Page 7 of Wed Like Wildfire


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I let the quiet fill the space, thinking about how I’d do just about anything to make Nora happy. Right now, she’s not happy because she’s stressed. She has always succeeded at everything she has tried, but I understand that learning to be a doctor is hard shit and trying to conquer any other massive task may be a bit overwhelming.

“Why don’t you hire one of those planner people?” I offer.

She perks up. “A wedding planner?”

“Yeah, sure.” I turn back to her and I can see the wheels turning.

“A planner would handle all the stuff and I would only have to make decisions through her. She would take care of everything and guide me as we go.” She chews on her bottom lip as she mulls it over. “She would know exactly want to do and I wouldn’t have to spend time figuring out the next steps.”

I narrow my brows. “You sound like you already know who you are going to hire.”

Her forehead creases, and she waves my comment away. “I do not. What makes you think that?”

“Your use of ‘she’.” I lean my head back into the plush chair, closing my eyes for a moment while she works through this new information.

“Oh, I just assumed my wedding planner would be a she. That’s rather presumptuous of me. I’m sure there are men who are just as capable at planning weddings,” she replies, but it sounds more like she’s talking to herself, so I just stay silent.

But all too soon, she’s requesting my presence back in the conversation.

“Are you okay with me hiring a wedding planner?” Her tone is sugary sweet but with a hint of unsureness.

I pop an eyelid open. “Yes,” I draw out the word.

“It’s going to be a big expense. They probably cost a lot of money.”

I give her my full attention, leaning toward her. I reach over and grab her hand and squeeze it. “Would Dad have paid for a wedding planner?”

She sniffs. “Yes.”

“Then I’ll pay for one. I told you. I’m paying for it all. Whatever you want”—I pause—“within reason, I’ll make sure you have.”

“So swans at the ceremony and releasing a thousand butterflies as we ride off into the sunset, is that within reason?” Her tone is even, but I can read the mischief in her eyes.

“You’re a shit.” To that, she snorts but smiles. I continue, “If you feel like swans and fucking butterflies would make your wedding the best day it could possibly be, then fine.”

She squeezes my hand again. “I love you so much. You’re the best brother a girl could have.”

I roll my eyes as she lets go of my hand.

“Yeah, yeah, you have to say that because your wedding is about to cost me two hundred grand, isn’t it?” Shit, I hope not, but I can afford it.

“Oh my God, I hope not.” She giggles. “I want something that is perfectly me and Mateo. I want fun and sweet, with a hint of elegance. I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge fan of butterflies. They kinda creep me out.”

I shake my head. Dang, she’s a little weirdo.

Nora doesn't stay much longer after we talk wedding. And fuck me, I’ll do just about anything not to talk about weddings. She knows I’m not a fan. When we first had to sit down and talk about how I would be paying for it, she was shocked that I offered. I was, of course, taken aback because why the hell wouldn’t I pay for it?

I told her I didn’t want to be involved in the planning but that I would cut checks and that’s it. She happily agreed, because what bride wants a grumpy older brother who hates weddings tagging along to help her plan. No one. That’s who.

She’s been engaged for nearly three months and tonight was only our second wedding conversation. It’s one too many, but clearly she needed advice tonight.

I see her out with a kiss to the cheek and a promise for dinner on her next evening off, then lock up the house as I go.

I need to be up early, but I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had an opportunity to get some time to myself. So I decide to head down to my spacious basement and play a few rounds ofCall of Battle.

Video games were never my thing growing up, but when I was away at college, my roommate was obsessed. So I started playing them with him. My drug of choice, this war-based, first-person shooter. While it feels like I haven’t had much time to game, it’s always been my go-to when I need to escape from the world of pharmaceuticals and of being the youngest CEO of a big pharama company to date.

While it was always the plan to take over the family business, I wasn’t going to be thirty when I did so. Four years later, it’s hard to remember what life was like before the weight of the world felt like it sat on my shoulders.

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