Page 34 of The Wedding Crush

Avery’s giggle snaps my attention back to the screen where the timer is counting down the final seconds.

True to the diabolical woman she is, she says, “Well, maybe that’s because you’re not the only one who has been in one,” just as time runs out.

Wait, what?

The timer blares incessantly.

My head spins, and I’m dying to ask more questions but she’s already flipping open a large pink book with fluorescent tabs sticking out of the pages.

She’s married?

No, she said, “has been in one.” Past tense. Even still, she’s been married?

Suddenly, I’m wading through every interaction we’ve shared trying to remember if she ever mentioned a husband or if she was wearing a wedding ring.

Avery gives me no time to catch my bearings or get a glimpse of her left hand. Immediately, she jumps back to her agenda bullet points.

“Usually, I have twelve months to plan an event of his scale, but since this past Saturday marked eleven weeks to the wedding date, we’ve got to work fast and efficient. Divide and conquer.” She taps around her keyboard until a whoosh echoes in her background. “Check your email.”

A few seconds pass before my computer dings loudly.

In my mail folder is a message from Ellis Events with the subject line

12 Month Wedding Checklist and Project Assignments

Without waiting for me to open it, she proceeds, informing me that we’ll treat the months as weeks.

“For instance, this week, we’ll need to check off all the items for12+ Months, and as many as possible from the10–11 Monthslist.”

When I open the message, I’m pleased that she’s assigned lodging, wine, catering, and event venue to me. It feels like we’ve got our bases covered when I the skim the checklist items for the week, and catalogue items like choose a date, select wedding party, budgets, rings, style, venue selection, and assembling a team of wedding pros.

“Now, let’s get down to details,” she says.

Over the next twenty minutes, she moves seamlessly through initial planning logistics—when and how often the dream team will meet, plus project assignments. We’ll join ChatVideo meetings Monday and Thursday afternoons with periodic on-site meetings on Saturdays, as needed, until the September 30th ceremony and reception.

I’m still scanning items like compiling a guest list, browse dresses, and save-the-dates, that all fall under Avery’s projects, when the swoosh zips through the air.

My email dings again.

“I just sent an invite for the Fortemani-Forster Wedding calendar. When you accept, you’ll receive meeting alerts, one day and one hour before our scheduled meetings. This coming Thursday being our first official one.”

Her work done, Avery stops sharing her screen, and it’s us again.

No Dante and Morgan.

No clashing or clock.

Just me staring at her through a screen, both impressed and feeling like a complete ass for assuming I know the first thing about her. What’s worse, I’m not only curious, but I’m also open to learning.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Avery

Last night, thestars aligned.

Well, first they were disordered chaos all over my dining room table. All week, Stefano’s voice taunted me.

Rushing just feels ill-advised blah, blah, blah.

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