Page 73 of Seale the Deal

The drive is quiet. The sun hangs low, casting everything in gold. Trees blur past the windows, their leaves yellow, edges tinged with amber. Audrey hums along to the radio, but I’m too tangled in my own thoughts to join her. Not for the first time today, I wonder if I’m making a mess I won’t know how to clean up after.

Remi’s house smells like roasted garlic and butter the second we walk through the door.

You’re late! she calls from the kitchen. Which means I’ve had extra time to make my legendary burgers even more legendary. You’re welcome.

Audrey raises a brow at me and mouths, Legendary?

I shrug like, You know how she is.

Remi appears in the archway with a spatula in one hand and her apron slightly askew. Her pale cheeks are pink from the heat of the kitchen, and her bangs are pressed to her forehead.

I swear, these are the best veggie burgers in the Pacific Northwest, possibly the entire galaxy, she announces. If Gordon Ramsay tried them, he’d cry. But I’m humble, so I won’t say it out loud.

You literally just said it, I deadpan as Audrey and I hang up our coats.

Remi grins. I know. I’m delightful.

She turns back to the kitchen, and we follow her in. The scent of caramelized onion, mushrooms, and whatever Remi has deemed secret spices fills the entire space.

Are you using chickpeas? Lentils? Audrey asks as she looks at the patties.

Black beans, Remi replies. I’ve perfected this recipe. Once I started adding in a little smoked paprika and a balsamic reduction, it really levelled up.

What happens when you hit max level? I ask.

Global domination, Remi replies breezily. Or my own cooking show. Whichever comes first.

Dinner is loud and full of laughter. I forgot how nice it can be to laugh with friends. Adult friendships have always been elusive to me. University made it easy. We all lived in the same world and saw each other every day. Friendship felt as accidental as it did purposeful in those days. Then graduation scattered us in different directions. We promised to stay in touch, and we did for a while. But marriages, children, and just life in general happened, and one by one, the messages became less frequent until they stopped altogether. Kay is the only person from that chapter of my life who’s still in it.

After that, my social circle became Captain Skinny-Dick’s social circle. They were kind enough, but were they really mine? When that relationship ended, so did those friendships.

This feels different. It feels like two women who are happy to get to spend time with me because it’s me.

Along with the burgers, Remi made a salad with spinach, strawberries, candied pecans, and a lemon vinaigrette she made in a rush, but it’s delicious. I’d never say it out loud, because Remi’s ego doesn’t need it, but her burgers might be the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten. Remi insists we toast the meal with pinot grigio because, You only live once, and I bought a whole case on sale.

So… Audrey says, leaning her elbows on the table once we’ve eaten our weight in veggie burger glory. How’s the wedding planning going?

I know she’s not trying to interrogate me, but my pulse picks up. It’s not surprising the subject came up; after all, everyone has said how excited they are for Ruger.

It’s going. We’re not exactly doing the big, splashy thing, I say, fiddling with the corner of my napkin. We’re keeping it simple.

Right, Remi jumps in. We were thinking the Cultural Center as the venue.

Beautiful location, Audrey says. Those massive windows in the banquet rooms. A million-dollar view.

The ocean with the mountains, Remi says. The colours are going to look amazing in there with the fall vibes outside.

Despite not knowing where this place is, I find myself picturing tall mountains rising up beyond the bay, glowing gold in the evening sun. Me walking down an aisle lined with smiling faces as I walk toward Ruger in a suit—camo, of course.

It all feels so beautiful and real and—

Wait! What the hell am I doing?

I cannot start romanticizing a fake marriage just because the venue sounds stunning and my brain insists Ruger would look damn fine in a suit.

I wish it was an option when I got married, Audrey says, breaking me from my thoughts.

Where did you get married? I ask.