“Enzo, I don’t want to meet a wedding planner without you there.”
“Why not?”
“Because I—there are...” I’m annoyed I’m on the verge of tears at the idea of planning a wedding all by myself. Swallowing down the stupid lump in my throat “Never mind, forget it. Can you text me her address?”
“Sending it now.” Then he’s gone.
“What’s the matter, love?” Lydia hugs me.
“Nothing, just Enzo being Enzo. Thank you for coming.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Russell is almost a half hour late and can only stay for an hour, but he agrees with Lydia and Bethany on the A-line lace and sheer long lace-covered sleeves in antique ivory.
I’m forever grateful when Lydia and Bethany tag along with me to the wedding planner. Apparently she’s one of the top wedding planners in Chicago; Lydia has heard she’s a bitch and is dying to find out if it’s true. As we pile out of the car, I stop in shock to find Enzo waiting outside the building. “What are you doing here?”
A casual shrug. “You wanted me here.”
“Hey Enzo, look at you not being an asshole. I’m so proud of you.” With a giggle, Bethany gives Enzo a hug as she stands on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Since you have to be out of your place, you’re staying with me and Dante. You’ll stay in Cesare’s old bedroom, we never completed the renovation. All we did was knock down a wall to join them together, there’s still a kitchen with all the bells and whistles. I called Karen and she’s already packed up your stuff and sent it over. Me and Lydia will bail on you, I’m dying for mozzarella sticks. What about you, Lydia?
Lydia nods. “Sounds good, but I was daydreaming about gelato a few hours ago.”
With a wave they climb into a cab.
Opening the door for me, he cocks his head. “Coming?”
17
Chloe
A harried young woman points us to the back. I’m grateful Enzo came. Candice is combative, not happy we don’t have a guest list and that it will be so small. As I calculate everyone, we come up to around thirty people. I also can’t say for sure what I want my wedding colors or flowers to be. There’s also the fact we’re planning a wedding from scratch to happen the same weekend as at least a thousand other brides are getting married who have been planning for upward of two years. A florist is willing to meet with me tomorrow, and the cake will be made by an up-and-coming baker; Candice has heard good things, and it’s good it won’t be a big cake. Enzo doesn’t like the sound of that until Candice shows him the woman’s portfolio.
“I think they look great and she’s willing to meet with us today.” I plead for Enzo to drop it.
“If it’s what you want.”
“Yes, please.”
“All right.”
“You really don’t even have an idea for your colors?”
“You like pink,” Enzo murmurs.
I blush; I feel silly for admitting it. “Pink is an extremely popular color, nothing wrong with pink. Now we need at least one more color,” Candice urges.
“You like gray, so gray or silver and pink would look good together.”
Enzo nods. For the first time Candice smiles. “Great, let’s go with silver, there aren’t as many grays out there. This will move things right along.”
It takes exactly five minutes to select the plates, silverware, and linen. Finally, Candice smiles as she crosses things off a long list. “As far as catering, my top three are booked solid. Since you have a smaller party it will work to our advantage. Is there someone you’re thinking of?”
A nod and Enzo pulls out his phone. “Hey, you’re catering the wedding.”
I can hear a groan on the other end. “How many people?” It’s Dominic.
“About thirty, tops.”