Lexie raised an eyebrow and April just smiled as they surveyed the room.
"So –" Lexie said. "Your sisters seem okay. Which one is which, again?"
April sighed. "You only think they're okay because you haven't really spent any time with them yet. Anyway," she continued, pointing each one out as she described them, "That's Libby, the oldest. A year older than me. Married to Eric for five years, they have a son and a daughter. He's career military, she's a stay-at-home mom. Then there's me, then Kimmie is four years younger than me. Married to Brett for seven years, two daughters. Also a stay-at-home mom. And then Alice is the baby, almost two years younger than Kimmie. She's the artistic one – went to the UNC School of the Arts in North Carolina and now she teaches dance there. She's married to Rob – she met him at school." She grinned at her friend. "And that's the short version."
Lexie shook her head. "I'm going to remember none of that."
April laughed as one of her sisters approached the bar and got another Bud Light before turning to the other two women.
April frowned. "How many beers have you had, Kimmie?"
Kimmie Kepner Winters rolled her eyes in response to her sister. "Lay off, April. Who are you, mom?"
"No," April shot back, "But I've seen her eyeing you and I know she's counting beer bottles."
"Whatever," Kimmie shrugged. "Listen, who is the totally hot guy talking to Jackson and that other guy? Like, he looks kinda old, but he's still hot?"
April and Lexie turned to look in the direction Kimmie indicated and then Lexie looked back at Kimmie with a glare.
"That's my husband," she said flatly.
"And, incidentally," April added, "where is your husband?"
Kimmie shrugged again. "He's an ass."
"Yes," April agreed patiently, "I know that. But where is he?"
Kimmie sighed. "He took the girls back to the hotel."
"But why?" April asked, sounding confused. "That's why we arranged for the babysitter tonight, so you guys could all enjoy the rehearsal party without your kids."
Kimmie shrugged again. "I know that. But Brett's an ass."
"Ooh," Alice Kepner Carson chimed in happily as she joined the group. "Are we talking about how much we hate Brett?"
"I don't hate him," Kimmie protested half-heartedly. "I just –"
Alice waved a dismissive hand. "Okay, well the rest of us hate him," she said matter-of-factly.
April shook her head. "Okay, I'm not his biggest fan, but is he really that bad?"
"You don't live at home April – you don't know," Alice said, a touch dramatically, as was her habit.
April rolled her eyes. "You don't live in Ohio anymore either," she pointed out.
"We—ll, no," Alice admitted. "But, North Carolina is closer than Seattle, so I go home way more often than you do."
"Look," April said, sounding defensive. "You know I can't help that I don't get home very much." She glanced at Lexie, her face pleading for back-up and Lexie could tell that this was an old discussion. "Our jobs are really demanding – we practically live at the hospital."
"She's right – " Lexie started to say before Kimmie cut her off.
"Yeah, yeah – doctors – surgery – life-saving – etc. We know."
"Okay, then," Lexie muttered under her breath as the last sister joined the conversation.
"I still can't figure out how you convinced mom to let you have this party in a bar," Libby Kepner Mason said, shaking her head in disbelief. "But I guess when you live 2500 miles away, you can get away with a lot."
"I –" April started to say, but Kimmie cut her off.
"My thoughts exactly. Okay, so anyway – if the hot guy talking to Jackson is her " she gestured towards Lexie "husband, then what about the other hot guy they're talking to?"
April and Lexie shared alarmed looks before both shaking their heads.
"That's Alex –" April said, "but trust me –"
"You do not want to go there," Lexie said.
"No, you don't," April agreed. "Also – you. Are. Married."
"That doesn't mean I can't look," Kimmie said, just a hint of a whine in her voice.
"Ah, jeez," April muttered before letting her voice take on a pleading tone. "Please, Kimmie. I've waited a really long time for this, okay? Please don't cause any scenes at my wedding."
"God, April, lighten up!" Kimmie complained and Libby shook her head.
"She does have a point, Kim. No scenes, okay?"
"Okay, fine," Kimmie said exasperatedly. "Can we stop talking about me now and discuss far more important topics?"
"Such as?" Alice asked.
Kimmie grinned, a devilish look in her eyes and April groaned inwardly. Whatever subject Kimmie was going to broach, it was not going to be enjoyable.
"How," Kimmie asked, "Out of all the 'Kepner girls'" – it was clear from the tone of her voice and the eye rolls from the other three that they were all tired of being lumped together that way – "how did you end up with the hottest man of any of us? How?"
April stared at her sister for a minute and finally shook her head. "I can't tell if you're genuinely curious or if you're just being a bitch."
Kimmie considered this for a moment. "Both, probably," she finally said.
"Oh, for God's sake," April sighed as she looked across the room and her eyes met Jackson's. 'Help me!' she pleaded mentally, hoping he would get the message and thankfully he seemed to, arriving at her side a few moments later.
"Ladies," he said, nodding at the other women. "Sorry, I have to steal her – my parents are getting ready to leave," he added before grabbing April's elbow and pulling her away from the group.
"Thank you!" April said as soon as they were out of earshot. "I love my sisters – but God, I hate them too."
"I could kinda see that," Jackson replied. "But I was coming to get you anyway – mom and dad really are getting ready to leave so Grandpa can get back to the hotel."
April nodded as she followed him towards the front door.
"Don't forget," Jackson said as they headed outside. "Grandpa's gonna push Mass Gen every chance he gets…"
April smiled. "I know. He means well, you know."
"Yeah, I know," Jackson sighed.
Outside the bar, they joined Jackson's mother and grandfather, who were waiting for Jackson's dad to bring the rental car around.
Catherine Avery smiled at the couple. "It's been a lovely evening and tomorrow's going to be wonderful. I can't wait to see your dress, April."
"Thank you," April replied, a little self-consciously. "I hope I do it justice."
"You'll be beautiful," Jackson said, squeezing her hand and she smiled at him.
"Your father trained you well," Catherine told her son fondly. "You know all the right things to say, although of course, it's easy when they're true." She turned toward the approaching car. "And here he is now – good night, kids. We'll see you tomorrow."
"Good night, mom," Jackson replied, leaning forward to kiss his mother's cheek and then opening the car door for her and calling across the front seat, "G'night dad!"
His father waved as Catherine got into the car and Harper looked at April.
"He's chosen well in love, my dear – now you just need to help him make the right choice for his career. There's a place for you at Mass Gen as well – consider it a wedding gift. Boston's a wonderful city."
April smiled, glancing at her fiancé just in time to see him roll his eyes and she bit back a laugh. "It's a very generous offer, sir – but we're happy in Seattle," she replied politely, taking Jackson's arm as he straightened back up to stand beside her.
"Good night, Grandpa," Jackson said firmly.
His grandfather scowled good-naturedly, but got in the car and they watched it drive away.
Jackson shook his head. "He never gives up."
"Would you want him to?" April asked. At Jackson's confused look, she elaborated, "Wouldn't it feel – weird – if he wasn't constantly harassing you about that?"
Jackson chuckled. "You have a point. That is why I'm marrying you – you help me keep perspective."
April pouted playfully. "Is that the only reason?"
Jackson grinned. "Well – that and the fact that it's too late to back out now."
"Thanks a lot," April replied as he pulled her close to him and kissed her.
"Is it too late –" April started to say and Jackson interrupted her.
"Yes. It is definitely too late to back out," he said firmly.
April laughed. "I don't want to back out, dumbass. I want to know if it's too late to elope?"
Jackson thought about it for a moment. "Probably. By the time we could drive to Vegas, it'll be time for the ceremony to start, so we might as well just stick with what we've got scheduled."
April nodded. "Sounds like a plan to me," she grinned, stretching up to kiss him again.