so,” Kitty gushed. “Denny will be thrilled.”
Lydia leaned back at the mention of Kitty's boyfriend. “Daphne’s invited, right? I know we’ve only been dating a year, but by next August--”
Jane cut her off. “Don’t worry, she’s invited. The more the merrier.”
Mary, still looking at the table, shifted in her seat. “Um,” she began. “So. Does that mean… we all get--?”
Just then, the server came by with their food. Conversation came to an abrupt halt. Jane folded the brochures back into her purse. It took a moment to get the right plate in front of the right person, and for Lydia to order a second bloody mary.
Once they were settled, and had appropriately complimented the food in front of them, Mary cleared her throat. “Jane?”
“Yes?”
“Do we all get a guest?”
“Of course,” Jane replied. “I mean, if you'd like. Why? Is there someone you’d want to bring?”
Mary looked at her plate. “I’ve, ah, been seeing someone. Since last summer.”
“You have?” Lydia mumbled around a bit of food, her eyes wide. “You have?”
Mary shot Lydia a glare. “His name is Thom, and I met him through work.”
Lydia abandoned her food for her phone. “Thom. Thom what?”
“He’s not on social media,” Mary said, sticking her chin in the air. Lydia paused, made a face, and then started typing again. Mary watched her, worried. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing,” Lydia said in an innocent sing-song voice.
“Lydia,” Elizabeth said, exasperated. “Leave it alone. This is supposed to be about the wedding.”
“This is about the wedding,” Lydia said. “I’m conducting background checks on potential party guests.”
“Does Mama know?” Jane asked Mary.
“Not yet,” Mary said. “I’ll tell her before the wedding. I just didn’t want to… deal, you know?”
The sisters all nodded sympathetically. Their mother was one of the main reasons Elizabeth kept her own love life as private as possible. Not that she had much of one to speak of these days.
“Mama is just as bad when you’re single, though,” Kitty pointed out with a sigh.
“I know,” Mary muttered darkly. “Believe me.”
Lydia froze. Her mouth fell open as she realized something. “Oh, shit. Lizzie.”
“What?” Elizabeth asked.
“This means you'll be the only single sister at the wedding,” Lydia said.
Kitty winced. “Yikes. Mama is going to be all over you.”
“Oh, she doesn’t care as much about me,” Elizabeth replied. She wiggled her fingers. “Mage. Remember?”
“I don’t know,” Jane said doubtfully. “What about the time she tried to set you up on a blind date and told you it was an interview?”
“And there was that one guy with the dog,” Kitty said.
“And then there was the son of her book club friend,” Lydia agreed.
Elizabeth groaned. “Ugh. Right. I forgot about Book Club Guy.”
“He was the worst,” Kitty said.
“See?” Lydia said. “She will definitely find a way to invite at least one potential suitor to the wedding.”
“At least one?” Elizabeth asked dryly.
Jane giggled. “If there’s too many, maybe you could hand out roses, like on the Bachelorette.”
“Wait,” Lydia said, holding up both hands with glee. “I have an idea. What if we tell Mama that Lizzie has a boyfriend? We’ll start mentioning him now. And then the week of the wedding, boom! The new boyfriend gets the flu. He can’t make it. Then Mama has nothing to complain about, and we’re all saved from Book Club Guy ending up in the pictures.”
“That’s a terrible idea,” Elizabeth told her.
“Is it?” Lydia said.
“Yes,” Elizabeth said. “Lydia. It’s four days. I can handle Mama for four days.”
Lydia looked disappointed. “You never want to do anything fun,” she said. With a dramatic sigh, she began scrolling through the phone in her hand. “Huh. Thom with an ‘h’? What is he, Orlesian?”
Mary blinked, startled. “What the--! Give me that!” she snapped, grabbing her phone back from Lydia.
“Fine, but you should know I already friended him on LinkedIn,” Lydia said cheerfully.
“Andraste preserve me,” Mary muttered. “You’re as bad as Mama.”
As Elizabeth took another bite of her toast, she thought that being the only single Trevelyan certainly had its perks.
~
Two months later, Elizabeth and Lydia went to look at bridesmaids dresses together. Lydia had not been triumphant in her choice of colors; Jane had settled on sage green, which was about as far from neon as she could get. As the car pulled off Elizabeth’s street, Lydia snuck a look at her sister.
“Oh,” Lydia said, in a voice that a touch overly casual. “By the way. Mama might be a little mad at you.”
“And why exactly would Mama be mad at me?”
“She doesn’t like that you’re dating an elf.”
“What?”
“I know. She is such a racist.”
“That’s not what I….” Elizabeth shook her head, blinking. “Lydia. I’m not dating anyone.”
“Well, Mama thinks you are.”
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. “And why exactly does Mama think I’m dating an elf?”
“Okay so… you remember how I had that really cool plan where we would pretend you had a boyfriend for a while and then Mama wouldn’t bring a date for you to the wedding?”
“Yes,” Elizabeth said warily. “And you remember how I said no to that plan, right?”
“Well, yeah. But then I decided to do it anyway.” Lydia glanced over. “Don’t look at me like that! Mama was talking about Book Club Guy again. Desperate measures were absolutely necessary.”
“Lydia!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “I’m almost thirty years old. I can’t pretend to be dating someone. And how did he end up an elf?”
“Well, she wanted to see a picture, so I pulled up the first one I could find of you with some random guy. A random elf guy, as it turns out.”
“What picture?”
“I don’t know. It’s from Insta.”
“Impossible,” Elizabeth said darkly. “I blocked you after you sent that weird message to my old roommate.”
“Oh, how is Ellendra?” Lydia asked, momentarily distracted.
“Still fifteen years older than you. Plus, you have a girlfriend. Don’t change the subject. Where did you get the picture?”
“I went to Jane’s account,” Lydia explained, unconcerned. She pulled out her phone and began scrolling. “Duh.”
“Eyes on the road, please!” Elizabeth exclaimed.
They reached a red light, and Lydia found the picture. She passed Elizabeth her phone. Elizabeth blinked, surprised. It was from five years ago, when Jane’s work held a regular happy hour. For a while, Elizabeth would join them after her grad school classes were over.
There were a half dozen people in the shot, but Elizabeth did not need to ask which guy Lydia had chosen as her fake boyfriend. A somewhat tipsy younger Elizabeth had grasped the arm of the man next to her - almost certainly to steady herself, but in the frame, it looked like an intimate gesture.
And she recognized the man instantly.
“Maker’s breath” she said. “You’re kidding.”
“Who is it?”
“He’s an old coworker of Jane’s. Solas.”
“Solas,” Lydia repeated thoughtfully.
Elizabeth glared at her sister. “Don’t you dare give Mama his name.” She made a face. “Ugh. I got into a few arguments with him about magic back when he worked with her. I’m sure I came across like an idiot.”
“Yikes, he doesn't like mages?” Lydia asked, grimacing.
“No, he is one,” Elizabeth replied. She shot a look at her sister. “Don’t tell Mama that, either.” She sighed, rubbing her forehead. “She really brought up inviting Book Club Guy?”
“She did.”
Elizabeth handed her sister the phone. “Fine. Do what you need to. But at least give her a fake name or something, the last thing we need is her looking him up or something.”
“Can do,” Lydia said, giving Elizabeth a thumb’s up.
~
Less than eight hours later, Elizabeth received a text from her mother while she was grading papers.
9:15 PM
Looking forward to meeting Solas! Maybe you can invite him to your father's birthday BBQ
“Fucking Lydia,” Elizabeth muttered to herself. She put her phone away.
~
Word got out amongst the Trevelyan sisters that Lydia’s plan was now in action. Kitty was delighted, Jane was confused - mostly at how her old coworker had gotten involved - and Mary was disappointed. Elizabeth decided it wasn’t worth the drama to try and stop it. She did not speak to her mother often enough for her fake relationship to need any real depth anyway, and Lydia seemed happy enough to make up all the details herself.
And perhaps all would have been fine if Jane hadn’t begged Elizabeth and their mother to pick up the rings from the jewelers in the local mall a few months later. Jane was swamped at work, and worried that the shop would close before she could leave. Mrs. Trevelyan offered to drive.
“Isn’t that your boyfriend?” Mrs. Trevelyan said once they’d entered the mall.
“No,” Elizabeth said without looking. Over the past few months Solas had stopped existing as a real person in her mind. The idea that she could run into him never even occurred to her.
“I’m certain it is,” Mrs. Trevelyan said. “Or at least someone who looks remarkably like him. Solas!”
Elizabeth glanced in the direction her mother was waving and did a double take. Not thirty feet from them, standing at a tie kiosk, was the man from the now infamous Instagram photo. She’d assumed her mother was conflating one bald elf with another, but sadly, no. She recognized his profile instantly.
The next three minutes of Elizabeth’s life played out as if in a horrific yet unstoppable slow motion, not unlike a car crash or an explosion in a movie.
“Excuse me!” Mrs. Trevelyan said again as they reached the kiosk. Solas blinked at them, clearly surprised. “Solas, I presume?”
Solas straightened, surprise becoming curiosity. “Yes?”
“It’s so nice to finally meet you. I’m Lizzie’s mom,” Mrs. Trevelyan gushed. She chuckled. “Or Elizabeth’s mom. I know her friends don't call her Lizzie.”
“Ah,” Solas said as his eyes slid to her, with a flash of recognition . “Elizabeth. Hello.”
Elizabeth couldn’t speak. Solas looked at her quizzically, presumably waiting for her to intervene and explain why her mother was so eager to meet a man she herself had not seen in five years. Instead, her mouth hung open. She was speechless.
Was this really happening?
This was really happening.
Mrs. Trevelyan continued. “You know, I’ve been telling Lizzie to invite you to dinner for months now.”
“Have you?”
“Yes!” Mrs. Trevelyan exclaimed. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was keeping you from us.”
Solas blinked. He seemed to catch on to the fact that Mrs. Trevelyan believed Solas and Elizabeth to be far better acquainted than they were. “That seems,” he said slowly, “entirely possible.”
Mrs. Trevelyan laughed as if he’d made a joke. “Well!” she said conspiratorially. “She won’t be able to keep us apart at Jane’s wedding, will she?”
Solas tilted his head. “No,” he said, glancing at Elizabeth again. Tto Elizabeth’s growing horror, he looked amused. “I suppose not.”
“Are you picking up a tie for the occasion?” Mrs. Trevelyan teased, indicating the blue tie in his hand.
“Mama,” Elizabeth warned, finding her voice. “The rings.” She gave Solas a tight smile. “I’m sorry. We really should get going. We’re already running late.” She hesitated. “I’ll… see you later?”
“Certainly. Enjoy your afternoon,” he replied.
“Goodbye!” Mrs. Trevelyan said as Elizabeth dragged her away. “Don’t be a stranger--.” Elizabeth yanked her around the corner, and she made an offended noise. “Really, Lizzie. What has gotten into you?”
“Um.. we had a fight last night,” she lied.
“Oh. I see. That’s too bad. Though he didn’t seem very angry, did he? Was it your fault?"
Elizabeth exhaled roughly, her face burning. “Let’s just get the rings and get out of here,” she said.
~
Once she was home, she called Jane’s work line immediately. “I need you to get me Solas’s number.”
“Huh? Why?”
Elizabeth thought of trying to explain and simply groaned. “Lydia’s plan made things worse,” she settled on. “I promise I’ll tell you more when we are face-to-face and I’ve had more than two standard units of alcohol.”
Jane was silent on the other end. Finally, she asked, “Are you thinking of actually asking him to the wedding?”
“Oh,” Elizabeth said. The thought hadn’t even occurred to her. “No. But Mama and I ran into him at the mall.”
“What?”
“Yeah,” Elizabeth said. “It went about as well as you’d expect.” She paused. “Actually, it didn’t go as bad as it could have. He seemed to be… playing along? I don’t know. His number, please.” She gripped her forehead. “I feel like I should try to explain things.”
“I don’t have it. He, ah. He didn’t leave the company on the best of terms. I’m not even sure if… let me ask around and then text you, okay?”
Elizabeth agreed. After a few minutes, she turned on music and began cooking dinner, trying to focus. She tapped her elbow and pretended she wasn’t waiting.
As she poured pasta into some boiling water, she engaged in a little self-pity. The worst part was obviously that Solas now thought she was a crazy person, but she had to admit a close second was that she was going to have to tell her mother that they’d “broken up.” While she did not approve of Lydia’s methods, she had to admit her sister got results. Mrs. Trevelyan hadn’t made a nuisance of herself in months. And she was not looking forward to the re-emergence of Book Club Guy, or whatever fresh face her mother would manage to scrounge up by August.
Finally, Elizabeth’s phone buzzed.
8:18 PM
Couldn’t find the number.
Email address is s****@g***.com
One of the old intern’s had it
GL!!!
Elizabeth winced. Then she admitted to herself that email was probably better. Sitting down in front of her computer she took a deep breath and began to write.
~
Normally, the incident with Elizabeth would have stuck out in Solas’s mind as peculiar, but on that particular day, there were too many other distractions in his life. He sat across from his agent, Felassan, in their usual spot at the deli near his apartment, reading a third rejection letter from a publisher. To say he was less than thrilled with his circumstances was an understatement, and he did not mind mentioning as much to his friend.
“To be fair, you’re never really thrilled with your circumstances,” Felassan pointed out. “That’s what got you into this mess in the first place.”
Solas frowned. Felassan was not wrong. Two years ago, Solas had rather dramatically walked out on a good job in a powerful organization without notice, and his professional reputation had never quite recovered. Now, he was trying to publish a series of articles about a new theory of elven magic. It was beginning to feel like he’d been blacklisted.
“You need,” Felassan said seriously, “to focus on winning back some of your old friends. Significant people. Humans. Preferably ones with ties to the Free Marches. That’s the only way you’re going to get this thing out there.”
“They’re not my audience,” Solas argued.
“They could be,” Felassan said.
Solas raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked suspiciously.
Felassan sighed. “Must you treat everything as a threat?” he asked. “I meant that you should not write off old connections. It’s a bad habit of yours. Ties to the Chantry notwithstanding, there was nothing wrong with the Inquisition.” He gave Solas a look. “The war was a long time ago, my friend. Things have changed, for the better.”
“I’m not certain that’s true,” Solas replied.
“Truth is relative.” Felassan finished his coffee with a vague smile, dropping some money onto the table. “I have to run, but this one’s on me.”
“Thank you."
“Yes, well. Someone needs to make sure you eat.”
Solas sat for another moment or two before pulling out his phone. He had a new message. When he saw the name, he felt a tinge of amusement. He had a feeling he was being thanked, or apologized to. Or a mixture of both.
Before seeing her at the mall with her mother, Solas had not thought of Elizabeth in quite some time. He’d worked closely with Jane for several years, before his abrupt resignation; Elizabeth sometimes joined them, at happy hours or lunches or dinners. He’d always thought well of her - she had a tendency to speak her mind, and was not afraid to aggravate others. He admired that in a person.
As he read through her email, he realized the situation was even more amusing than he’d expected. Chuckling, he began to write a response. Then he stopped himself.
He sat back, thinking. Felassan’s advice had not been far off - support from his old colleagues would be useful. His old colleagues like Jane, and the people with whom she still worked. And now, the opportunity to see some of them in a casual, social setting and even possibly apologize had all but fallen into his lap.
He could use this.
Making up his mind, he deleted his original response and began again.
~
Elizabeth heard her email ping from the other room. She tried not to wince as she stirred her tea. She knew she’d done the right thing by telling Solas the truth, but now she just wanted the whole thing to be over. It was embarrassing enough to have to drag a grown man into one of Lydia and Mrs. Trevelyan’s messes. She considered not reading his response at all.
In the end, she read it with one eye closed, as if she could block out whatever she didn’t want to see.
But as it continued, her eyes opened, and her eyebrows rose in shock.
“What?” she whispered to herself.
She read the email twice more. Chewing a nail, she thought of Book Club Guy. She thought of how much she’d been looking forward to not having to deal with her mother harassing her at the wedding. And as Solas pointed out, he would already know some of the people there - Jane’s coworkers, some of the people who’d been in the Inquisition with her - people he seemed eager to see. Between that and her duties as a member of the wedding party, they would not even have to spend much time together.
If the offer was genuine, what was the harm?
She pulled out her phone. Quick question, she texted Jane. Does the offer of a plus one still stand?