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Her own wedding, to be precise, but it was way too early for that conversation. If she were two Bellinis in, maybe.
“I have trouble focusing. ADHD.” He pointed to himself, seemingly unashamed to admit it. Not that he should be, but Louis hadn’t liked admitting to his flaws. “Thank goodness for short-form videos trending right now or I’d be up to my eyeballs in editing.”
“You don’t edit the videos yourself?”
“That’s a job for my editing team.”
“You have an editingteam?” She had assumed Trick was running a one-man show; filming, editing and posting on his own.
“Hell yes. And a few people who do nothing but research hashtags and reply to comments on my behalf. There are a lot of moving parts in the life of a wedding crasher.” He leaned back on the rocker, his elbow propped on the arm, looking casual and, okay, she’d admit it.Fun.
For all the fun Rylee planned, she hadn’t reserved much for herself. Which was probably what rankled her most about Trick. He had fun constantly, and at the expense of everyone who’d worked hard to plan the events he crashed. “Do you ever feel badly for showing up to drink the drinks and eat the food and party with the guests at an event where you contributed nothing?”
His eyebrows lifted.
She didn’t blink. It was a fair question.
“You don’t think I contribute?”
She held up her cellphone. “When was the last time you called vendors to ensure there are enough chairs for the ceremony? Have you ever made a last-minute trip to the dollar store in search of votive cups? What about a champagne shortage, which required you to phone a friend and ask if they have a spare bottle or two tucked away for a special occasion?”
He didn’t take offense to her line of questioning, and neither did he sit up straight. He stayed in that same lounging position, taking care to finish his drink before answering. “Haveyouever started a conga line at a wedding reception to liven up a stale dance floor? Or fast-danced with a four-year-old flower girl when her family was too tired to indulge her? How many times have you threatened a guest with bodily harm when he is sniffing around the gift table looking for envelopes filled with cash?” He set his glass on the table and dropped his elbows to his knees, peering up at her with such earnestness that she squirmed in her seat.
She hadn’t done any of those things, which he must have assumed.
“Do you enjoy the receptions of the weddings you plan? Or are you on the clock until the last guest leaves?”
“There is always the possibility something could go wrong.” She elevated her chin defensively.
“True. But who saidyouhave to prevent every possible accident?”
“And who putyouin charge of being the life of the party and/or temporary security guard?”
He sat back and pulled in a deep breath. “So, we agree. We’ve assigned ourselves our roles.”
“At least I’m invited to the events.”
“And paid. I shell out a lot of money to be there.”
She assumed he was referring to the cost of traveling to the event, or buying a new suit. Camera equipment was expensive.
“As far as invitations,” he continued, “those come later for me. Baby showers. Birthday parties. One second wedding for a groom.”
“You keep in touch with them?” That surprised her.
“I don’t seek it, but some of them reach out. It’s not uncommon for the bride and groom to thank me for being there, or send me photos that I’m in.”
She had to laugh.What in the Owen Wilson...?Was Trick serious?
“So because of your history,” she said, “you thought you’d win over Ari and Ex the same way? By crashing their high-profile wedding and, what,wooinggrandmothers or bridesmaids, or, or...”
“Wedding planners?”
She pursed her lips.
“I didn’t plan onwooinganyone. Just like I didn’t plan on becoming a professional wedding crasher. I happen to excel at it, so that’s what I do.”
“Are you talking about the wooing or the crashing?”
