Page 56 of Summer on Sunshine Bay

“Is it really that bad?”

“You have no idea,” he said. “But let’s not talk about that. Mom mentioned she was checking out floral arrangements for the tables with your mom and aunt tomorrow, and she wanted my opinion. Do you have any preferences? Tall, short?”

“Could we maybe not talk about the wedding? I trust your mother’s taste completely. My aunt’s too. I’m sure, between the two of them, they can get my mom to go along with whatever they choose. Because her taste I totally don’t trust.”

It wasn’t long before they ran out of things to talk about, which surprised her a little. They’d never had that problem in London. Then again, a lot of their conversations had revolved around work. Which she supposed was how they’d ended up talking about both their jobs.

“I got a chance to check out your Instagram Live last night before I turned in, by the way. It was fantastic.”

“It turned out pretty great, didn’t it? The feedback has been phenomenal. They’re being inundated with marriage proposals.”

David laughed. “You’re not letting them respond, are you?”

“No. They don’t actually go on and read the comments. But I’m sure they’ll hear about them soon enough.” She’d caught her father scrolling through them earlier this morning with a frown on his face.

“Your grandmother and aunt did great, but your mom’s a natural. And her voice, wow. I didn’t know she could sing like that.”

“If you think that was great, you should hear her when she’s not hamming it up.”

“Do you think she’d sing at our—” He made a face. “I forgot, no more wedding talk.”

“It’s fine, and I’m sure she would, just as long as it was only one or two songs. I want her to enjoy our wedding too. But you have to admit this has been nice.”

“It has. We need to do this more often. Just you and me.” His phone dinged, and he pulled it from his pocket, scanning the text. “Duty calls. Any chance you want to have dinner with me tonight?”

They’d just gotten back on track, and the last thing she wanted was to have dinner with his father and brother.

“In my room, just the two of us,” he clarified, obviously sensing her hesitation.

“I’d love to.”

He hugged her and kissed her forehead. “Oh, I almost forgot. Your cousin sent me questions for the he-said, she-said quiz. Do you want to go over our answers?”

“No.” She laughed and swatted his chest. “It’s just a silly shower game.”

“I know, but what if we blow it? Your family will take it as proof that you shouldn’t marry me.”

She sighed. “David—”

He held up his hands. “I know. No more wedding talk. Can I at least tell you to have fun at the shower?”

“Yes. Thank you,” she said, even though she highly doubted she’d have fun.

***

Lila hated to be right. She swore her cousins’ prerequisite for an invitation to her bridal shower had been either a nightmare breakup or a nightmare divorce. At least the food was as fantastic as she’d known it would be. She stood at the buffet table, filling her plate with tomato pesto tarts, passing over the blue cheese, pear, and honey crostini, and reaching for the strawberry balsamic bruschetta, melon prosciutto skewers, and chicken avocado roll-ups as she half listened to Megan Blake’s rant about her cheating ex.

“At least you have your family to support you when your marriage goes to hell,” Megan said.

Lila caught herself midnod as she clued in to what Megan had just said to her. “Sorry?”

Megan continued as if she hadn’t heard her. “With your family’s history, I thought you’d be smarter than the rest of us, Lila.” Megan shrugged and took a sip of her chardonnay slushie. “Great shower, though. Thanks for inviting me. It’s always fun to catch up with old friends and your family. They saved me when jerkface cheated on me, you know. Your mom, Gia, and Carmen are the best. I don’t know where I’d be without them.”

“I’m glad they were there for you, Megan. Willow tells me you’ve done really well for yourself.” Megan was a successful Realtor on the cape and one of her cousin’s best friends.

“Top seller for the second year in a row,” she said, raising her glass. “Did Willow tell you we’re going into business together?”

“She’s becoming a Realtor too?” she asked, catching a glimpse of her cousin behind the bar.

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