“Right,” Liz said, staring at the food like a starving person.
“I brought you your own personal container,” Mark said, sliding a greasy carton across the table to her. “Macaroni and cheese, baked beans, coleslaw, pulled brisket, tangy barbeque sauce.”
Liz opened the container and took a large bite, letting out a moan. Then she looked around guiltily. “I shouldn’t.” She took another large bite than hastily closed the container. “Right. We’re having a tea and light refreshments.”
“But barbeque!” Carter said, taking a bite of his own pulled-pork sandwich. “It’s so satisfying.”
“Did you bring enough to share?” Allie, Carter’s girlfriend, admonished as he took a mouthful of coleslaw.
“No, they did not,” I said, taking the barbeque out of Liz’s hands.
“The baby is hungry!” she complained.
“Then the baby can have cucumber sandwiches,” I retorted, closing the container and shoving it back at Mark.
“I can’t even have alcohol. I should at least get barbeque!”
“There’s not enough for all the other guests.”
But even I could tell it was a losing battle. The smell of barbecue permeated the historic venue. As soon as the guests walked in and the smell of mesquite hit them, they all immediately craved barbeque. The fact that four very attractive men were doling out the yummy food just made the proposition even sweeter.
“Brea!” Elsie said in horror. “They’re ruining my bridal tea!”
“I thought these high-society women were supposed to perpetually be on an alcohol-and-lettuce diet,” I complained. “How are they suddenly all about to eat a giant plate of barbeque?”
It seemed as if a riot was about to start. The macaroni and cheese had run out, and Liz was hormonal and pregnant and not sharing what was in her own special container.
“Where’s the rest of the food?” one young brunette asked me.
“Cucumber sandwich?” I offered.
“I missed the macaroni and cheese?” she asked in annoyance.
Mark smirked at me. Then he announced at the top of his voice, “Anyone want more barbeque?”
The women clamored around him, and I pushed my way through the crowd. “You’re going to start a riot!” I hissed at Mark. “Besides, how are you going to turn three bones and some cheese grease into enough to feed the masses?”
He smirked. “Unlike you, I planned ahead.” He let out a piercing whistle, and an army of servers carting racks of foil-wrapped barbeque and sides filed in. “Problem solved!” Mark said smugly.
“You created a problem thatyou’resolving!” I shrieked as the crowd of women eagerly shoved forward as the servers laid out pans of mac ’n cheese over hot Sterno cans and salty, fatty brisket with vats of the tangy barbecue sauce.
Mark shoved his hands into his pockets and walked back over to the ignored table of adorable ladylike snacks.
“This is my one chance at a perfect wedding, and you’re trying to ruin it for me!” I scolded as I raced after him.
Mark snorted. “I’m making it better.” He picked up a plate next to the tea sandwiches and deliberately placed one of each type on it.
I crossed my arms.
“Word to the wise?” he whispered in my ear as he ate one of the cucumber sandwiches with a snap of his teeth. “Don’t try to best me. I will ruin you.”
12
Mark
Iwas riding high on my win at the bridal tea. After everyone had gotten plates piled high with barbecue, my brother Carter had led all the women in a rousing game of tea pong, which was basically beer pong with the imported tea.
Brea had been like an incensed kitten, puffed up in anger. I made sure to stay out of the way of her claws.
