The flower guy responded with a roll of his eyes, muttering something about “eto pala si Optimum Pride eh,” which was both funny and a sure sign that patience was wearing thin on both sides. Jay really needed to come up with something before his charm stopped working on either party.
“Should I call the manager?”
“Huy, mga lodi, let’s chill!” Jay held his hands out to calm the situation, giving both sides an amiable smile. He turned to the flower guys. “I really need these flowers, but I don’t need them until tomorrow. Can’t you come back tomorrow to set up? As you were scheduled to do?”
The flower delivery guy shook his head. “No can do, boss. We have a wedding at Shang tomorrow. We deliver these today or your event doesn’t have flowers.”
“Where’s your room?” Mara asked suddenly, looking around the place. Was she giving up already? “Shorewinds only has villas, right? We can move the flowers there and figure it out tomorrow.”
Genius. Mara Barretto was a genius, and Jay wanted to kiss her.
“You think all this will fit?” Jay asked doubtfully, waving his hand at the nosegay (nosegay?) of flowers that was building up literally at their feet.
“We’re going to have to make them fit.” Mara’s lips pursed cutely, hands on her hips. Jay grinned. The fortunate upside of this was that he was going to get to see Mara in her element, and he was surprised at how much even he was looking forward to it. “Is there some kind of layout or a plan for the event?”
Yes, there was. They also had a copy of the signed contract, which Mara quickly flipped through, her eyes squinting at the print. It was almost comical, seeing her with her sunglasses perched on her head, bikini and all as she examined the very serious documents.
“I also need to know when your boss’s flight lands in Cebu.” Mara frowned at the paper in her hands. “If the couple is hiring a new team by tomorrow, we need to enact a couple of these refund options. The contract says the install for the flowers is tomorrow, not today.”
Everyone within hearing distance winced. What Jay had told himself was a small problem was suddenly a huge one.
“I have a friend who has a floral design business here in Boracay. I can call to see if he’s available for the setup tomorrow. But for today, I can start on the wedding party bouquets.”
* * *
“Jay, what the fuck!” Alex lightly swatted his chest with her hand as the rest of the currently present wedding party watched the march of the flowers currently occurring in his villa. Jay gave a loud yelp, jumping back in shock at Alex’s sudden yell.
“What the hell, Alex! You can’t sneak up on me like that!”
“I have so many questions.”
“And so many flowers,” Scott commented dryly, moving out of the way of a staff member who couldn’t see much because the roses were blocking his view. Jay shrugged, although the effect was quite lost, as his shoulders were obscured by the massive buckets of bloodred anthuriums and pastel purple ranunculus that he was carrying.
“And zero florists,” Ava, the maid of honor, added, glancing nervously at the growing forest of florals. There was a holdup at the door. Inside, Jay heard Mara loud and clear, directing the people to keep things by event and by color, and—if it was for the wedding arch—placing them by the bathroom. Jay had been effectively unhoused in favor of party decorations.
“Floral designers,” Jay corrected her. Tori, the other bride, shook her head in disbelief at what was unfolding before them. Alex smacked his arm, telling him to focus, and he recoiled in surprise. “Aray! Hey, I got you guys a refund on the design fee!”
“Thank you for the money, but what about the flowers?” Tori said.
“Oh no, you don’t get the money. We’re repurposing the funds for a new investment.”
“A new what!”
“O-kay. I can sense this should be a conversation, not an announcement,” Ava announced, looping an arm around her cousin’s, the other around her boyfriend’s and dragging them toward the restaurant. “We should go see if the restaurant is ready with the new menu. Come on, Tori, I know writing makes you hungry.”
Scott was protesting that can they please not leave “because the drama ishere!” but Ava probably was trying to give Jay the room to explain himself to the soon-to-be-wedded couple. “Best of luck,” she said.
“I’m the best man, I don’t need luck.” Jay chortled.
“I was talking to Alex,” Ava called over her shoulder as she, Tori and Scott left the vicinity of the area. Leaving him with one very confused, very angry, but still very cute bride.
“Jay. Sweet red bean. Idiot of my heart.”
“Oh god.” Jay winced. “Red bean?”
“You just made me one shot my vows. I am way too emotionally vulnerable to be calm,” Alex said, rubbing her temples and closing her eyes. She was stressing. He was doomed. “We have no flowers. No officiant. No oysters. Tori and I might as well just spend tomorrow swimming in the ocean! What the hell are we even doing here?”
Contrary to what Alex was saying, Jay knew thatsheknew that he was not an idiot. He also knew that his friend could be testy (and that was an understatement) when she was stressed, and this definitely counted as a stressful situation.
