Page 12 of The Deal Maker

“You’re really getting married in four weeks?” I ask.

Hope beams and nods. “Yes. Is that what’s really got you cranky?”

I blow out a breath and shrug. “I don’t know. It’s like things are changing at the rate of the cars at NASCAR. I just need to process it all.” It’s early, but I walk over to the ice cream freezer and get a scoop of brownie batter ice cream into a bowl.

“Hitting the hard stuff a little early, aren’t you?” Hope says with a laugh.

Sugar is my biggest weakness. When I’m stressed or anxious, I use it as a coping mechanism.

“Will you be my maid of honor? I can’t do it without you, Mags.” Hope walks over and takes my hands in hers, giving me a puppy dog look that I usually can’t resist.

Blowing out a breath, I say, “Of course. But how are we going to pull this off in a month?”

“Well, we’ve already secured a venue and I think my mother’s gown will fit.”

I narrow my eyes and try to look for signs that my cousin has been abducted and another mind-controlled look alike put in her place. “You’re okay with not wearing a brand-new gown?” This isn’t like Hope. She’s usually all about the over-the-top glitz and glam. Then again, we own a sweet shop together, and that’s not glamorous with the sticky and gooey of everything. “I thought you’d be setting up an appointment with the Dress Barn in town.”

She smiles at me, as if she knew I’d ask her this. “That’s The Bridal Barn. And no. As long as Jason and I are married, I’m good with wearing a flour sack.”

“Obviously not the gluten kind, or else you’d be unrecognizable.”

“True, but I don’t want to wait for months to marry him. What’s wrong with a quick wedding?”

I blow out a breath, unsure of how to answer that. Hope has always been the one with a guy hanging around, texting, calling, and dating. So for her to settle down so quickly after only dating Jason for a year has me feeling a little behind in the game. Or more worried that I’ll have to endure the family meetings by myself.

“Where are you going to get married?”

“Here in town. Most of the extended family is only a few hours away, Mags. I just want to have a simple ceremony and then a party after. A barbecue, maybe.”

She’s just spitballing ideas and I’m wondering where the Type A, over-organized woman is that I’ve known since we were in diapers. Then again, she would probably argue that I made her that way.

“Are you feeling okay?” I ask, wondering if maybe the excitement of the proposal yesterday is what’s making her not worry about the biggest day of her life.

Hope nods and then smiles. “Never better. So what do you say? Be my maid of honor?”

“Absolutely.”

Inside, I’m freaking out. How am I going to put into place all the dreams Hope has had for her wedding in four weeks?

How many energy drinks can someone survive on without having major health problems?

Shaking my head, I know that won’t be the best solution. I’ll just have to have a regular caffeinated soda and hope the bags under my eyes don’t get too bad by the time the wedding rolls around.

“Any idea who you’ll bring to the ceremony?” Hope asks.

I freeze all the way to my lungs as they try to drink in the air around us, but nothing is happening. “It’s been all of ten minutes since you told me when the wedding is. I haven’t had time to think about whom to invite. Or if it would be better for me to just go solo.”

And I was hoping I could just show up and be happy for my cousin and partner, that it would be her day we celebrated and didn’t need to highlight my relationship status.

“There are a bunch of options out there. Pick one.”

I laugh and can’t stop after she says that. “Just pick one? You act like fishing for a male is so easy.”

“You have to at least try. Please? That can be your wedding gift to me.” Hope has her hands clasped in front of her, pleading.

“So, when you do a bridal registry, there’ll be an option for me to bring a date to your wedding over that air fryer you’ve had on your to-buy list for months?”

Hope frowns and shakes her head. “I’m serious, Mags. Bring a date and I’ll be so happy. What about the guy next door?”

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