4
I catch sight of my reflection in the fancy wall of mirrors in the ladies’ room. A groan of disbelief falls out of me and I press my palms to my fiery cheeks. No wonder I received a few startled glances from the waitstaff as I hurriedly made my way down the hallway to the restroom.
I look like I’ve been thoroughly and completely kissed. My lips are red and swollen, my hair tousled. My skin is lit up like the fire of a thousand suns is burning inside me. And my eyes? They’re glowing with excitement.
Excitement?
That can’t be right. I frown at my reflection. My eyes should be filled with...I don’t know...repulsion. They don’t look repulsed though. They look...satisfied.
I’m alone in the restroom, so I take the opportunity to address the dazed woman in the mirror. “Stop it. It’s just a kiss. It’s not a big deal.”
What a little liar you are, my eyes say. I drop my gaze. There’s no way that kiss wasn’t a big deal. Not when every molecule in my body is feeling the aftereffects of it.
All I can think is, I’ve been waiting my whole life to be kissed like that.
What made it so different? The darkness of the room and the fact we couldn’t see each other? Maybe it was the man himself. There’s no denying Joel is an incredible kisser. He knew exactly what he was doing.
But maybe it was also the fact that he didn’t treat me like I was breakable. The kiss was rough and intense, and I loved every second of it.
At least until I heard Joel’s voice.
I splash cold water on my neck and make my way to the banquet room.
Thankfully, the magical setting distracts me from my thoughts.
Warm fairy lights are strung across the ceiling like a canopy of stars.
The round tables are draped in soft ivory linens and each table holds a low floral centerpiece of roses and peonies.
Gideon has created a literal fairytale backdrop for Kate.
This is the wedding of my dreams. Happiness for the two of them surges through me.
As I weave through the tables, my heart is pounding so hard I hear it throbbing in my ears. My panicked conscience is whispering that everyone is staring at me, that they all know what I got up to in that storeroom.
I spot my name card in a pressed flower holder and collapse into the seat between Tess and Sofia.
“You okay?” Tess asks, her head tilted with concern.
“I’m okay,” I say, even though I’m not. Not at all.
“I was about to send out a search party.”
“Everything’s fine,” I answer, avoiding her gaze. “I think I had a little too much champagne.”
She gives me a sympathetic pat on the arm. “You’ll feel better once you’ve eaten something. Kate’s opted for a buffet dinner, so there are plenty of options.”
“Of course, because it’s Gideon,” Aaron adds dryly, “the buffet options are all Michelin-rated.”
“Sounds delicious,” I manage.
Sofia eyes me suspiciously. “You look different.”
“I do?”
“Yeah, I can’t pinpoint it.”
My shoulders tense. I will them to relax. “I guess the champagne is still hitting me.”
Aaron regards me thoughtfully. I try not to squirm under his perceptive gaze.
Raising his glass, he says softly, “To Kate and Gideon, who found their forever in each other.”
His toast captures the attention of Tess and Sofia.
Predictably, Tess is immediately tearful.
After we clink glasses, she and Sofia launch into an emotional conversation about how perfect Kate and Gideon are for one another.
This is the second time tonight Aaron has come to my rescue. Honestly, the man deserves a medal.
I glance over at the head table where Gideon and Kate are seated, along with Lisset, Kate’s parents, and her grandmother.
Tess, as Kate’s sister and bridesmaid, should be there too, but Kate knew Tess would feel more at home at our table.
A lump forms in my throat when I take in the beautiful floral arch framing the bridal couple, like it’s a gateway to the rest of their lives.
My gaze drifts to the table next to ours and my eyes land on Joel talking to one of Kate’s aunts on his left.
Why is he sitting there? Why isn’t he relegated to a table at the back of the room?
And he’s taken off his jacket. My breath catches at the way his powder blue shirt outlines his muscular chest and broad shoulders.
It’s positively indecent. Kate’s aunt must be nearing sixty.
All that masculine appeal on display can’t be good for her heart.
Joel turns his head and his eyes meet mine. My entire nervous system short-circuits, but I don’t look away. Instead, I give myself four seconds to hold his stare, to let him know I’m not in any way bothered by his presence. Or by what happened between us.
“Are you cold, Kenzie?”
I jump a little in my seat and redirect my attention to Tess. “Uh, no, I’m fine.”
She’s staring at my arms. “You’re covered in goosebumps.”
“Oh.” I rub my arms vigorously, wishing my back was to Joel’s table. “Maybe I am a little cold.”
“If you want, I could—” Abruptly, she sucks in a sharp breath, her face taking on a faraway look. She hauls out her ever-present notebook and starts writing furiously.
Aaron’s lips twitch as he gazes fondly at his wife scribbling away. We all know not to interrupt Tess when she’s overcome by one of her creative brainwaves.
Sofia, Tess, and I run a small greeting card company. Tess spins the words, I bring them to life with brush strokes and pencil sketches, and Sofia works her marketing magic getting them into the right hands.
When Tess finally finishes, she blinks as she emerges from the world inside her head and leans back with a satisfied sigh.
Sofia’s craning her neck in an attempt to decipher whatever is scrawled on the page. “Come on, share with us. It’s killing me to wait.”
“Okay, so think a romantic wedding card,” Tess explains. “Something along the lines of let’s grow old together and argue about playlist choices .”
“That’s really good,” Sofia says slowly. “Any ideas for the inside of the card?”
Tess twirls her pen between her fingers. “If we stick with a music theme, how about I’ll always love you, even when you skip my favorite song ?”
“I like it!” Sofia’s face is alight with excitement. She turns to me. “Design ideas, Kenz?”
I feel a matching excitement shoot through my veins.
Oh, I have so many ideas, but one in particular stands out.
“Maybe two birds on a telephone wire, both wearing oversized headphones,” I say, gesturing with my hands, as though I’m sketching the idea mid-air.
“Robins are perfect, with their red chests and bright eyes. They can share a heart-shaped note between them.”
Tess straightens. “We can place the text in the note, and move—”
Aaron clears his throat. “No work talk, remember.”
“But—”
He taps a finger on the table.
Tess lets out a resigned laugh. “He’s right.”
Sofia looks as though she’s about to argue with him, but Aaron doesn’t back down, not even in the face of her intensity.
She knows the rule. We all do. It’s one we made together: no work talk at social gatherings.
Because when your coworkers are also your best friends, it’s too easy to let deadlines blur over into downtime.
We all agreed we need a mental break from work.
“Fine,” Sofia relents on a sigh. “We’ll flesh it out Monday in the studio.”
I hide my smile. Somehow, Aaron always knows exactly how to manage the three of us.
We were nicknamed Team Trouble at our old workplace, which had more to do with the antics of Tess and Sofia than me. I was the quiet tagalong. I guess I still am.
I’ll probably start sketching out the card tomorrow after Sunday lunch at my parents’ house. I’m too excited to wait for Monday.
After it’s announced we can help ourselves to appetizers, I stand and head to the starters station, where a dazzling array of artisan breads and gourmet salads are laid out, as well as a curated display of charcuterie.
I love the idea of a buffet dinner, instead of a stiff three-course meal.
It feels warm and unpretentious, in keeping with Kate’s personality.
After loading my plate with various salads, I’m heading back to my table when I hear a low voice in my ear. “I’m sorry, Kenzie. I know I was supposed to meet you.”
Bobby.
I startle. I’m surprised to discover I’ve completely forgotten about him. “What happened?”
He clears his throat. “Once I had time to think about it, I didn’t think it was a good idea to meet up.”
My shoulders dip. Of course he backed down. Bobby hasn’t changed.
I tune him out as he fumbles through a list of excuses. “It’s okay,” I finally tell him, patting his arm with my free hand. “Don’t worry about it.”
I look over Bobby’s shoulder and see Joel watching us. He raises one eyebrow in an unspoken question: Him? Seriously?
I pointedly look away. It feels too dangerous to answer that silent question. Any answer would only invite a comparison between the two men, and I don’t want to think of all the ways Bobby falls short.
While we’re eating our appetizers, Gideon and Kate visit our table. Kate’s cheeks are flushed, her eyes radiant. Gideon can’t take his eyes off her and Kate keeps stealing glances at him. I’m not surprised. With his dark-blond hair and neatly trimmed beard, he turns heads.
They manage to drag their gazes away from one another long enough for Kate to ask, “Are you guys enjoying yourselves?”
“Absolutely,” Tess reassures her. “Everything’s perfect.”
“Except for this supposedly edible flower garden salad,” Aaron grumbles, looking down at the colorful arrangement on his plate.
Tess elbows him in the ribs. He grimaces, enduring it the way only a devoted, long-suffering husband would. His ribs and Tess’s elbow are long-time acquaintances.
Gideon tries to hide his smile. “Why did you choose it then?”
“Tess offered to dish me up,” Aaron explains. “I should have known better.”