“Yes,” replied Ella.
“Well, tonight is the rehearsal dinner.I need a plus one.Any chance you are up for it?It is at some French place.”
“The French Laundry?”asked Ella.
“Yeah, that is it.Have you ever been there?Is it any good?”
“I have heard it is wonderful.It is a little pricey for the Santiago family, so no I have never eaten there, but I would love to join you if you are sure your friends won’t mind.”
Dropping his hand to her thigh, Ben ran one finger up her leg as he said, “Davy mentioned it this morning.He and Mia would love to have you.Can you be ready by six-thirty?”
Suddenly, Ella was worried.She was not sure she had anything appropriate to wear to such a dinner.Before she could refuse though, she decided to text her cousin Julia who worked in fashion.Surely, Julia would have something she could borrow.Almost immediately, Julia texted back as she had the perfect dress and promised to drop it off at Ella’s house.Having dealt with the issue of what to wear, Ella said almost giddily, “Yes, I can be ready at six-thirty.”
Reaching across the car to give her a quick kiss, Ben said, “Awesome.”
By 10:30 that night, the rehearsal dinner was winding down.Most of the guests had left the restaurant.Ella was still sitting next to Ben, listening to him and his friends talking and making final plans for the next day’s wedding.Ben’s fingers were interlaced with Ella’s, as they had been almost all night.
The bride and groom had decided to do all of the speeches during the rehearsal dinner instead of the during the wedding reception.Ben had given a wonderful speech highlighting his friendship with Davy, beginning with meeting him on the first day of college orientation and sharing that the two had lived together and gotten into quite a bit of fun over the years.Ella was a little envious of Ben’s college experiences.Her college days had been about work and study.
Over the evening, Ella had met Ben’s friends and their dates.Of course she knew the bride’s name was Mia and had committed Liam’s girl, Delaney, to memory.Ben had assured her the rest of the women were very new to the group.Ella took that to mean they were girls the guys had met since arriving in Napa and thus did not warrant as much as a second thought.
Because Ella was also “a new addition to the group” she wondered if that was how the others saw her—a placeholder for the weekend.That was a sobering thought for a girl who was already getting in way too deep with a guy she had just met.Reassuring herself that it was because she had never really dated and that Ben was so attentive, she could not be faulted for letting her feelings run deep.Ella made a mental note to take an emotional step back from Ben to protect herself from heartbreak.After all, he was only in town for one more day.
That was the exact advice Ella would have given Sophie if the roles were reversed.However, Sophie would not need it.She had been in a committed relationship with the same boy since seventh grade.She and Paulo had already talked about getting married this summer.Ella could not imagine either one of them without the other.
Nope, Sophie was never going to find herself at a Michelin star restaurant with some tourist she had met over a long weekend.Of course, Ella would never have thoughtshewould either for that matter.Sometimes, things happen that surprise you and completely undo all of your best-laid plans.They just usually did not happen to her.
Ella wondered if this dinner was a preview of what her life would be like once she moved to Michigan in the fall.Would she be meeting new people and attending all kinds of events that seemed completely out of her realm now?She could hardly wait.She had worked so hard, and she had only eight weekend sets of classes left in her final practicum.Basically, it was a class in which all the geology students had to complete a group and independent study project and then present them both to the class.Ella was so close that she could almost feel that college diploma in her hands.Tonight though, she did not want to think about school, what she had left to do, or even her future.She wanted to enjoy being in the moment with Ben.
That evening, Ella’s parents and siblings were all either at the diner or out, so she had allowed Ben to pick her up.If they had been home, she wouldn’t have wanted Ben to come to her house because she would have had to come up with a good reason why she was so dressed up.Her folks knew she was going out with a new friend, but they did not know much else.
When Ella had opened the door to see Ben standing in front of her in his suit, he nearly took her breath away.Even now, looking over at him, she was obsessed with how his broad shoulders filled out his jacket.The way his eyes followed her everywhere made her spine tingle.Just watching him watching her made her mouth water.
Ella was so caught up in looking at Ben that she did not realize the group had finalized their plans for the next day until everyone stood, said their goodbyes, and began making their way to the door.
Before they left, Davy gave everyone marching orders.“The wedding is at eleven, but we can’t set up until tomorrow morning.Be at the winery by seven tomorrow morning to help with the tables and chairs.”Ella thought it all sounded like a lot of work.
On the drive back to Ella’s, Ben took the scenic route.Then to eke out a few more minutes with her, he drove to the rental house and parked the car there.That way he could have a few extra minutes alone with her as he walked her home.
As they walked to Ella’s house, Ben draped his arm around her shoulders.A block from her house, he gently pulled her into a cropping of trees and devoured her lips.When they finally came up for air, he murmured, “You taste better than any dessert at that fancy French restaurant tonight.”Ella just smiled, unsure what to say.
Still nibbling on her lips, Ben added, “I know this is last minute, but any chance you can get off tomorrow and go with me to the wedding?”
Ella did not even have to think about it.She would promise her sisters the world for more time off to be with Ben.“I think so.I don’t have to work at the winery tomorrow.They are closed on Sunday.I usually pick up a shift at the diner, but maybe I can get Sophie or Maria to cover for me.”
“Wonderful,” said Ben.“Text me as soon as you know.I will need to pick you up at nine-thirty, or I might have the girl Madison is bringing swing by and pick you up.Would that be okay?”
Ella’s unsure look gave Ben pause, so he added, “I am not sure I will be able to get away to come back this way.I have to be there by seven to help set up.”
Swallowing, after a moment Ella replied, “No, it is fine.I just can’t exactly remember what Madison’s girl’s name is.Can you?”
Shaking his head no, Ben replied, “No, but if you can come, I will ask him and let you know.”
Nodding, Ella let out a worried sigh before saying, “Okay.I will be ready by nine-thirty.Just text me her name.”She was apprehensive about riding with someone she didn’t know.However, her need to spend more time with Ben was greater than her worry about hitching a ride with a stranger.
They kissed for another few minutes, and then Ben pulled back.“As much as I would love to spend the rest of the night exploring every crevice of your incredible mouth, I need to get back.Seven will come early tomorrow.I want to spend some time with Davy before the wedding.I hope you understand.”
“Of course,” replied Ella.“I totally understand.I can see why you two are such great friends.Based on your speech, you two were quite the pair back in college.”
