Page 79 of Stay

“Oh my gosh, Hi,” I say again, this time with a lot more gusto. “Cole’s told me so much about you.” She’s his work wife and I love that for her.

“This place looks amazing.” Tamara’s gaze glides around the room. “Cole’s hyping you up big time, too. I think it’s his mission to have everyone here use you for every occasion.”

Noooo. This isn’t about me, it’s his night! Why’s he hyping me up when he should be hyping himself up? “He’s so sweet.”

Jaedyn saunters over, one hand in his pocket. “Haley, it’s so nice to see you again.”

“You too, Jaedyn.” I shake his hand. “Enjoying cocktail hour?”

“These drinks are stupid good.” He takes a healthy sip of his Cranberry Mule. “Tamara, Noah’s asking for you.”

She rolls her eyes and sighs. “Okay.” She flashes me a smile and then quickly leaves with Jaedyn at her side.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know they’re a couple. Not with how Jaedyn’s been staring at her all night.

The head of Blue House Catering rushes over. “We’re going to sound the bell in three minutes,” she says.

“Perfect.”

When the bell sounds and everyone moves into the larger room, I hold back my smile when I hear them oooh and ahhh over the way the room looks.

“I want the name of their coordinator,” someone says. “They’ve got to do my daughter’s wedding.”

“I wonder where Noah found them?” someone else says. “I’ll have to ask for their contact information.”

“Next Level Events,” Cole says, hearing them talk. “Her name’s Haley Davis and she’s incredible. I’ll send you her contact number if you’d like.”

“You’re a saint, Cole. Thank you.” The woman rests her hand on his arm as they enter the room together. “Oh my heavens, look at this place.”

He looks back at me and winks.

•••

Cole

“And then I said, get me a corn dog, and everyone laughed.” Noah leans forward in his chair, clearly intoxicated.

I look around and flag down a server. “Can we get some more water?”

“Sure thing.” He scurries off to grab a pitcher.

Noah has a speech to make soon, and he’s already shitfaced. Seriously? This fucker is so unprofessional sometimes.

“It was hilarious!” He laughs obnoxiously. “You had to be there.”

“Clearly,” Charles Bowman says, dryly. “So, Cole.” He turns his attention to me. “We’re really excited to work with you on our marine life protection effort.”

“I’m thrilled to have the honor, sir. Ocean conservation is so important.”

“It truly is. My daughter is a marine biologist. She’s been working closely with several environmentalists in this area, and all along the East and West Coasts, to set up facilities that can hopefully help the environment.”

“That’s amazing.” I’m genuinely intrigued. “So does she want to focus more on animals or corals?”

“Both.” Charles smiles. “I think if she had her way, there would be frag nurseries along the entire shoreline of the U.S., Indonesia, and Australia.”

“What a dream.” I take a sip of my ice water. “It’ll be an honor to work with you both to make it come true, Sir.”

“Please, call me Charlie. We’re going to be working closely for the next three years or so to get your design up, and being called anything else makes me feel old.”

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