AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I hold up my glass of water, "cheers to the worst sex lives of local twenty-somethings, we take the cake for sure."
"I don't even want to cheers to that, it's too depressing." Mel says before chugging the remaining swig of wine in her glass.
"I'm just nervous, Ella. I thought you were going to be there."
Tomorrow is my big meeting with Ella's brother Brett and his fiancee Carter, and I only just found out that the person we have in common won't be in attendance. Not that I need someone to come with me, but it would be nice to have a buffer person. I have only met Carter once and I would hardly call it an introduction. And I have never met her soon-to-be husband Brett, but I have read about how he used to be in the tabloids, so I am going in with the expectation that he might not play nice.
"Something came up unexpectedly, and I can't make it. I'm sorry but I know you will be amazing. Carter already loves what you did in the shop with the class and I know you guys will get along."
Her confidence barely moves the needle on mine, still standing close to empty. This is an unfamiliar feeling and the way it hangs heavy in my stomach is annoying. I rub my hand just above the waistband of my sweatpants, trying to find a way to soothe the tightness. It has nothing todo with the clothing and everything to do with the nerves now floating around in me.
Hey, any chance you are free tomorrow?
*fingers crossed emoji*
I have the farm stand opening of the corn maze ...
Why?
What's happening?
Shit, how could I forget the annual Greenway Farm corn maze opening. I have only been getting lost in it every year since I was twelve. They would rate the difficulty based on how long it took Bryn and I to go through it, knowing we were practically experts after a few years.
Nothing more important than that.
I will stop by after my wedding consultation. We both know it's more fun to go through the maze after dark anyways.
There goes my plan of taking Bryn. Looks like I will be riding solo but that's alright, I can do this!
"I'm so excitedfor the vision you have, thank you for being available on such short notice. We weren't planning on having an event like this, but our parents are pretty insistent." I have been here for almost two hours and everything Carter and I have talked about has gone over perfectly, from the Dahlias on the tables to the Calla Lilies in her bouquet, plus the wheat grass for the boutonnieres. I feel like Ella told her I was nervous so that she would go easy on me, but we didn't need that, our fall visions aligning. "I'm not positive on the set up time for the rehearsal. Let me check with Shane, he owns the venue."
Shane Sutton is the owner of the Sutton Manor, one of the most sought after wedding venues in three counties. His straw colored hair hangs just to his shoulders and is the only disheveled thing about him. The deep navy suit that is tailored perfectly to his body doesn't have a speck of lint on it, his dress shoes polished to the point of rivaling a new car on the lot. Rich men shouldn't be allowed to be handsome. I expect him to be a douche, that is the energy he gives off, mixed with confidence and that he always gets what he wants.
Except he is cool, like actually down to Earth and nice to talk to. And when he asked me if he could get my number, I told him I could do him one better and introduce him to my friend Carina. In hindsight, it mightbe getting a little too involved in Carina's recent breakup, but maybe if I present her with a fancy new man to take her mind off Colt, she won't be as angry to learn that he and I have history.
And now I am standing in line at Greenway Farm, freshly changed out of my classy wedding vendor attire and into a more casual outfit. Dark skinny jeans with good stretch for all the walking in the maze. Sneakers to ensure I have good traction in the soft dirt. An orange button-up flannel shirt that will keep me warm as the sun finishes its descent behind the hills while also being festive for autumn.
Seeing such a great crowd of people coming out for someone in our community only solidifies my decision to open Thorns In Bloom here, in my hometown. Elysian is all about building up our town and keeping the locals from venturing to a bigger city. We need all of the support we can get to keep our community blooming.
"Ahh, I thought that was you! You made it!" I couldn't love Bryn more if I tried, but man she needs to learn how to control her excitement. Her loud screeching breaks through the muffled chatter of the other patrons waiting in line. She rushes over to me and pulls me into a suffocating hug.
"Hey Bryn" is what I attempt to say, except I can barely make out the words with my mouth squashed against her chest.
"Wish I could stay and chat but the parents need me to help run this place. Come find me when you make it out ... if you can make it out without me guiding you." She tosses me a wink and turns on her heel back towards the farm stand at the front of the line.
There are no streetlights out here. It's only the string lights that hang inside the farm stand and the one large light aimed towards the corn mazelighting up the area. When I get to the front of the line, Bryn's dad insists that my money is no good here since I am a part of their family. I squeeze him quickly before moving into the building to wait for the next group of people to be let into the maze.
It is bittersweet to be back here when only a few weeks ago I was selling my floral creations in the back corner. Now I have more than a corner, I have four to be exact and they are all mine. The table that used to have my bright bouquets on it now has a small sign instead, telling customers to come visit my shop. It's not something I left, it's something they put up. That's the kind of people they are, the ones who build up everyone around them. Local supporting local - it's priceless.
"Group twelve, we are lining up at the maze entrance. Please make your way outside and meet us there in five minutes." Bryn's voice carries through the small building and most of the patrons who have gathered inside begin pushing their way out the single door, myself included.
The dirt road has been softened by the recent rain, my feet sinking in just enough to slow down my pace. My sneakers might be ruined before the night is over. My pocket vibrates, forcing my hands to untuck from the sleeves of my shirt to retrieve it.
Incoming ...
What the ... ?
"No shit, it really is you Deli!" Ashton Reeve doesn't give me time to fully turn towards him before he scoops me up and spins me around in the air. I am usually a hugger, but the number of hugs I have gotten tonight is bordering on excessive. The last time I saw him, he was shorter than me and could barely lift his fork without losing his breath. What have theseboys been eating? Coming up behind Ashton I see Colton and Lucas, both wearing dark colors but I know it's them. Lucas is the shortest now, which I'm sure drives him crazy since he is the oldest.
