Page 14 of The Wedding Crush

And it’s all true.

The problem?

As beautiful as he is, socially, emotionally—shamefully—he’s just too dang serious.

Too bitter.

Which, there’s a time and a place for everything. But not at your mother’s sixty-fifth birthday. Certainly, not at your brother’s—Napa’s most eligible bachelors—impromptu engagement to my best friend who loves him purely and deeply.

Stefano Fortemani is like a pill warning label, telling you everything that could go wrong short of killing you, instead of celebrating the miracle that insurance covered the full deductible.

What’s the rush?

The way I wanted to remind him that love can’t be measured in time.

Whoever said there was a magic formula?

Yeah, sure, x months + x hours = true love.

No. It doesn’t matter how long it takes if the feeling is real and irrefutable.

See, this is why I need Turn-Up Tuesday in the fiercest way. If only to deep-dive into Morgan’s wedding dreams to drown out any lingering annoyance I’ve been harboring toward Stefano. The engagement was a success, and now, there’s no reason for us to interact until the wedding.

Yes, that’s it.

Relief floods through me.

Nichelle clears her throat and eyes me curiously like she senses she lost me somewhere. Then, wrongly pinpointing the source of my confusion, she clarifies, “TBR. To be read…”

“Ah, okay.” I nod, shoving aside all thoughts of Mr. Sex and Dating.

“The point is,” she continues, undeterred, “not only have they heard about your tea party and your friend’s engagement, half of my friends and family—including guests who’ve yet to even RSVP—they’ve been texting and calling. Every one of them beside themselves with excitement that you’re the event planner.”

“I can’t tell you how beyond grateful I am.”

“Trust, this isn’t a molehill-mountain situation, Avery.” She takes my hand in hers, the pads of her fingertips brushing lightly over my skin. “I mean, yes, this is amazing for my Hollywood dreams, but this ishugefor your bottom line. Ellis Eventsisthe spotlight.”

To her point, judging by the surge of followers on my social media and the big names on some of my missed calls,Lifestyles of the Rich and Weddedmay not be too far-fetched.

Joy wells up in my heart.

“Isn’t it something, though?” I muse.

“It’s something, all right. Something mind-blowing and amazing.” Nichelle switches back to scrolling through comments. “Girl, shut up and take all my money.”

Inside, my exhausted little body rejoices.

“Okay, well, if we’re going to live up to book club standards of fabulousness, we need to get this appointment underway.”

Nichelle nods, wide-eyed and dead serious.

“Just a couple more minutes,” I say, knowing she needs a reactionary moment to their comments before she’ll officially move on. “We’ve got filet mignon waiting…”

I waft the air in her direction, hoping the aroma will entice her to gravitate back toward the table.

We’re supposed to be finalizing linens and meeting with the staff for a food tasting. Yet, while we’ve lapped this lovely art deco ballroom with me admiring its lotus-shaped glass chandeliers and Gatsby-esque feel, we’ve yet to logisticize this wedding or take even a bite of the delicious-smelling, savory entrees sitting on the table getting cold.

“Lord knows, I could eat right now,” Nichelle moans.

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