Page 50 of The Trouble with Runaway Brides

When we get inside, I see that Amy, the owner, is already there, working on an arrangement for what I hope is a different event because there aren’t any hibiscus or plumerias in it. She smiles when she sees us, rounding the counter and abandoning her arrangement.

“Hi, I’m Amy. You two must be the bride and groom.” She puts out her hand toward Kenzie and Geoff.

“Oh no, sweetie, that would make three hats in the ring.” Geoff unhooks his arm from Kenzie’s. “No offense.”

Kenzie ignores him and shakes Amy’s hand. “Hi, I’m Kenzie Gavino. My fiancé couldn’t make it, but these are my friends, Blake and Geoff, and I believe you know Lance.”

She shakes Kenzie’s hand and goes around to shake the rest of ours. “Nice to meet you all. I talked to Lance, but we’ve never actually met. But I know of you.” She looks at the others and shrugs. “Small-town life.”

“I love it.” Geoff claps. “Sign me up.”

“Hold on there,” Blake says, lowering his boyfriend’s arm back down to his side.

“Lance called ahead and said that two flowers are really important to you. The hibiscus and the plumeria?”

“Yes, they’re the flowers of the Philippines, and they’re just so vibrant and pretty.”

“Perfect. Come with me, Kenzie.” Amy looks over her shoulder, opening the door to a private room. “I have to admit, I was excited to work with you the minute he said that. Don’t get me wrong, I love the typical wedding flowers, but this got my creative juices flowing again.”

We all walk into a large, refrigerated room and see several examples on the tables. Kenzie looks back at me with her mouth hanging open.

“Since this isn’t a tropical wedding, I didn’t incorporate giant greenery with the flowers. I thought maybe we could do the hibiscus in water vases with tea lights floating. And use the plumerias for you and your bridesmaids’ bouquets.”

“Oh, it’s just me. I mean, no bridesmaids.”

Blake glances at me and I chew the inside of my lip. Guilt racks me even though I have no control over her life. She made her bed with Brinley. But I thought she’d have met couples through Will. From what I remember at Columbia, he had a pretty tight group of friends. I’m sure some of them are married and would’ve become friends with Kenzie.

“Okay, so your bouquet needs to be extra big then.” Amy sure knows how to roll with it.

They go over some more ideas and I realize that this is the first time I’ve seen Kenzie excited about her wedding. I rest my back against the wall and cross my ankles, pretending I have important business to attend to on my phone when I’m really only paying attention to their conversation.

They agree on everything Amy has already detailed, and since it’s a winter wedding, they go with more subdued colors. That surprises me, but it makes sense.

“Okay, I think I have all the information I need. Everything will be ready for the wedding.” Amy hands the paperwork and receipt for the down payment to Kenzie.

Kenzie folds it in half and slides it into her purse. “Thank you so much.”

“Thank Lance. If I hadn’t had the heads-up, I wouldn’t have been able to get these flowers in on time. I love a prepared wedding planner.” She winks at me, and I offer a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes.

That gut-twisting fear that I’m making Kenzie’s wedding perfect for a groom who doesn’t deserve her has been a constant the past few days.

We walk back onto the streets of Sunrise Bay. Their downtown is a little different than Lake Starlight’s because they don’t allow parking on the street. There are parking lots on the outside perimeter of the square, except for the entrance to the bay.

Today is the coldest it’s been since Kenzie arrived, and soon all of our noses and ears are red from the wind slicing through us.

“So, this is where the podcast will be recorded.” I stop us outside the building Nikki Greene uses and we see her conducting an interview through the large window. “She does it all out in the open for people to see. It’s a cool setup.”

“I love that,” Kenzie says.

“Yeah, she also does the gossip for the local radio station once a week. Scandals of Sunrise Bay.”

They all laugh.

“She’s our kind of person,” Geoff says.

Nikki waves Kenzie in and Blake follows, holding the door for Geoff.

“Nah, this is your thing,” Geoff says. “I think Lance and I are gonna go get a coffee.”

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