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“Were you planning on crying?” I ask, trying not to sound appalled that this huge hulking man would shed a tear at a wedding.
“No,” he deadpans, looking right at me and it takes me a few seconds to catch up. That explains why the woman behind us was laughing.
“Oh, you have them for me,” I now reply, wanting to push out my lip in a pout with how damn sweet it is that he thought of me. “Eric, are you single?”
“Yes, Zoey, I am, but my job,” he answers shrugging, and I instantly think about how he never sleeps and how he’s been by my side ever since Ethan hired him. I can’t imagine wanting a boyfriend who spends all of his time with other people.
I nod softly, feeling a little bad for him. He must be lonely, but I also have no idea. I know that I had been single for a while, but I was far from lonely. Don’t get me wrong, finding Ethan was the best thing to happen to me and I wouldn’t change it for anything.
The ceremony is quick and beautiful and I’m so happy for Brandon and Tracy. It has me thinking all kinds of things about Ethan and me. Getting married used to feel like something that was for people who were twice my age, but now, I want everything. I want forever with Ethan.
Ethan hits me with an air kiss as he walks by, leaving with the rest of the wedding party down the aisle, and there’s something about it that has me giggling.
Who would have thought Ethan Morrison, reserved business mogul, would have been blowing me a kiss while walking down the aisle of this best friend’s wedding? Certainly not me, and I never thought it would be me that he was blowing the kiss to.
We all stand and when we reach the end of the aisle, Eric holds out his arm, and I slip mine through it. It’s amazing to me that he just knows what to do to not draw attention to himself while he’s here. I doubt anyone knows he’s not my date.
“What’s your plan for the reception?” I ask Eric as we’re walking over to the lodge, the weather absolutely perfect. It’s days like this that remind me why I love living here. It’s not just the snow and the slopes that keep me here.
Now I can add Ethan to that list and the life we’re going to build here together. I can’t wait to start on the expansion and dip my toes into that venture.
“I plan on being with you until Mr. Morrison arrives,” Eric replies, and it’s funny to me now that he calls me Zoey, but still calls Ethan, Mr. Morrison. I guess we have been through a bit more together than he has with Ethan. There’s a comfort factor here. After all this is over, it’s going to be hard to see him go. I wonder if he feels the same way.
“Okay, sounds good,” I reply, as he holds the door open for me. “Will you have dinner with us?” I have no idea why I’m worried about him, but something feels different about today. It feels like he should be offered a place to sit and eat since he’s always on high alert.
“You don’t need to worry about me, Zoey,” he says, smiling a little. “How about I get you a drink?” he now offers, looking over at the bar, the room still fairly empty.
“A drink would be amazing.”
I watch him walk away, before turning and taking in the room and everything that is slightly off. The fact that I work here doesn’t help and I’m now straightening centerpieces and making sure the lighting is correct. The view from the floor to ceiling glass windows should not be obstructed by bad lighting in the room. All of this should have been checked already, but I can’t let it go.
I move over to the cake table and find the server and the knife missing. This was something that was purchased by Tracy to match her color scheme, and now I’m on the hunt to find it. Heading back toward the kitchen, I find the chefs all diligently working on the pending menu.
“Careful with those crab cakes,” I call out when I see one of the assistants over-searing them. “You’ll dry them out and make them crumble.”
He looks over at me, an annoyed look on his face until he sees it’s me. He gives a quick nod and removes them from the heat. It’s not that I know how to cook, it’s just after working here for so long and overseeing a bunch of weddings, I know what to look for. People love to complain about dry crab cakes.
“Has anyone seen the cake server and knife?” I call out over the kitchen noise. Tracy declined to have a wedding planner and I don’t blame her, sometimes the middleman is more annoying than helpful, but right now would be a good time for one.
It’s not a big deal. This gives me something to do while Ethan is off doing pictures. I gave him some areas to suggest especially during the magic hour which is quickly approaching.
“I think it’s over on the counter by the spices,” one of the chefs calls, tossing a hand in the direction and I find the box, removing the utensils, I grab some soap and give them a quick wash.
Tracy wanted them to match the centerpieces, and I head toward the storage area near the private elevator to the bridal suite. This should be where any extra items are left after all the deliveries are done. There should be extra flowers and greenery in it.
There are a ton of extras in the room sitting on a table, most of the flowers are in vases and I pluck a few of the pale pink peonies and the eucalyptus leaves, tucking them under the ribbon that matches Tracy’s colors, and tying it around the handles of the utensils.
My phone chimes out, and I mutter, “Oh shit,” realizing I’ve left Eric out there with my drink and probably panicking about where I disappeared to.
I pull it from my clutch and see his text asking where I am and that he’s tracking me. I have no idea why, but it makes me laugh. I can see him on this mission to find me, stomping through the halls, ready to kick anyone’s ass who happens to be near me.
It should be funny, but it’s about all I can do to keep myself from stressing about it. Living like this is weird and crazy, but it has become my life.
“Sorry!” I yell out when I hear Eric’s heavy feet padding across the carpeted floor and into the room I’m in.
“Fuck, Zoey, that was not cool,” he barks out, and I bite down on my lip. I need to remember that it is his job to make sure I’m safe and I didn’t make that very easy for him just now.
“Sorry, it won’t happen again,” I tell him, shaking my head as I shrug. “Don’t worry, you’ll be off duty soon. Ethan should be here in a bit.”
