Page 34 of Charmed By Destiny

“Yeah, I don’t remember what I was so focused on,” Luke lied.

“My mother is making me measure out where the food tables are going for the third time, do you mind helping me?”

Luke stood immediately. “Sure, I’ll help.”

“Thanks, my father literally gave her blueprints, but that’s not enough to satisfy her,” Richard explained as they left the office. “If I’d known she was going to be this obsessive about every detail, I would’ve talked Gabriel and Eric into eloping.”

“At least it’ll be over soon?”

“The day is going to be beautiful, and I’m looking forward to it, but I might not survive next week.”

“Too bad you can’t lie about a work emergency and come to the office every day instead of staying home to help.”

“Right?” Richard asked with a roll of his eyes and a shake of his head. “I’m never getting married.”

“Never?”

Their eyes met, and something shifted in Richard’s blue gaze. He lifted his chin. “No, I have zero intention of marrying.”

“What if your significant other wants to get married?”

They passed through the door into the ballroom, and Richard handed the tape measure to Luke after plucking the edge of it from the container. He stalked away to measure one wall.

“I don’t have a significant other,” Richard remarked. It was wild how Luke reacted with intense joy at Richard’s words. While Luke had hoped Richard was single, he had confirmation now.

Oh, how I wish I could be the man in Richard’s life.

Was Richard gay? Would he be interested in someone like Luke? Such dangerous thoughts were hazardous to Luke’s heart, but he couldn’t help it.

“Me either, but someday I hope to, and I want their input on important decisions.”

Richard huffed impatiently. “Fine, if I ever have a significant other and they somehow convince me to get married—which I repeat is highly unlikely—you get to remind me not to involve my mother or I’ll find myself re-measuring tables countless times to keep her happy.”

“Would she make you do that for your own wedding?”

“Do you honestly think I want to find out?”

The door to the ballroom opened, and Douglas rushed in.

“There you are, Richard,” the inspirit said. “I called Rosalind to ask her if she wanted to come over to verify the table layout with me, but she said you were already taking care of it.”

“Shit, did she call you about it too?” Richard asked. “Snap a picture of Lucas and I with the tape measure out so she can see the length for herself.”

Douglas plucked his phone out and did as he was told. “I called her. There are so many details, I don’t want anything to be missed. This is an event for your family, it needs to be perfect.”

“It will be,” Richard assured the inspirit. “Don’t worry so much about table layouts and stuff. My mom has blueprints. I’ve put together a color-coded chart for her, complete with accurate measurements. As soon as the table assignments are done, she’ll have my meticulous map with a corresponding spreadsheet too. I’ll be here with her during setup, probably driving everyone up the wall. Nothing will go wrong, okay?”

“I’ll rest easier once everything is in place and Rosalind is happy with it. Should I take a picture of Lucas holding the measuring tape for Rosalind?”

“Sure, Douglas, go ahead,” Richard replied.

“Should we go row by row and send her pictures of where every table will be?” Douglas asked as he snapped a shot of Luke’s hands.

“No, she doesn’t need that. Why don’t you head home? It’s Friday and nearly closing time. Lucas and I will lock up. Go home and don’t think about the wordwedding, okay?”

“Yeah, okay. If Rosalind needs anything else, let me know.”

“Of course,” Richard told the inspirit as he scurried out. “Is my mother winding him up, or is she humoring him because he keeps texting or calling her to double-check things?”

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