I looked at the flyer after they left. “Speed dating,” I scoffed. The cover photo was of a vapid-looking woman with a martini glass. I balled up the flyer and threw it in the recycling bin.
I wanted to go to speed dating about as much as I wanted to go to the wedding-planning meeting that afternoon.
* * *
The Weddingsin the City office was in one of the Svensson brothers’ historic hotels. Fortunately, I didn’t run into any of them as I crossed the lobby to the mirrored elevator that took me up to the top floor.
I had three hours blocked out on my calendar for this. If it went on any longer, I was going to politely excuse myself.
The things I do for family.
Liz was already seated at the long wooden table, Wes next to her. I shook hands with Ivy, the wedding planner.
“We’re just waiting on the maid of honor,” Ivy told me. “Would you care for tea or water?”
The elevator dinged.
“I’m here! I’m here! I had to get coffee!”
I turned just in time to see Brea skidding toward me, an enormous cup of coffee in her hand.
7
Brea
The shock of seeing Mark freaking Holbrook in the office was too much. I stumbled in surprise, and my ballet flats skidded on the hardwood floor as I careened toward him. He put out a hand and caught the coffee cup as I face-planted in front of him.
“Oh my God, Brea!” Ivy exclaimed as she ran to help me up.
“Still not used to the hardwood floors,” I said weakly as I clambered to my feet.
Mark wordlessly handed me the coffee cup.
“At least you saved the most important thing, right?” I said as I limped to my seat, my hip silently screaming.
“That’s why he’s the best man!” Wes joked.
Mark fucking Holbrook. No way was I going to plan a wedding with him.
I slurped my coffee. Mark’s eye twitched.
I did not want him here ruining the wedding. Normally, I wasn’t all that involved in the planning except for the dress and veil. But now? I rubbed my hands together. A whole, entire wedding was going to be planned by me! Mark was not going to ruin this with his glare and his bad attitude.
I sent evil thought waves at him over my coffee.I’m going to make you quit,I silently promised.
Ivy had Liz’s scrapbook out on the table. “This is such a great start,” she told Liz.
“She’s quite creative!” Wes bragged, taking Liz’s hand. She beamed.
“I had some ideas as well,” I cut in, plopping down the scrapbooking pages I had started on.
“That isn’t the dress design, is it?” Mark said, brow furrowed. “Aren’t you supposed to keep that hidden from the groom?”
Andddd here we go. Mark is mansplaining weddings to. Me! A literal wedding dress maker!I fumed.I’m so going to make him quit, and that starts now.
“Obviously this does not have the dress design,” I told him, trying to make my voice as sweet as my third morning coffee. “These ideas are about the general theme for the wedding.”
Mark grunted.
