Page 49 of Finding Us

“You’re a guy. You’re not interested in that stuff.” I reach across the table for the ketchup. This restaurant has the best French fries in town. I got a burger, too, because Garret thinks French fries alone aren’t a lunch, even though that was pretty much my lunch every day last year.

“I’m not interested inotherpeople’s weddings but I’m interested in ours. So tell me about it.”

I purposely left Garret out of most of the wedding plans because I always see talk shows where guys complain about having to help plan the wedding and I didn’t want that to be Garret. EvenIwasn’t that interested in planning it. That’s why Harper took over.

“You already know everything about the wedding,” I tell him. “Sean’s got the menu planned and he made some cakes last week for me to try. They were awesome.”

“Why didn’t I get to taste the cakes?”

“Because I didn’t want to bother you with this stuff. Everyone knows guys hate wedding planning.”

“I may not want to spend hours looking at flowers or dresses, but you could’ve involved me in the cake plans.”

“You don’t even like cake,” I say, stuffing a fry in my mouth.

“I like chocolate cake.”

“Which is why Sean’s making a chocolate cake for the wedding. And a yellow cake with chocolate frosting because that’smyfavorite.”

“We’re having two cakes?”

The waitress stops by and refills our water glasses. I wait for her to leave before continuing.

“Actually he’s making three smaller cakes instead of one big one. I couldn’t decide which flavor and he really likes making cakes so he’s making three.”

“What’s the other one?”

“A carrot cake because Frank loves carrot cake and so does your dad.”

“How do you know that about my dad?”

“I noticed when I was at your house that he never eats dessert unless it’s carrot cake or ice cream.”

“You’re very observant.” He smiles. “That was sweet of you to consider him.” He slides his plate to the edge of the table for the waitress to pick up. “What kind of flowers are we having? I’m guessing roses, but what color?”

Garret guessed roses because he knows they’re my favorite flower. I decided this last spring after hanging out with Grace in the Hamptons. She has a huge rose garden there and she taught me all about them. I used to think I was more of a wildflower type of girl, and Idolike wildflowers, but roses are my favorite.

I still haven’t answered so he says, “Jade. What color are the flowers?”

“Um, pink,” I say quietly. “Pink roses.”

Garret sits back, looking smug. “Pink, huh?”

“Yes, and don’t make fun of me. It’s a pale pink, not a bright pink. And just think how excited Lilly will be tossing pink rose petals around. You know she loves pink.”

“Uh-huh.” The smug smile remains. “So you chose pink because of Lilly?”

“Well, no. I’ve decided it’s not that bad of a color, okay? Let’s just leave it at that.”

“So does that mean Harper’s dress is pink?”

“Yes. And the reception colors are pink and gray,” I mumble as I push my empty plate aside.

“That’s very interesting,” Garret says, trying not to laugh. “Because for the entire time I’ve known you, you’ve told me how much you hate the color pink. In fact, I think you even banned me from buying you anything pink.”

“It’s all Harper’s fault. She wears that stupid color all the time and then her room at Moorhurst was all pink and Lilly’s always covered in pink. I guess it just grew on me.”

He reaches across the table and holds my hand. “I’m sure pink will look very nice. And thanks for adding the gray at the reception to man things up a little.”

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