Shelby's eyes darted between them, fascinated.
"My parents had a courthouse wedding and they're still disgustingly in love after thirty years," she offered.
"Exception," Babushka declared, the heavy scent of her rose perfume fighting it out with Shelby's citrus-scented diffuser. "Not rule."
Piper took a deep breath. "Babushka, while I appreciate your insights, we've already begun making plans that?—"
"Plans change. Vedding is living thing." Babushka waved her hands expressively.
Piper opened her mouth to protest that she had schedules and processes and that surprise visits from relatives weren't part of her carefully sketched timeline, when somebody else knocked on their door.
"Popular night," Shelby observed, moving to answer it.
When she swung the door open, Zach stood in their doorway, slightly out of breath. "Piper. I need to warn you about?—"
His eyes found Babushka at the table, seemingly rearranging the salt and pepper shakers to demonstrate her vision for the head table, the ceramic pieces making tiny clinks against the wooden surface.
His shoulders slumped. "Fuck. I'm too late."
CHAPTER 7
42 DAYS UNTIL ANNA & DRAKE'S WEDDING
PIPER
"Ve don't use that vord." Babushka wrinkled her nose. "Come, Zachary. You are late for dinner."
"Nobody invited me to dinner," Zach said, still standing in the doorway looking between Piper, Shelby, and his grandmother with an expression that suggested he was calculating exactly how much damage had already been done.
"Nonsense. Family alvays invited," Babushka declared. "Sit. Eat. We discuss vedding."
Piper shot him what she hoped was a desperate look. His eyes met hers briefly, and the sympathetic quirk of his mouth sent an unexpected flutter through her chest.
"Babushka," Zach sighed, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. His arm brushed against Piper's as he passed, the warmth lingering on her skin. "How did you even find Piper's apartment?"
"I have my vays," Babushka replied mysteriously, then immediately added, "Anna gave me the address. Said you might be here, too. Since you've mentioned your fondness for the pretty vedding planner many, many times."
Piper's cheeks warmed as Shelby's eyebrows migrated right up toward her hairline. The idea that Zach talked about her made her pulse go faster.
"I mentioned she is organized," Zach said quickly, giving Piper an apologetic look. "And good at her job."
"Like good Russian vorkhorse," Babushka announced.
He winced.
"Horse?" Piper repeated flatly.
"Is compliment," Babushka assured her. "Strong, proud, reliable. Not like lazy American ponies."
The not-usually cramped space of her apartment suddenly felt stifling.
"Zachary says you vill make perfect vedding for Anna and Drake," Babushka continued, patting the chair next to her. "Sit."
Zach started to sit but Babushka pulled the chair closer at the last second, nearly landing him on the carpet instead.
"Too close to corner," Babushka patted his shoulder. "Sitting at corner of the table—brings seven years vithout marriage."
"It's a silly superstition," Zach assured, sliding his chair closer to Piper's. Close enough that their knees touched under the table. Piper didn't move away, surprising even herself.
