I laugh. “Yes. But you can’t be so closed-minded, honey,” my voice playful.
“I’m not closed-minded. I just don’t think cake and soap should have the same name.”
“Jesse.” I cock my head at him with a grin on my face.
“Ella.” He bats his blue eyes at me.
I blush. The way he says my name makes my stomach swarm in the best way. He’s just as flirtatious as he’s always been, and I hope that never stops.
Chapter 30
Four months later
Jesse
“For the love of common sense … Cody, the tulle goes in front of the arch!” Ella’s voice echoes. She’s only a half second away from exploding.
“Don’t you think this looks better? Then you can see the woodwork,” he argues.
As the three of us stand in the middle of my parents’ backyard, I feel like I’m watching a tennis match.
“I don’t need to see all the woodwork!” Ella retorts and then grits her teeth. “Put the tulle infrontof the arch.”
I rub the back of my neck. If Cody only knew how close she was to losing her shit on him. He has no idea what kind of fire he’s playing with. I’m kinda wanting him to find out though. Better him than me.
He sighs. “Fine. But let the record show I think it looks way better switched.”
“I don’t care!” she argues and I can’t help myself anymore,I let out a laugh. Her eyes bolt to mine, and the hair on my entire body stands.
“I don’t think it’s very funny!” she warns.
“El, he’s just messing around.” I try to shrug it off.
“I don’t care! I’m not in a ‘messing around’ mood, if you couldn’t tell!”
“I can tell. Can you tell me why you’re so angry?” I ask calmly.
“We get married in two days!”
“And you’re angry about it?” Cody jumps in.
I hold my hand up to shut him up. Ella gives him a stink eye.
“I’m not angry! I’m stressed,” she says.
“Don’t be stressed. It’s all under control, babe.” I reach for her back, but she shimmies away and gives me a look like she’s gonna murder me in my sleep tonight before walking away.
Cody laughs to himself and starts to unravel the tulle from the arch.
“Damn. She’s not playing today,” I say, debating whether I should go after her or not.
“She’s funny when she’s mad.” Cody chuckles.
“You want her to slap you? She’ll do it,” I warn and walk toward the house.
We are getting married at the church and then having the reception here. It’s not going to be a lot of people, under a hundred. The arch is for pictures, and Cody’s in charge of it since he built it. We’re just doing a mockup tonight, but for some reason, Ella is acting as if tonight’s the real deal.
Heading in through the side door of the big house, I see Mom and Addie writing the seating chart on an old window to display and Dad’s at the other end of the table putting batteries in a bunch of candles. I walk through to the kitchen to findMason, Brantley, and Wesley?—I didn’t know he was here—assembling party favors. I give him a nod and slap on the shoulder but keep walking through the house.
