After they dressed and ate a quick breakfast, Allie took Carter with her to pick up the food for the Low-Country boil.
"The whole party is Southern themed, with a seafood boil as the main event," she explained as she and Carter loaded up the corn, sausage, potatoes, and shrimp into the truck. There were also two huge coolers of oysters. "I thought about having crawfish flown in, but didn't think it would play that well in New England."
Carter snickered as he shut the trunk door.
"You're going above and beyond for Brandy," he told her as he started up the car.
"I feel bad about her bachelorette party," Allie said and chewed on her lip.
Carter grabbed her hand. "Hey, we made it out alive, and you're okay. Brandy can stuff it."
"Looks like a party!" Liz said as she and Ginny came out with a handcart to help them with the food.
While Carter started the fire and set up the large pots for the boil, Allie made a vinegar-and-onion relish for the raw oysters and assembled little mason jars with banana pudding with Ginny's help. The Holbrooks' estate had a huge outdoor kitchen under an awning that connected to the pool house, so Allie could work and talk to her friends.
As she put the finishing touches on the pitchers of cocktails, she could smell the tang and spice from the large bubbling pots.
"I'm really impressed," Ginny said as the guests started to arrive, "and this seafood boil is really nice. It's fun and casual."
"It's big in the South when the weather is warm," Allie said. "And people are actually eating—I'm shocked."
The guests seemed a little miffed at the seafood boil but after a few drinks, they seemed more into it.
"There's a lot of people here," Liz said as she walked over to her.
"I think they're here to see the Holbrooks," Allie stated.
"If I ever get married, you have to organize all of my stuff," Liz told her playfully.
"Ha! Okay!" Allie said.
"But you and Carter will probably be married before I even find someone," Liz said, frowning, and took a sip of her drink.
"What?" Allie replied, taken aback.
"You guys are an item," Liz told her. "You've been together since when? Thanksgiving?"
"No, that was just—"
"Everyone knows you two are a thing," Liz said.
"Oh my goodness," Allie moaned. "Of course people are talking. This is horrible! I need to quit my job. I can't show my face at Holbrook Enterprises!"
"Relax!" Liz said, giving Allie and one-armed hug. "He's going to marry you, then it will all be okay."
"He's not going to marry me! I can't marry him! We aren't even dating."
"You broke it off?" Liz asked, incredulous.
"Not really, but I need to," Allie said.
"I thought you were serious."
"I don't know how serious it is," she admitted.
"Well, you need to go back and make it serious. Everyone already knows, so you really need to seal the deal. If you actually break up with Carter then you'll really be in trouble. People will still think it's cute if you met as interns then became an item. If you were always just the side piece, people won't respect you. Next time he asks you out, you need to say yes and make him take you somewhere legit."
"He won't—"
