Page 81 of Roses in Summer

I nod and reach to my side to grab her hand. “I promise, Ava Maria.”

“Why do you think this coffee comes in a bowl?” CeCe asks, interrupting our side conversation as she stares at the literal bowl of coffee delivered to our table after she ordered acaffè crema.

“It’s so that you can dip a croissant or other pastry easily.” Serena hums from behind her menu, not bothering to look up as she responds.

“Hmm.” CeCe takes a sip, lifting the bowl just high enough that it hovers over the bottom plate while she bends over to drink. Setting the bowl down gently, she turns to Ava. “So, how’s wedding planning?”

I look at my sister, noting how she glows under the soft lighting in her pale-lavender dress. “We’re done.” She shrugs, lifting her coffee to her lips and blowing on the steam. “Grey’s father’s friend rents the space out for weddings frequently, so we just had to agree on a package and let the coordinators do everything. I need to find a dress, but since we’re not having a bridal party, we don’t have to worry about any of that stuff.”

Bianca holds up her hand. “Wait a damn minute. What do you mean you’re not having a bridal party?”

“Between all of you, our cousins, and Grey’s family, there would be twenty people, and it’s too much.” Ava shakes her head, twisting her face in a scowl to show how she rejects that idea. “If we could, I’d elope with just Grey, but I know that Mom and Dad would kill me if I even suggested it.”

B slumps back against the pink cushioned bench seat. “Well, that sucks. I wanted to give a maid of honor speech.”

CeCe scoffs at her words. “We both know I’d be the maid of honor. You’d probably bring up all the weird shit Ava did in her childhood.”

“Yeah? Well, you’d probably talk about how all she does is trip over air and embarrass herself.”

“See,” Ava cuts in. “This is another reason why I don’t want a bridal party.”

Smirking, I lose myself in the menu, studying the food offerings as though there will be a test on it later. I’m on the juice selection when CeCe’s voice jerks my attention away from the description of the cantaloupe mint julep. “Are you all coming to the lake house for the Fourth?”

Excited yeses rush out, leaving just me silent. I don’t expect anyone to realize I haven’t responded, but the prickle of eyes has me glancing around the table. “What?”

“Are you coming?”

Clearing my throat, I set my menu down. “I have to check with work and look over my class schedule. Plus, Liv probably has to work, and I don’t want to leave her home.” I swallow at my words, thinking back to the conversation I had with Olivia earlier today. The last thing I wanted to do was leave her alone, but I had to respect her request. I almost stayed home, but when I heard the front door slam shut while I was in the bathroom, I knew Olivia made an escape.

“Nice try, pumpkin.”

I wrinkle my nose at the nickname. “Don’t call me pumpkin, Ava. And what do you mean nice try?”

“You’re coming. Both you and Olivia. If I need to drag your squirming bodies out of that apartment, down the hall, into an elevator, and then shove you in the back of a car to transport you to the house, I will.”

I cough at her threat. “That was oddly specific.”

“Yet I’m the fucking aggressive one.” CeCe hums, taking a sip of her ridiculously loaded Bloody Mary. “But Aves is right; you guys have to come. If you request it off now, you shouldn’t have any issues with the library, right?”

“I don’t—”

“You’ll be fine, Seraphina. May is always understanding when it comes to time off.”

“Thanks, Serena,” I say through gritted teeth, glaring at her from the corner of my eye.

“Oh, sorry. Was I supposed to say the opposite? I never know in these situations.”

“It’s been almost five years, and you’re still constantly apologizing.” Ava laughs, distracting Serena and CeCe from conversations about lake houses and paid time off. Releasing a breath, I set my menu aside and pick up my water, taking a long sip. I look up, startled to find Bianca’s eyes on me across the table.

“You’re going.” I raise a brow in response. “I’m serious, you’re going. Figure it out. Ava isn’t doing a bachelorette party, and this is likely the last time we’re going to have a chance to do anything like this before the wedding.”

“I highly doubt that.”

“It is. Now do whatever you have to do, get over your shit, talk to Olivia, and make it happen.”

“Did you guys hear about Lincoln and that harpy Gemma?”

“She wasn’t that bad,” Serena comments, though her voice holds no conviction.

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