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She waves her hand. “Yes, it’s fine. I’ll just get a roll with shrimp in it.”
Syd bounces in her seat. “I’m so excited for you, Mace. Has Ryan told the guys?”
“He’s going to tonight. You guys couldn’t have planned this night any better! We were so excited that we could tell everyone in person.”
Aiden and I each planned a dinner out with our friends to check off the first thing on our to-do list. Hannah took Lexi to a new Disney movie so it worked out perfectly. Oh, shit. I start counting months in my head. My fingers move as I count each month.
“We’re due at the end of May, first of June,” Macie says, finishing my calculation for me. I wonder how she’s going to feel being eight months pregnant in the wedding. I hold off asking so we can enjoy her excitement for a little bit.
The waiters place our food in front of us. My mouth waters just looking at it. My rolls are filled with shrimp, crab, and tuna with a creamy wasabi sauce on top. My nose tickles in anticipation of the wasabi. I break apart my chopsticks and pick a slice up. Dipping it in soy sauce, I bring the roll to my mouth and savor the flavors in each bite. My nose burns and my eyes water from the heat; that short burst of burning is why I love wasabi.
We chat about everything while we eat with lots of laughs in between. By the time dinner is done, I’m rubbing my sore cheeks. I take a quick drink of my wine before talking.
“Okay, ladies. There is a reason I asked y’all to come to dinner.” Syd flashes a knowing smile. She already knows what I’m about to say. I hate that Katie isn’t here, but I talked to her right before dinner. She screamed through the phone in excitement. I’m surprised I can hear out of that ear.
Butterflies flutter in my stomach, and I’m not sure why I’m so nervous. I clasp my hands together and say, “We set a date, April 29.”
“Finally,” cheers Harper. I roll my eyes, but laugh. I know I’ve been avoiding the planning stage, but it hasn’t been that long.
“And I’d like it if you all would be my bridesmaids,” I say shyly. My heart beats fast, and I can feel my face flush. My feelings catch me off guard. I don’t know if I’m afraid they’re going to say no or I just don’t like being in the spotlight.
Cheers and yesses are repeated around the table. I let out a soft breath and fan myself. Syd looks at me, shaking her head. I stick my tongue out at her. She’s always been the social butterfly out of the two of us. She craves the spotlight, while I try to keep out of it.
I glance at Macie who’s biting her lip. “I know you’ll be eight months pregnant, but that’s okay, right?” Aiden won’t let Ryan back out, so if Macie doesn’t want to be in the wedding I’m going to have to find someone else. And I don’t have anyone else, so I’m hoping she says yes.
“If you don’t mind a huge whale in your wedding.” She scrunches up her nose.
I slam my hand down on the table, glasses clink together. Crap. I grasp the round table, steadying it. “What! You worked hard for the baby, you better be showing that belly off loud and proud. And you’ll be adorable pregnant.”
She smiles and her eyes well up with tears. I blink back the tears threatening to form.
“Y’all are making me cry,” Sydney says.
“Sorry. These damn hormones. Yes, I’d be honored to be in your wedding,” she says, blotting the tears with her napkin.
“Yay!” I clap, looking around the table. “Thank y’all for being such good friends. You’ve been there for me for so much, and I love y’all.”
“This isn’t helping me,” Macie cries and laughs at the same time.
“Dessert, ladies?” the waiter says.
“Yes,” everyone replies at once.
A few minutes later, we’re all staring at the decadent chocolate cake in front of us. “Holy mother of chocolate,” Syd says. The cake’s icing looks like hot fudge, smooth and silky. Strawberries line one side of the cake, laying in melted chocolate. The other side has a scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzled in the chocolate. My taste buds are already buzzing, telling me to hurry the hell up and take a bite. I bring a forkful to my mouth and as soon as the rich, warm chocolate hits my tongue, I close my eyes and drown in chocolate-induced euphoria.
Bryn clears her throat. I open my eyes and glare at her. She’s ruining the moment. This better be good. She laughs at me. “So…” She pauses and looks around the table. “Who am I going to be paired with?”
“After you just interrupted my chocolate orgasm, who do you think?” I say, jokingly. She is with Ryker but that decision was already decided.
“Really? Can’t I be with Max?” she whines.
Harper figures out what’s going on and jumps in. “I don’t mind being with Ryker,” she boasts as she brings a forkful of chocolate cake to her mouth. She lets out a moan when she pulls the fork out. “This cake is amazeballs,” she mumbles.
“Max is the best man so he’ll be with Syd.” I shove a piece of cake in my mouth before I have to talk again.
“Then I’ll be with Damon.”
I sigh. “Bryn, he’ll still be there whether you walk down the aisle with him or walk in front of him.” She rolls her eyes over the brim of her wine glass.
