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“Oh… uhhh,” Vivian stutters. “Planning is going really well.”
“When are you planning the big day for?”
“Summer,” she answers at the same time Todd says, “Winter.”
The two of them exchange a look. Todd is looking at her with an, ‘I thought we discussed this,’look. If anyone can point out a fake relationship, it’s me because I’ve been in one all summer. I’m pretty sure my jaw is on the floor and my eyes flash to Marc who’s standing to the side of the table. Clearly, he has come to the same realization.. His eyebrows are pinched together and he has a smirk on his face.
“We’re working out the details.” Todd clears his throat and lets out a small cough.
“Yes. The details,” Vivian repeats, taking a sip of her beer.
Sitting here with Vivian for the first time, I can tell she doesn’t fit the mold for whatever this is playing out to be. These two don’t have any chemistry whatsoever. I noticed it sitting on the back deck of the cabin, and it’s been made clearer now.
While I can’t knock them for what they’re doing because Marc and I are doing the same thing… At least we have some sort of explosive chemistry happening between us.
My gaze travels to Bill to try and assess his thoughts of the situation and his eyes are bouncing between Todd and Vivian as he tries to piece the pieces of the puzzle together himself.
“How about you, Marc?” Todd taunts, as if he’s trying to catch us in the same thing.
“Spring,” he says with conviction. “We decided onSound River Studiosin Long Island City.”
“It has the most perfect view of New York City as the backdrop for our ceremony. I can’t wait to make this man my husband there.” I glance over at Marc and I’ve never seen a wider smile on his face at the admission of me looking up the location from the first time he mentioned it at dinner. A smile that tells me that he’d like that too. My heart rate picks up, because the more and more we put on this show, the more I wish this was all real.
“I can’t wait to dance with my wife on their patio,” he replies back.
“Gosh,” Cathy coos, with her hand over her heart. “I truly love your love.”
“I hope you and Bill will be there. Plus I need some help with booking a DJ for the event. I haven’t forgotten your offer.”
Cathy shoots me a wink. “You better take me up on that.”
Our conversation is interrupted when the waiter delivers a couple of pizzas, placing them on the coffee table sitting between the two couches. Over the next half hour, the men talk about work, and the women talk about wedding things. When I say women, I mean Cathy and myself. Vivian was very tight lipped on plans.
“So, Avery.” Bill sits back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. “Could you ever see yourself with a place out here?”
I laugh at his very serious question. “You know how I feel about my beaches, Bill.”
“I do, but has this day changed anything for you?”
“If I'm being honest with you… it absolutely has. I know we just got here and haven’t seen much of the town, but it truly is such a peaceful place for a getaway. It almost reminds me of home, but better.” I take a sip of my sangria. “So to answer your question, I could totally see us having a place out here in the future. Plus it’s way closer to our home in the city than Vermont is.”
“You better get on that, Marc.” Bill laughs at Marc.
“One thing at a time, sir.” He laughs back at him over the brim of his drink. “Maybe after the wedding and honeymoon.”
“We saw a house for sale on the way up the mountain when we were coming in today,” Todd says, breaking into the conversation. “I sent it over to my assistant to see if she can get me more details on it.”
“I bet you did,” Bill mumbles against his beer. “It’s a great town.”
I look at Vivian whose face is now beet red with embarrassment. Is she as embarrassed as we are, watching him suck up to his boss the way he is? You’re not alone, girlfriend.
“We’re going to head back to the house if that’s okay with you guys?” Marc asks. “We left early this morning and I’m exhausted already.”
“Of course. Of course.” Bill stands. “We’ll be back there within the hour ourselves.”
Marc tips his head. “Sounds good. See you back at the house.”
After exchanging goodbyes, we’re out the door. Marc stopped by the bar to see Macey again and pay the entire tab without Bill knowing. He kept saying it was the least we could do since he opened his house up to us for the whole weekend.
