Page 85 of April

“So, I heard from Jill that you went out with Stephania last night. As in,theStephania,” Bridgette said as she leaned forward in her chair.

“Why does everyone call hertheStephania?” Asher shook her head. “Wait. How didJillfind out?”

“I assume from Linden,” Bridgette said with a shrug.

“Or…” Monica began. “From Melinda at work.”

“Right,” Asher said, unsure of what Monica’s face was telling her. “Well, we did.”

“Go out?” Bridgette asked.

“Yes,” she confirmed.

“And? Details?” Bridgette asked.

“There aren’t any. We went out. She was very sweet and obviously gorgeous, but there wasn’t a connection.”

“Bummer,” Bridgette replied. “Sheishot.”

Monica cleared her throat.

“She’s a model, babe,” Bridgette said.

“I know. I saw the billboard on Canal where she’s wearing half a shirt and a pair of underwear. I agree: hot.” Monica wiggled her eyebrows at Bridgette.

“Let’s just get back to planning our wedding,” Bridgette said, laughing. “I want to get ahead of whatever Mel and Kyle are going to do so that they can’t say we stole an idea from them.”

“Oh, God. It’s starting,” Monica said sarcastically.

CHAPTER 22

“Iknow they had a meeting today, too,” Melinda said. “With Asher.”

“Yeah, I saw them in her office,” Linden replied.

“So, can we make sure to get ahead of it?”

“Ahead of what?” Linden asked.

“I don’t want Bridge to accuse me of stealing her wedding ideas.” Melinda looked over at Kyle. “Do you?”

“I don’t care if we have identical weddings. I just want to marry you.”

“She’s sweet,” Melinda said to Linden. “You’re sweet,” she repeated to Kyle, who wrapped her arm around the back of Melinda’s chair. “Bridge and I have been talking about our weddings for years. Neither of us is a bridezilla or anything, but we want the day to be special and about us.”

“By us, she means her and Bridgette, apparently,” Kyle joked.

“I mean, special for you and me, and her wedding to be special for her and Monica,” Melinda said through a laugh.

“Well, based on what we talked about when we were all together, I think you’ll be fine. I can chat with Asher and see if anything’s changed that I should be aware of, but you are very different couples, so I think you’ll have very different weddings.”

“I’d like us to have something small,” Melinda said. “I know we haven’t talked about venues yet, but Ky’s family is small, and so is mine. I was thinking we could make this a real New Orleans wedding.”

“How so?” Linden asked as she pulled out her notebook and placed it on the table.

“Well, NOLA Guides is such a huge part of my life, and it is really how Kyle and I met since we didn’t talk that first night at the pub. I was going to invite people from the community, like Henry, and people who have supported me and the business over the years. They’ve given me so much. Because of NOLA Guides being as successful as it is, Jolie found a tour and booked it. Kyle showed up with her, and here we are,” she said, smiling over at Kyle.

“New Orleans loves a good party. Did you have anything in mind specifically, though? I assume no church wedding?”

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