“Where am I supposed to sit?”
Eleven people looked up at me.
Eleven chairs.
Every one occupied.
Mom blinked as though the question had never occurred to her.
“Well, Connor, we didn’t really plan for plus-ones.”
“I didn’t bring one.”
Her eyes moved toward my younger sister, Mia.
Or more specifically, toward the man sitting beside her with one arm casually stretched across the back of her chair.
Her new boyfriend.
The stranger sitting in what should have been my seat.
Mom gave me an awkward smile.
“Right. Well… just stand for now. Maybe the waiter can bring another chair later.”
A few people laughed.
Mia covered her mouth.
One of my uncles muttered,
“Poor guy.”
Even Dad smirked into his drink.
At my parents’ 30th anniversary dinner, I arrived in a suit and tie expecting to celebrate with my family. Instead, I discovered that my seat had been given to my sister’s new boyfriend.
