AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jean-Pierre’s hand flew to his chest. “How romantic.”
I clicked my tongue, suddenly feeling bad for the Frenchman.
“We are surprising our friends and family you see.” Jack circled behind me, placing his hands on my lower belly. “We’re pregnant,” he stage-whispered.
“Congratulations!” Jean-Pierre clapped, tears forming in his eyes. “This is a cause for celebration! You must have champagne.” He pointed to Jack. Then he swiveled to face me. “And you, sparkling cider. We keep some in the back for such occasions.” The Frenchman clapped his hands together leaving us alone in the empty bistro.
As soon as Jean-Pierre was out of sight I turned around and smacked Jack in the arm as hard as I could.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?”
Jack’s little joke effectively crossed this place off the list. There was no way I could look Jean-Pierre in the face and explain that Jack was just messing with him to get to me.
Jack laid it onrealthick as we toured the space.
I felt horrible for letting the lie go on, but telling the nice man that Jack was just being an asshole didn’t seem like a good alternative option.
I nodded to Jean-Pierre without really listening to what he had to tell me about the venue and food options. We did get to taste a few of his creations which melted in my mouth, but he stopped me from eating the Camembert because it was unpasteurized. I tried to convince Jack to put some in his pocket for me for later, but he just ate the rest of the plate instead. Enjoying every single morsel of it.
I elbowed him in the gut in frustration.
Finally, after an appropriate amount of time I made our excuses, letting Jean-Pierre know I’d be in touch.
I definitely would keep the venue in mind for future events, just not this one.
After practically pushing Jack out the door I turned to him when I knew the coast was clear.
“Never.” I smacked his back. “Do.” Smack. “That.” Smack. “Again.” Smack. He just took it, laughing at me as he did. I crossed my arms to let him know I wasn’t amused.
“Come on, Mike Tyson, we gotta go.” Jack rounded the car, unlocking it as he did.
During our time at the bistro, I snapped a few pictures to save for my files. After scouting new locations, I typed up all the relevant details, so I had them at the ready in case the venue worked for another event in the future. I must have nearly a thousand files from LA based venues, but my Haver’s Creek database needed to be developed.
The bistro really did make you feel like you were in France. But even with Jack’s ridiculousness, the space probably wouldn’t have worked for the gala. My gut usually told me when I found the perfect place. And my gut, while satisfied with the food, didn’t feel the same about the venue.
“Let’s get through this quickly so that we can get to your venue, okay?” I nodded like a preschool teacher trying to bribe a class into listening.
The corner of Jack’s lips lifted slightly, as if pulled by an imaginary hook.
“Sure thing, Sprinkles.”
My pulse raced at the nickname. With the cracking of my walls came the melting of the ice around my heart. Hearing the nickname in this context, of us partnered together again, didn’t hold as much negativity as it did the morning before.
Besides, although I’d never admit it to his face, I actually thought it was kind of funny pretending to be his wife.
But it was too much of a glimpse into a future that we’d never have that brought me back to reality.
I took the lead when we arrived at the parks and rec office conveniently located in city hall. The elderly receptionist went to get the events coordinator, whose name wasn’t listed online for some reason.
A familiar man walked out, but it took a few seconds for me to recall his name.
“Oh, my goodness, Henry is that you?” I hugged the blond-haired man in front of me. He looked the same as he did in high school, minus several pounds and plus a little more definition in his face.
Henry Whitaker had sat next to me in German all four years of high school.
“It’s great to see you, Whitney. I heard rumblings that you were back in town.” He pulled away but kept a hand on my arm.
Jack cleared his throat, stepping up so he stood right behind me, hand reconnecting with my lower back.
