Page 101 of Worth the Fall

Becca takes one bite and moans dramatically. "Oh, this is it. This is the one."

"Which one?" I ask, laughing.

"All of them," she says, popping another bite into her mouth.

Taylor nods, her eyes wide. "Agreed. I don’t care what you pick, Mia. It’s going to be amazing."

As I taste each sample, I realize they’re right. Any of these options would be perfect.

And for the first time in weeks, I actually feel like everything is going to come together.

As we leave the bakery, laughing and linking arms like we’re in some cheesy rom-com montage, I feel lighter than Ihave in weeks. The cake is sorted, the flowers are set, and I’m surrounded by people who remind me that even the craziest moments can be fun.

Then I hear the familiar voice that never fails to derail my day.

"Mia!"

I stop in my tracks, turning slowly to see Cameron bounding toward me, clutching a bundle of sage in one hand and what looks like a small pouch of crystals in the other. His tie is slightly askew, and his energy is as chaotic as ever.

"Oh no," Becca mutters under her breath, stepping closer like she’s preparing to shield me from impact.

"Cameron," I say cautiously as he comes to a halt in front of us. "What… are you doing here?"

"I heard about your wedding stress," he says, his expression deadly serious. "So I brought supplies."

"Supplies?" I repeat, glancing at the sage.

He nods, holding it up like it’s the Holy Grail. "We’re going to align your chakras. Clear all the negative energy. Create a space for positive manifestation."

Taylor snorts. "Wow, Cameron. Did you Google that, or did you learn it at a drum circle?"

Cameron ignores her, pulling out the crystals and arranging them in a haphazard line on the sidewalk. "This is rose quartz, for love. And this," he says, holding up something blue, "is sodalite, for clarity. You’ve been overthinking, haven’t you?"

"Always," Becca mutters.

"Exactly," Cameron says, pointing the sage at me. "So, we’ll do a quick energy cleanse. Should only take an hour."

"An hour?" I say, laughing despite myself.

"I’ll handle this," Becca says, stepping forward. "Cameron, why don’t you save the sage for the bachelorette party?"

"Oh, good idea," Cameron says, immediately distracted. "Sage and sangria. It’s happening."

As he wanders off, muttering about logistics, I shake my head, laughing. "I don’t know why I still let him surprise me."

"Because you secretly love the chaos," Taylor says, smirking.

When I get back to Miguel’s apartment later that evening, Felicity is waiting for me in the living room, twirling in her flower girl dress. The soft white fabric flutters around her as she spins, and she looks up at me with the biggest, brightest smile.

"Mia, look!" she says, holding out the skirt like she’s showing off a ball gown. "Do I look like a princess?"

"You look like the most beautiful princess I’ve ever seen," I say, kneeling down to her level.

Her grin widens as she throws her arms around my neck. "I can’t wait for the wedding. I get to wear sparkles and walk with flowers, and then you’ll be my stepmom forever!"

The weight of her words hits me, and my throat tightens. "I can’t wait either," I whisper, holding her close.

Miguel steps into the room, his face softening as he takes in the scene. "She’s been twirling in that dress for an hour," he says, smiling.

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