Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 136559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 683(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 683(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
“So, are you ready for the most you wedding party ever tonight?” I ask Maeve as the music shifts to something catchy from another era. I concentrate hard on hearing over the music, especially with the clatter of dishes. But it helps, too, that my friends know I prefer eye contact when we’re all talking.
Her grin spreads wider than a city block. “I can’t wait,” she says.
“The venue couldn’t be more Maeve unless it were a funhouse,” Josie adds, setting her library book down, her huge diamond engagement ring glinting in the light.
Maeve’s hazel eyes widen. “Why didn’t I think of a funhouse?”
“Maybe save that for wedding number three,” Fable says to her, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear.
“Hey, don’t tempt me,” Maeve says, smoothing a hand over her T-shirt that reads I Speak Dog. “I just might renew my vows every year.”
“Well, I agree,” Everly chimes in. “A coffee shop with room to dance is very you. And now that they carry your art? Iconic.”
Maeve gives a playful shrug. “That’s me.” She’s lighthearted about it, but the shop carrying her paintings is a big deal. Maeve’s made serious inroads as an artist in the last several months, and that includes landing placement on coffee shop walls. They’re the new art galleries.
“And the party favors?” I ask, turning to Fable, focusing fully despite the loud music. I’m in vigilant mode. “Are they as amazing as we hoped?”
Fable and I planned the favors, but she picked them up.
“Even better,” she says, pausing as the server arrives. We order quickly, knowing our go-to dishes. Then Fable returns to the topic of the favors, meeting Maeve’s gaze. “You wanted classy chocolates, and we delivered.” She dips a hand into her bag, fishing around before pulling out a robin’s egg blue box and setting it on the table. She slides it to Maeve with a perfectly straight face. I keep my expression even too. “Here’s a sampler. Open it.”
“We wanted you to try them out before tonight. Just in case,” I add, since that’s what Fable and I planned when we plotted out these favors.
Maeve laughs. “I never say no to opening a present before Christmas—or dessert before a meal.” She opens the box, her expression blank for a beat. Then her eyes pop, and a wicked smile forms on her lips. She raises her head. “You didn’t?”
“Oh, we did.” I smile too. We planned the favor together at the shop the other day, and seeing her reaction makes it worth it. “Do you like it?”
“I’m sure I’ll love it.” Maeve opens the box to reveal a set of chocolates from Elodie’s Chocolates, each one cheekily phallic. “Aww. You know me so well.”
“We do,” I say, and oddly, I feel that way despite only having met her a relatively short time ago. It’s a good feeling. The best feeling. I feel like they’ll be around for a long time, and I like that reassurance.
Maeve pops a little chocolate dick into her mouth, chews, and sighs like a food show host.
“So…are we handing these out tonight?” Josie asks innocently.
We all burst out laughing. “As much as I love dicks, the answer is no,” Maeve says. “There will be adults there.”
“Surely you don’t mean the hockey team by adults?” Everly teases.
“You don’t want the whole team getting tiny dicks as a gift?” Josie deadpans.
“The Sea Dogs can eat dicks all night long, but it’s more like my aunt and her friends that I probably shouldn’t give mini cocks to,” Maeve clarifies, since her aunt’s hosting the party. “Let’s keep these just for us,” she says, giving Fable a pointed look. “These are a joke, right?”
“Do they taste like a joke?” Fable counters, then relents. “Of course. They’re just for us.”
Everly sobers, leaning in, her blonde ponytail swishing closer to me. “Your dad will be there too?”
“Yep,” I reply, shrugging. “Everyone’s going.”
She gives me a knowing look. “So…that means Miles too? How’s that going to be for you?”
Inwardly, I feel a twist of nerves but I keep my expression neutral. They know the basics—I’ve told them about the one perfect date we shared. A date that couldn’t be repeated. But I haven’t told them how hard it’s been to keep my distance. What’s the point? I need to keep moving forward.
In life, in work…in everything.
I shrug, forcing a smile. “It’ll be fine. Good, even. Let’s just say it’ll be interesting.”
The food arrives, and as I eat my veggie burger, my mind wanders once more to tonight. I’ve seen Miles a handful of times in the last year—in the stairwell, in his car after the community garden event, in the hallway post-auction.
Tonight will be different in one big way. There won’t be a chance to be alone.
MainLine is buzzing, the spacious coffee shop packed with friends, family, and…the team. Lights glint off glasses and silverware, and the space feels sparkly with celebration. The music is softer here, with an old standards vibe, and I’m grateful. But I’m still on edge, knowing he’s somewhere in the crowd.