“So?” Domi shrugged. “Life's too short for dessert indecision.”
Emery watched as Domi imperiously instructed the waiter to bring them a sampling of every dessert on the menu. It was such a Domi thing to do, excessive, a bit ridiculous, and somehow exactly right.
One of everything.
The phrase echoed in Emery's mind, triggering a cascade of thoughts.
One grand gesture might not be enough. One apology, one bouquet, one heartfelt letter, none of it would suffice. But what if…
What if she did all of it? Every grand gesture, every romantic cliché, every possible way to say “I'm sorry” and “I love you” and “Please give me another chance”?
What if, instead of trying to find the perfect gesture, she made all of them?
“Emery?” Jax was waving a hand in front of her face. “You okay? You zoned out there.”
A smile spread across Emery's face, the first genuine one in weeks. “I'm fine,” she said. “Actually, I'm better than fine. I know what I'm going to do.”
“What?” Jax and Domi asked in unison.
Emery looked at the table, now laden with an absurd array of desserts, then back at her friends, her eyes bright with renewed purpose.
“I'm going to do everything.”
Chapter Thirty Three
“Ineed your help,” Emery said. She felt a bit shaky, despite the fact that everyone in this room was her friend. “All of you.”
She looked around Abe's grand living room, taking in the faces of the people who had somehow become her support system. Zara was perched on the edge of an antique chair, vibrating with curiosity. Jax lounged beside her, tattooed arms crossed over her chest, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. Maya sat on the velvet sofa, looking both amused and concerned, while Domi paced near the fireplace, scrolling through something on her phone. Ollie hovered awkwardly by the door as if unsure he belonged in this gathering, and Abe, the host himself, watched from his wingback chair with twinkling eyes.
“Um, you don’t all know each other,” Emery said. “But you all know me, and for the time being, that’s just going to have to be enough.”
“I don’t know,” said Jax, eyeing Ollie by the door. “There should probably be some introductions.”
Ollie grinned at her, and Emery cleared her throat. “There’ll be time for that later.”
“Promises, promises,” said Jax.
Emery looked down at her hands. “Here’s the thing. I've made a horrible mess of things,” she said, “and words alone can't fix it. I need a grand gesture. Something spectacular. Something so ridiculously romantic that even Eveline, with all her skepticism about romance novels, can't possibly misinterpret it.”
“Finally!” Jax exclaimed, slapping her thigh. “We've been telling you this for weeks!”
“I know, I know,” Emery said, ducking her head. “I was… wallowing.”
“Spectacularly,” Domi added without looking up from her phone. “It was getting tedious.”
Maya shot Domi a disapproving look before turning to Emery with a gentle smile. “What kind of grand gesture did you have in mind, dear?”
Emery took a deep breath. “That's just it. I don't want just one gesture. I want all the grand gestures, all building up to something… magnificent. Something worthy of the ending of a romance novel.” She ran a hand through her curls, which were less wild than usual thanks to Jax's insistence on an emergency haircut that morning. “But I can't do it alone. I need each of you to help.”
“I'm in,” Zara said immediately, raising her hand as if in class. “Whatever you need. The socials are dying without your love story to document.”
Emery winced. “Let's not put that part online, maybe?”
“I can bake!” Maya chimed in. “Something thematic. Something that tells your story through pastry.” She was alreadyscribbling notes in a small floral notebook. “Rose for romance, cinnamon for spice, a touch of salt for the tears…”
“I've got contacts,” Domi said, finally looking up with a predatory smile. “I can pull some strings, call in favors.”
“And I've got the legal side covered,” Jax added. “Just in case we need to, I don't know, close streets or get permits for fireworks.”
