Page 24 of The Unwanted Wife

"In a week’s time."

"So soon?" She jerks her chin up. "I… I thought it might be a little later… In a month, or three, maybe?"

"Can your business survive without the cash for that long?"

She shakes her head.

"So, it’s best we go through with it as soon as possible, isn’t it?"

12

Skylar

"Next week?" Zoey looks at me in horror. "You’re getting married next week?"

"Seems like it." I slide the tray of Sp1cy Booktoks—a new book-shaped dessert I’ve been experimenting with—into the oven and straighten.

"And you’re standing here, cooking?"

"I’m baking," I point out.

She cuts the air with the palm of her hand. "Let me get this right; you’re going to marry that man who asked you to marry him?"

"Umm, that’s generally how it works." I half smile.

"Sorry, I’m surprised and confused, is all." She rubs at her temple. "When we last spoke, you weren’t sure you were going through with it. What changed your mind about marrying him, and are you sure you’re doing the right thing?"

Zoey’s the only person who knows about the situation I'm in. Not that I don’t trust the others with the circumstances surrounding my upcoming nuptials, but I don’t feel ready to spill the gory details to anyone else. Harper works such long hours as a chef, I rarely see her. Grace’s TV career is so full-on, she has no time for anyone else, let alone herself. Zoey is the only one whose job allows her to have somewhat of a personal life. Which means, I don’t feel bad about bothering her with what’s happening in my life.

The others might not like it when they find out I told her first, but I’ve known her the longest, and I need someone to talk to and share what’s happening. I walk over to the small island opposite the oven and grab my glass of water. I take a sip, more to gather my thoughts, then turn to her. "I was hoping you’d tell me that I am," I confess.

She reaches for one of the green-colored cakes in the shape of a worm.

It’s another new dessert I’ve been experimenting with. “It’s called Bookworm.”

“Oh, that’s a good name.” She laughs.

"Go on." I nod toward the tray. "Try it and tell me what you think."

She plucks one and takes a bite, then closes her eyes. "Oh, my god, it tastes like?—"

"—caramel, peppermint and dark chocolate, topped with pistachio and cream."

She chews, swallows, then opens her eyes and looks at me dreamily. "It makes me want to curl up with a book, in a seat by a window, pull up a blanket around me, and read."

"Right?" I clap my hands. "I’m so happy the flavors took you on a bookish journey."

"But seriously, this cupcake is epic."

"Thanks." I beam at her.

"It’s so good, I don’t know why there aren’t more people beating down the doors to buy them."

"I guess I need to be smarter about my marketing. I need to hire someone to take care of my social media, and also put some money behind advertising to get the word out, which means?—"

"You need the budget for it." She taps her finger against her cheek. "Which, I suppose, answers the question I posed earlier."

"It does?"

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