Page 6 of Dear Wedding Planner
“Yeah, I was calling because I need a favor from you.”
I close my laptop, grateful for the distraction. “Name it.”
“I need you to go to the cake tasting I have set up at a cute new little bakery downtown.”
“You want me to go with you?” I ask.
“No, I need you to go for me.”
“You’re putting me in charge of picking out the cake for your wedding? I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I already have what I want in terms of design. I just need you to pick out the flavor.”
“Why can’t you come with me?”
“If I want to fit into my dress, I can’t afford the calories this tasting will include.” She sighs. “Besides, Veronica will be there. I figured you wouldn’t mind that I wasn’t a third wheel blocking your chance to reacquaint yourself with your old lab partner.”
“Send me the time and the place,” I answer, needing no more convincing.
She chuckles. “I thought that might convince you.”
Thirty minutes later, I’m pulling to a stop in front of a small storefront window with a caricature of Marie Antoinette painted on it with the wordsLet Them Eat Cake.
Veronica is standing on the sidewalk near the door, talking on her cell phone. She throws back her head with laughter, and I can't help but wonder if she is talking to a boyfriend I’m not aware she has. A sharp pain of disappointment mixed with jealousy strikes me. I don’t think Mackenzie would push me towards Veronica if she thought there wasn’t a chance. I've dreamt of this second chance, and I can't mess this up.
I get out of the car and step up onto the sidewalk. Veronica sees me and tells whoever she’s talking to that she has to go.
"Hey," I say and give her a half-wave.
"Hi, Miles."
“You don’t look surprised to see me.”
“Mackenzie called to let me know that you were coming in her place.”
“I hope you aren’t disappointed.”
Veronica smiles. “Seeing you is never disappointing.”
Marry me.
VERONICA
The smile that spreads on Miles's face when I admit that I'm not disappointed to see him reminds me of when we were lab partners. I'd catch him from time to time, watching me as we’d work. He was always unapologetic about getting caught. He’d just give me the same crooked smile he’s giving to me right now. There is nothing like the feeling of seeing yourself in someone else's eyes. So often, we are our own harshest critic and seeing how BLANK.
Miles opens the door to the bakery and gestures for me to head in first. I’ve never been here before. I have professional working relationships with many business owners in my line of work. It is a necessity when you work in a job where you have many spinning plates to manage.
“Welcome to Let Them Eat Cake!” A young woman behind the counter greets us as we walk in.
I’m momentarily distracted by the soft touch of Miles’s hand on my lower back as we walk up to the counter. I wait for a moment, expecting this quietly intimate gesture to feel awkward, but it doesn’t. It surprises me when not only do I feel at ease with the closeness of Miles to me but that I want more.
“You two must be the bride and groom I’m meeting today for the cake testing.”
I’m about to open my mouth to correct her, but Miles responds first.
“Yes, that’s us.” His hand on my lower back circles my waist and pulls me into his side. “We are so excited to try out what you have in store for us. Right, babe?”
I give him a side-eyed glance, and he flashes me that same crooked smile. The butterflies in my stomach take flight, and I find that I don’t want to stop this charade. The feeling of him holding me close is unlike anything I’ve felt with a guy before. When I’m close to him like this, I feel like I’m where I’m meant to be.
