Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
When I went home to change into the navy blue dress I’m wearing now, I put the roses in a tall water glass and stood back to admire them since it was the first time I had fresh flowers in my apartment.
“I have a surprise for you, Evie.” Lottie’s entire face lights up as the male server fills our water glasses.
I glance up at him. “Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure,” he says, tossing me a grin.
“Anyways,” Lottie draws that one word out. “Don’t you want to know what the surprise is?”
Nodding, I wait until the server is far enough away that I know he can’t hear us. “I think I may cry at the prospect of another surprise. I didn’t want to do that in front of him.”
“I do have a gift for being the best maid of honor ever,” she confesses. “I’ll give you that at the rehearsal dinner.”
That reminds me that I need to figure out a wedding gift for her and Randall. That’s proving to be a challenge since I hardly know her and I’ve never met her fiancé.
“Thank you,” I say pre-emptively.
“The surprise I wanted to tell you about now is that we’ll stay at the Beaumont Hotel the night before the wedding. I booked us a suite.”
This chapter of my life keeps getting better and better. I’ve wandered into the lobby of that hotel more than once because it’s air-conditioned, and they have a bowl of exquisite little foil wrapped peppermints just waiting for all the greedy hands that pass through there daily.
I’ve been guilty of dropping a few of the candies into my purse on a hot summer day while I sought refuge from the brutal sun beating down on the city.
“Really?” All of the internal surprise I feel seeps into that one word response.
“Randall is treating us both to a full day at the spa, too.” She giggles. “Not the one at the hotel, but at the Azelius Spa on Madison.”
I may have to hug Randall when I meet him at the rehearsal dinner.
“That’s very generous of both of you.” My chest constricts as I say the words. “I don’t know how to thank you for all of this.”
Her phone buzzes on the table, so she scoops it in her hand and gazes down at the screen. A broad smile takes over her face. “I have yet another surprise for you, and this may be the best one yet.”
Unless she has somehow arranged for my boss to work remotely until my contract expires, I can’t think of anything that tops all the surprises she’s already tossed at me.
Grinning, I ask the expected question. “What’s the surprise?”
She flashes the screen of her phone in my direction for a split second, but all I can make out is a text message thread. She has it turned back toward her so quickly that I don’t get the chance to read one word of it.
“Randall and his best man are joining us for dinner!”
I wasn’t expecting that, but seeing how happy it’s making her, I join in on her joy because it’s contagious. “I get to meet Randall?”
Glancing beyond my shoulder, she smiles. “You’re going to adore him, Evie.”
Our relationship has crept past the acquaintance stage and is bordering on blossoming friendship, so I’m beginning to trust her judgment more and more each day. If she’s crazy in love with him, I suspect I’ll like him, too.
“I’ve never met his best man,” she admits. “They go way back to Randall’s days in Queens. That’s where they both grew up.”
I haven’t had the time to explore all of the boroughs that comprise New York City, but Queens is on my list. Eventually, I’ll get there.
“He lost his parents in a car accident when he was a kid,” she goes on. “It’s a true tragedy.”
My heart aches at that. “Randall lost his parents?”
“No.” She shakes her head.
“The best man did?” I ask because he’s the only other choice.
“Right,” she answers succinctly. “His grandparents raised him and his sister. From what Randall has told me, they’re both gone now, too, so it’s just him and his sister. I feel for him. I know how devastated I was when my granddad died.”
I suddenly feel incredibly lucky that all my grandparents are still walking this earth.
“Anyways.” She pauses to take a deep breath. “Randall told me his bestie is an incredible guy. He’s kind and thoughtful. He’s helped Randall navigate some stressful business stuff. I wonder if he’s single. You are, right?”
I nod. “I’m as single as single can be.”
She lets out a light giggle. “Good. Maybe something will spark between the two of you tonight. He could be your destiny, Evie.”
Her gaze wanders over my shoulder to the entrance of the restaurant. “They’re here!”
She’s on her feet immediately. Giddiness is driving her body to bounce up and down. I’m not nearly as excited to meet Randall and his best man, so I take my time to stand.