Page 51 of The Wedding Toast
“Anyway.Let’s go get this party started, shall we?Oh, but I should warn you – if Antonio gets his way …”
Jacob laughed.“I heard – it looks like we’re all going to Muse later.”
“Are you okay with that?”
He smiled.“I am.Although Becca and I may slip away after a little while.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“Are you okay with it?You’ve gone to all the trouble of organizing this for us.”
Bentley laughed.“And we have plenty of time.We can eat, hang out, have some laughs, and then head over there.It’s all good.”
As they walked up the steps and in through the huge double oak doors, Jacob had to agree – everything was pretty damned good indeed.
Chapter Thirteen
When they arrived at Muse, Becca was a little taken aback when Rodney, the maître d’, came out to welcome them and greeted her as if she were royalty.Of course, she’d met him before and she liked him, but she’d always thought of him as kind of aloof.
She raised her eyebrows at Callie as they followed him up the stairs to the open-air terrace.It was a beautiful evening and the weather was perfect to be up here, to dance under the stars.
Her hand came up to cover her mouth when she saw how it was all decorated.There were fairy lights everywhere – it couldn’t be more perfect.She looked around for Mary Ellen.
When she spotted her, she came over shaking her head with a smile.“And this is why I love that man so much.”She pointed to the edge of the terrace where there was a heart all lit up with red fairy lights.“He has such a huge heart; he loves love, and he wants to share that with us all.”
“Aww!”Becca had to dab at her eyes.“I’ll tell him myself as soon as I see him, but please, Mary El, tell him how much this means to me.”
“I will.”
Chelsea laughed beside her.“We should all tell him; he’ll bask in the glow of it for weeks.”
Becca had to laugh, but she also wondered how Chelsea knew Antonio so well.She and Mary Ellen were best friends but … and then it hit her.Chelsea and her brothers, Smoke and Cameron, were cousins with Antonio, and his brother Marcos, who was Molly’s husband.
Chelsea gave her a puzzled look.“Are you okay?”
“I am, I’m fine.”She looked around again, taking it all in.It really was beautiful.
Willow came to join them.“He’s awesome, isn’t he?And he did all this just hoping that he could persuade everyone to come.”
Mary Ellen nodded.“And don’t look like that, Becca – he would have been okay if you and Jacob hadn’t wanted to bring the party here.To him it’s more about having everything set up just in case he gets the chance to show how much he loves you.”
Willow laughed.“I’m not even going to wonder about how that translates to your personal life.”
Mary Ellen laughed with her.“Good, because I wouldn’t tell if you asked.All I will say is that married life suits me very well, thank you.”
“I’m so glad he found you,” said Hannah.“Oh, it just struck me – has he met Zia yet?Has she given him a name?”
“Not as far as I know,” said Becca.“I don’t think he’s been over there.”She looked around at the others.“Have you met her yet?That little girl is so wonderful.”
Chelsea laughed.“I have.I came over to see Elena – you were out with Callie.And I met her – that girl is my kind of people.”
Willow grinned at her.“Of course she is – you two are kindred spirits.”
Becca had to nod her agreement.Zia might not be as feisty as Chelsea yet, but Chelsea definitely had the same irreverent and insightful approach to life as the little girl did.
“Did she name you?”asked Hannah.
Chelsea stood a little taller, which still left her smaller than the rest of them.“She did.Ladies, I think that in the future, I would like you all to refer to me as the Sparkle Fairy!”
