Page 8 of The Accidental Honeymoon

I raise my shot glass in a mock toast. "I didn’t realize that you were the called-off wedding police.”

"I’m not.” Calla wrinkles her nose. “Why are you alone right now? Don’t you have family and friends to keep you company?”

“I sent them away.” I down the shot, the tequila smoothing the edges of everything. "Anyway, your timing is impeccable. I was just drowning my sorrows."

Her head tilts. Her eyes rake over me like she’s trying to piece together a puzzle with half its pieces missing.

"I can come back," she says softly, but she doesn’t move.

I wave her off. "Stay. Miseryloves company." I pour another shot and push the bottle her way. "Want some? It’s top shelf. Probably. It’s whatever Bennett keeps in stock, which is undoubtedly some amazing stuff.”

"I don’t think so. I don’t drink while I work." Calla’s expression pinches.

I bleat out a laugh. “You’re not working. In case you didn’t notice, the wedding is off. The guests have gone home.”

Her face softens in a way that I can’t stand right now. “Yeah. I’m really sorry about that, Jay.”

It’s cool. It’s not like I’m not drinking so I don’t cry or anything. Scrubbing a hand through my hair, I sigh. "Why are you still here, Calla? The wedding’s over. If you’re not here to keep me company, and you’re not working…."

She fidgets, looking down at the bar. "I was hoping for some exposure. Photos of the cake, a mention in the press. ‘Local baker creates masterpiece for Rustin wedding.’ Something to help the bakery."

"Ah. I’m sorry. We’ll still post something on Insta and TikTok. It’s not the same, I know. But it’s all I can do now. Blake vanished without a word."

“Can I ask you something?”

I lean on an elbow. “I live to answer your mildly intrusive questions.” I frown. “That came out sounding more sarcastic than I meant it. What I meant to say is, go ahead. I’m not going anywhere.”

Calla stares at me for several beats. This close, I notice that her eyes are an intriguing shade of hazel. She leans forward on the bar, closer to me. "Did you really not see this coming?"

I shrug, the motion heavy with resignation. "Blake loves a good spectacle. I figured she’d wait until thehoneymoon to pull something like this, though. Make it a reality show intervention or some crap." I rub my temples, the tequila doing little to dull the pounding in my head. Putting my head down, I mutter, "Why did I even propose? I knew what I was getting into."

Calla doesn’t say anything. For a second, I wonder if she’s left. I don’t have the energy to check. Then she speaks, her voice softer than usual. "People do stupid things for love."

I laugh, but it comes out quiet, almost gentle. "Love. Yeah. Something like that." I look at her again. This time, I see that she’s watching me with an expression I can’t quite read. "I’m touched that you’re sad for me, Calla."

"I’m not sadforyou," she says, sitting up straighter. "I’m sad the wedding didn’t happen. I needed the exposure."

She stands up, and I think she’s going to make excuses and leave. But then, to my surprise, she sits back down, moving slowly, like she’s testing the water.

"One shot," she declares. "For research."

My eyebrows shoot up. "Research?"

"That’s what I say when I am doing something sketchy." Her eyes twinkle.

I chuckle. Standing up, I fish another shot glass from behind the bar. Then I slide the clean glass her way.

"It’s an acquired taste. Like poison." I pour the shot and watch as she picks up the glass, sniffing it cautiously.

"This smells awful. To your health," she says.

Before I can stop her, she throws it back in one go. Her face contorts through a series of expressions: shock, disgust, and a little confusion. Then she makes a strangled noise and slams the glass down.

I burst out laughing. "Oh my god, that was priceless. You looked like you were givingyour first blowjob."

Her eyes widen at the same time as her cheeks flush a deep, mortified red. Her mouth opens and then snaps shut. She’sspeechless. It’s… adorable.

The wicked grin that breaks out over my face is irrepressible.

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