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Romy scoffs. “Okay. It’s not just I do, cake, and puff pastries.” She turns her attention back to me. “You do the cake tasting, you get a dance lesson, and you meet with the DJ to pick out your songs, and lastly, this one is my favorite.”
“What is it?” I rack my brain to think of what could be missing.
“A tantric yoga session and a meeting with a sex therapist.” She claps her hands softly, and my gut feels like an ocean liner sinking to the bottom.
“Yoga? Sex therapist?” Jude’s facial expression says that’s about the last thing he wants to do. Which of course it is. This is Jude we’re talking about.
“Yes. Open up your mind. It can be amazing and so spiritual.”
“Yeah, no. We don’t need that, right?” he asks me.
I’m sure normal brides would push their grooms to do it. But we’re not a normal bride and groom. What’s the right call here? “Um…”
“See, Jude, she wants to do it. Are you really going to deny her?”
“You want to do it?” Jude asks me, eyes wide.
“I don’t know. A lot of couples do it?” I ask Romy.
“Sure, most of the grooms agree.” She shoots Jude a death glare. “Some argue about it, but the bride can usually convince her man.” She looks at Jude again with the same glare. “Enjoy it. It’s very sexual, and I assure you, you’ll probably get lucky afterward.” She winks.
Well, that’s not going to happen.
“Fine,” Jude says with the enthusiasm of a toddler eating their peas.
“Great. I’ll mark you down.” Romy’s smile is a little too wide. I think she’s just pushing it to force her cousin to do something he doesn’t want to.
“When is the actual wedding date?” I ask.
“Oh, yeah. It’s a Sunday actually—not this one, but the next. I’ll set up all your appointments, and you just have to show up. It’s all taken care of.”
“We should pay for the time,” I say.
“No, we shouldn’t,” Jude chimes in with a frown.
My head whips in his direction. “Why not?”
“Because we’re Noughtons.”
The words we’re and Noughtons are odd coming from Jude’s lips, but I can’t deny that I like the sound of it. How many times did I write Sadie Noughton or Mrs. Jude Noughton throughout the years when I was doodling?
“Yeah, I would never charge you. Plus, the deposit they paid is plenty to cover the appointments. I’m just happy we were able to squeeze you guys in. Since you’re in a rush and all.” Her eyes stay trained on me.
I force a convincing smile, hoping to slip this facade by another person. “Well thank you, Romy. We really appreciate it, right, Jude?”
He doesn’t say much, his eyes on the pictures of happy brides and grooms on the office wall. I kick him, and he looks at us.
“Yeah,” he says, not knowing what he’s agreeing to.
“I’ll be in touch, and if there’s anything you really want to incorporate into the wedding, let me know.” Romy smiles and stands from behind her desk.
“We’re fine with whatever you usually do. Neither of us is picky,” I say, standing as well.
Jude is still sitting there staring at the pictures of couples kissing on the balcony as the sun sets. At least we’re getting married at a beautiful place.
“You should be picky. It’s your wedding. Do what you want.” Romy rounds the desk and opens her arms to hug me.
Jude finally stands, and he and Romy give each other a one-arm hug. “Thanks, Romy.”
