“Babe. I like all the food.” He shrugs. “You know I’m just here for moral support. You brought Alley and Viv to help you decide. If you actually trusted my opinion, you wouldn’t have brought them.” He shoots a look at Sandy, already reaching for the wine bottle again. “I just want to make sure we’re serving this wine.”
Cooper shakes her head, grinning. “It’s a good thing you’re hot.”
“I’m going to go check on the entrees,” Sandy says, pushing up from her chair. “Excuse me for a few minutes.” She disappears around a wall of greenery.
The wedding venue is at Lakefront Conservatory—a glass-enclosed rooftop garden that overlooks Lake Michigan. It’s gorgeous and intimate, the perfect setting for a small wedding like theirs.
“Wait, have any of you tried this other cheese thing yet?” Vivian asks, biting into one of the manchego tartlets. She dabs at her lip with a napkin. “It’s really good.”
“No. I picked one up, but it smelled like pussy, so I put it back,” Cooper says, laughing.
Ryan perks up. “Wait—which one smells like pussy?” He reaches for the manchego appetizer. “I’ll be the judge of that. This one, Viv?” he asks, grabbing one.
“Watch. This’ll be his favorite,” Cooper mutters, rolling her eyes.
Ryan brings it to his nose and inhales dramatically. “Ah, the sweet smell of pussy,” he says with a smirk, making all of us burst out laughing.
He takes a bite, washes it down with a sip of wine, then turns to Cooper. “This one’s the winner.” A wide grin spreads across his face as Cooper smacks his arm.
“You’re absolutely useless here, you know that?”
“Yeah, but I’m useful when it matters.” He pulls her in for a kiss. “Tastes and smells like cheese, babe. It’s good. You’d like it.”
She goes in for another kiss, and soon they’re whispering to each other while Vivian shoots me a side glance.
They’re cute, and their easy affection pulls a smile from me. Jensen and I used to be like that.
I was never very affectionate with any of my exes—especially not in public, but then Jensen came along and flipped my whole world upside down. He brought out a side of me I didn’t know existed. A side that felt sexy and confident. I’d always been reserved with other men—almost self-conscious, constantly worried about how I came across. I never felt that with Jensen.
“Okay, I’m back,” Sandy announces. “The entrees are almost ready, so if you can pick your top three, we’ll clear the appetizers and move on.”
Cooper turns to Vivian and me. “What are your favorites?”
“I like the goat cheese, caprese skewer, and the beef tenderloin crostini,” I say.
“Goat cheese. Crab cake. Caprese,” Vivian adds.
Cooper and Ryan start rattling off their picks to Sandy just as my watch buzzes with a new message. I pull out my phone.
It’s from Jensen.
Jensen
Hey, babe. Can’t stop thinking about last night—about you. When will you be back? Wanna grab dinner tonight? NOT at the cafeteria.
A grin creeps onto my face as I roll my bottom lip between my teeth, heart fluttering. I fell asleep thinking about him—about our kiss, my talk with Scarlett, and the mess of confusion that is my life right now.
I’d already planned this tasting with Cooper before I knew he would be in town. He said he had work to keep him busy, but clearly, he’s anxious to see me.
I’m not sure. At least another hour. We’ve only made it through the appetizers. You should see Ryan. He only cares about the drink menu. Lol.
Jensen
I remember feeling the same way when we did our tasting. Remember how many hot toddies I had? You had to drive us home. And I already know you remember that drive.
The memory flashes—vivid and hot. Me driving Jensen’s car, his arm stretched across the console, hand in my pants.
He fingered me until I came on Park Avenue.
