Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Once the officiant left, we told Vee and Hal we’d join them in a minute, and they returned to the backyard. I gently squeezed Embry’s shoulder and asked, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I just felt really emotional for a minute there. I don’t know why.”
“Same.”
He leaned into me, and I gave him another hug. After a long moment, I murmured, “I guess we should join the celebration.”
“Yeah.” I let go of him, but neither of us moved.
I bought us some time by asking, “Do you like the ring?”
“Oh! I was super distracted, so I didn’t look at it very closely. All I could think about was dropping your ring and losing it through the gaps in the floorboards.” He held up his hand and turned it to examine the ring from all angles. Then he murmured, “It’s absolutely beautiful.”
“Before I forget, here’s this one back.” I took off his turtle ring, picked up his right hand, and slipped it onto his finger.
He squeezed my hand before letting go of it. Then he straightened his posture and said, “There’s a cake. I’d like to eat some of it.”
“Sounds good.”
The cake had been set up on a patio table, and everyone gathered around when Embry announced we were going to cut it. Each of the three small tiers were frosted in an ombre pattern that blended from white to sky blue, and neatly finished with scalloped edges. The whole thing was swathed in a garland of pretty blue and white flowers, and some candy bees were scattered among the blooms. As a cute finishing touch, two bees sat side-by-side on the edge of the top tier.
“A bakery made the cakes,” Embry explained, “but I scraped off the frosting, stacked them, and decorated them. It’s all buttercream, including the flowers. Oh—except for the bees. They’re modeling chocolate.”
I meant it when I told him, “It’s absolutely wonderful.”
He turned to me with a hopeful expression. “Do you really think so?”
“It’s perfect. You’re incredibly talented.”
You would have thought I’d paid him the highest compliment ever, given the way his face lit up. “I’m so glad you like it.”
“I feel bad about cutting it.”
“Don’t worry about that. It’s meant to be enjoyed.”
While Vee took pictures, Embry carved two generous slices out of the bottom tier, which turned out to be a vanilla cake with strawberry filling. We picked up some forks and were about to taste it when someone called, “You’re supposed to feed each other!”
Embry and I chuckled as we awkwardly shoveled some cake into each other’s mouths. Then we stepped aside while Hal began cutting slices and passing them to the rest of the party.
Vee followed up the cake with a champagne toast. As I watched everyone’s reactions, I whispered, “I don’t think the rugby team knows this is a fake wedding.”
“I can’t remember if we told them,” Embry said, “but I don’t think it matters. They’re having a good time either way.”
A little while later, I decided to order some dinner for our gracious hosts. I grinned and muttered, “My family would have a fit if they knew I was serving pizza at my wedding reception.”
Embry and I hung out in the kitchen while we waited for the food to arrive, watching the party through a wall of windows. The yard and pool were aglow with colored lights, techno music was playing, and a disco ball spun over the patio. As Vee danced with three guys, Hal and his big, burly cowboy made out in the gazebo, and the rest of the team played a lively game of beer pong. “Elegant villa by day, party central by night,” Embry murmured.
Once dinner was delivered, we lined up several extra-large pizza boxes on the kitchen counter, along with salads, sodas, and a mountain of garlic bread. Embry glanced at me and said, “I think I’m ready to go. How about you?”
I’d been hoping he’d say that. “Me, too.”
I handed him a box with a medium-sized cheese pizza and grabbed two sodas. Then I stuck my head out the back door and called, “Thanks for everything, guys! Dinner is served in the kitchen, and Embry and I are going to take off.” That was met with a chorus of goodbyes and shouts of congratulations.
As everyone began to make their way inside, Embry picked up his large tote bag, and we cut through the house and stepped out onto the front porch. He paused to send a text, and when he was finished I held up the car keys and asked him, “Want to drive?”
“I don’t know how, so that’s a big nope.”
“Want me to teach you?”
“Not today.”
It was a little cold, so I retrieved my suit jacket from the backseat and draped it over Embry’s shoulders. As we settled in and put on our seatbelts, I said, “So, what’s the plan?”