“I would expect nothing less.”
We danced in silence for a few moments, the music shifting to a slower, more intimate song. We moved closer together, her head coming to rest against my shoulder, my cheek brushing her hair. God, she smelled amazing.
This felt right. Being with her felt right.
My phone rang, the sound jarring in the quiet ballroom. Mari lifted her head, looking at me questioningly. We tried to ignore it. After the third ring, Mari stepped back. “You should get that. It might be important.”
With a sigh, I pulled out my phone. Eleanor Trolio’s name flashed on the screen.
“It’s Modern Wedding,” I said, my stomach sinking. “I should take this.”
Mari nodded, walking toward the sound system. “I’ll give you some privacy.”
I answered as she moved away. “Eleanor, hello.”
“Hudson! I’m so glad I caught you. I’ve been reviewing the final draft of the feature, and I have to say, I’m more impressed than ever with your concepts.”
I turned away from Mari, lowering my voice. “Thank you.”
“The way you’ve integrated emotional milestones with practical planning tools is revolutionary. It’s all so impressive. Genius. This is exactly the innovation we want to highlight in our digital division.”
“I appreciate that.”
“I’ve completed the contract for the creative director position too. We’ll send it over on Monday for you to review, and if you approve it, we’ll organize a little signing ceremony after the Kussikov-Martin wedding. The board is very excited about the direction you’ve proposed.”
“That’s... wonderful news,” I managed.
“We’d also like to schedule a photoshoot for the announcement. Perhaps at your Chicago office? And we should discuss the development timeline for the app. I know you mentioned having working prototypes already.”
“Yes, of course.” I was digging myself deeper with every word. “Let me check my calendar and get back to you.”
“Perfect! Oh, and I heard through the grapevine that your parents are coming to town for the big wedding. We should arrange a dinner while they’re here. I’d love to catch up with them.”
“I’ll mention it to them,” I promised, though the thought of Eleanor, my parents, and me in the same room made me physically ill.
After a few more minutes of pleasantries, I ended the call and turned to Mari. She watched me from across the room.
“Everything okay?” she asked as I walked back to her.
“Fine,” I said automatically. “Just finalizing some details for the feature.”
She nodded. “We should probably head back to the office. I promised Criss I’d review the last details for the floral arrangements this afternoon.”
“Right.” I hesitated, then plunged ahead before I could lose my nerve. “Mari, would you like to have dinner with me?”
She blinked, clearly surprised by the sudden invitation. “What?”
“Dinner. It’s a meal that’s typically in the evening and?—”
“Shut up, asshole.” She grinned up at me. “When?”
“After the bachelor and bachelorette weekends? Next week sometime?” I suggested. The pre-wedding celebrations were starting tomorrow, with Lia and her friends heading to a spa retreat while Manny and his group went to a cabin to fish.
“Wait.” A slow smile spread across her face. “Are you asking me on a date, Gable?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Well, in that case, I suppose I could pencil you in. Assuming you don’t ghost me for another two months.”
