I keep scanning the page. Among the items crossed out I recognize a few song titles, foods, countries, and ... are those themes?
Cream puffs
Lemon tarts
Mini donuts
Pizza barTACOS??
Medieval
Princess
Rustic romantic
There are so many different types of flowers listed, color combinations, and random words scattered in the margins that make no sense.
Paper cranes
Fairy lightssomething more rustic
Fall
Apricot andbuttercreamCream Cheese!!!!
It almost reminds me of ...
“It’s a wedding wish list.”
I look up from the page to find Odette leaning against the wall, watching me. A simple blue apron covers her black leggings and Taylor Swift T-shirt. It makes me think of my sister’s CD I “borrowed” all over again.
“It’s like a Pinterest board come to life.”
She laughs. “Yeah, I guess that’s one way to describe it.”
“It’s yours? For your wedding?”
She nods, padding farther into the living room. “Yep. I’ve had it since I was twelve years old and first fell in love with weddings. I mean, of course, I gave up on that dream a long time ago when I realized just how cruel the Chambers curse truly is, but I can’t bring myself to throw it away. It was a lot of work for younger me.”
Since she wastwelve?
Hell, I hadn’t even had some of my hockey equipment that long. Some guys play in the same pair of socks or use the same pads throughout their careers because they’re too superstitious to break in new ones. Carrying around the same sheet of paper for that long seems about the same as that. It’s some serious dedication.
Was Ezra right? Am I a dumbass for believing that Odette—a fucking wedding planner—doesn’t want to get married? She might say she doesn’t want to, but how could she not if she’s still carrying this old thing around?
Does that mean ... does this thing between us mean more to her than she’s letting on? Is she playing some sort of long game, hoping I’ll change my mind about where I stand on marriage?
And why doesn’t the thought of that terrify me as much as it should?
She grabs the paper out of my hand, her eyes scanning the page. I’m not sure if she notices the sad smile playing on her lips, but I sure do.
“You know what? It’s time. I’m getting rid of this once and for all.”
She wads it up, then tosses it. For the life of me, I can’t understand why I hold my breath as it soars through the air, dropping right between the cats, who immediately start batting at it like it’s a yarn ball.
“Oh, goodie. A new toy!” She scratches behind Beans’s ears, then Pork’s. “You two seem to be getting along.”
I clear my throat. “Yep. Sure are. Beans got me on the back of the leg, but I handled her real quick.”
