Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
6
HUGH
Hugh
Sounds too good to be true. What’s it called?
Oscar
The Starburst Illuminator. I’m telling you, this kid is ten tons of initiative in a three pound box.
Hugh
Chuckie sounds like someone else I know.
Oscar
You’d better not be talking about Louis, because I don’t want to hear another word about how big his INITIATIVE is.
I let out a soft laugh, trying not to disturb Abby as she dozed beside me on my sofa while Dex and Rafa cleaned up the kitchen after I’d made dinner for everyone. It had been over four months since Abby’s accident, and she’d fully recovered from her injuries long ago, but she’d taken on a second job after school and on weekends to help make a little extra money to put toward her wedding. This meant that when she wasn’t working, she was usually exhausted.
“It’ll all be worth it when I get my dream wedding,” she told me at least twice a week, sounding a bit more manic each time. “I read on Wedding Wonderland that I really need a lighting designer if I’m going to make the most of the luxury tablescapes, and none of that’s cheap. But I’m only getting married once, so it’s got to be perfect, you know?”
I couldn’t really argue with her because I did know. Like me, Abby wanted the hearts-and-flowers fairy tale our parents once had. She wanted to dance with the man she adored while two hundred of their friends and family members bore witness. She wanted to dress up in a puffy white gown and feel like a princess because for so much of our lives, she hadn’t felt important to anyone but me. And while I’d never suggest a five-tier wedding cake or a luxury tablescape was a requirement for anyone, I’d worked enough weddings to know the care and planning that went into making a wedding perfect was a beautiful symbol of commitment; Abby wanted her wedding to be a big deal because the love she and Dex had found was a big deal.
I couldn’t agree more… even if I was a bit worried she was working too hard. I was just grateful she’d made the effort to come into town to celebrate my birthday. And frankly, I couldn’t entirely blame her fatigue for the way she’d fallen asleep immediately after dinner. After the two bottles of wine we’d all shared, I was feeling happily dozy myself.
Oscar
How did your mom’s soup recipe turn out? Did Abby feel pampered on her birthday?
Hugh
Soup was great. But it was my birthday, not hers.
Abby shifted on the sofa and blinked her eyes open. “I didn’t fall asleep, I swear.”
I bit back a grin and tried to give her my serious face. “I believe you. One hundred percent. And on an unrelated note, some drool is caked to your chin.”
My phone buzzed.
Oscar
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK.
Shit. I winced. Had I been completely sober, I might have realized mentioning it was my birthday would make him feel beholden.
Hugh
Stop whatever it is you’re doing.
Oscar
This is a late April Fools joke. Tell me you’re pulling my leg.
Hugh
It’s April 8th. April Fools jokes only work on April 1st. That’s kind of the point.
Oscar
Are you at home for deliveries?
Hugh
No. No deliveries.
Oscar
Hush. If FRANK chooses to send his best friend something, that’s his business. But tell me this—what person in their RIGHT MIND cooks for everyone on his own birthday?
Hugh
Someone who loves making his people happy?
Oscar
You’re too good for this earth, Hugh Linzee.
Hugh
It was vegetable soup, Oscar. Not a soufflé.
Oscar
And how did Louis like your soup?
I blinked. Louis and I had been seeing each other here and there, but it hadn’t occurred to me to invite him to my birthday dinner. Maybe I didn’t want to run the risk of him advising my sister and Dex on prenups.
Hugh
No Louis today. Just family.
Oscar
And Rafa.
Hugh
Rafa is family. We’ve been friends forever.
I put my phone away when Rafa and Dex came back into the family room and joined us. Rafa was in the middle of telling Dex about his latest event-planning job. He’d scored a huge contract managing a charity gala and couldn’t stop talking about the enormous budget he’d get to spend.
The conversation naturally progressed until Abby was interrogating me on what cool wedding trends I’d noticed this season.
“Abs, the season’s only a few weeks old. Other than seeing a lot of burnished gold instead of silver, I’ve got nothing to report.”
“Huh.” She waved a hand at her fiancé. “Dex, remember that.”
He gave her a mock salute from his spot on the floor. “I remember every word you say, baby. Burnished gold. My favorite kind of… gold.”
Rafa snorted and took another sip of wine. “If it isn’t, it should be. Everything’s going that way this year. But if the two of you aren’t getting married until December, I suggest navy and burgundy. The burgundy will be a nod to the holidays without being on the nose.”