Page 59 of Once Bitten, Twice Fried
“One espresso, coming right up!”
“Look at you, you’re getting service from the chef herself.” Yasmine joked. “We had service from her team.”
Julie shot a look at Yasmine.
“What? Did I say something wrong?” Yasmine looked puzzled.
“I think someone had a bad nap.” Zoe chimed in. “Anyway, you want something else, Yas?”
Julie was thankful for Zoe’s quick reaction. She had to stop being so on edge about everything today.
“Can I have a latte?”
“Sure enough. Service from the chef for my two best friends.” Zoe winked at them before disappearing inside and Julie felt her entire heart leave with her.
Zoe came back shortly after with their two coffees and left again. Julie inhaled her espresso and the rest of her brunch, finally starting to feel like a real person again. As the cateringteam swarmed the table to clear everything away, she followed Yasmine back inside, ready for what the day would throw at them.
She looked at her phone. There was a message from Claire.
“No way! You kissed a famous person? What happened? Are you two an item now?”
Julie had totally forgotten that she’d sent that text to Claire.Werethey an item now? Julie smiled at the idea, then mentally pulled the reins on her galloping thoughts. Now was not the time to get ahead of herself. She would answer her later, when she had some time alone.
“Who’s that?” Yasmine was peeking at Julie’s phone.
Julie almost dropped her phone as she jerked it away from Yasmine’s gaze. “No one. Just a friend.”
Yasmine raised her brow suggestively. “I see. A friend that puts a smile on your face when you read a text from them.”
Julie rolled her eyes. “When’s the documentary team coming?”
“They should be there in half an hour or so. Adam just texted me saying that he got to their hotel and they’re on their way from there.”
“Is his family with him?”
“No, they’re on their way from France right now. Should arrive early afternoon.” Yasmine didn’t look thrilled. “I’m going to go freshen up before the cameras arrive. See you back here soon?”
Julie nodded. She guessed she didn’t look too fresh herself, but nothing but a full night of sleep was going to help with that, and thankfully the cameras wouldn’t be on her. Besides, she could really use the time to work. She sat back on the couch, opened her laptop and picked up where she left off. There were no emergencies needing her attention yet, which she was grateful for. She sent off a few emails, informing the vendorsthat might need to know about the camera crew, and tweaked a few points on her timeline, then flicked through the tabs on her giant master spreadsheet to make sure there was nothing she’d forgotten. Wedding organisation was still going smoothly, despite a few setbacks and Julie was satisfied for the moment. She leaned back on the couch, careful not to fall asleep again. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out quickly. Had she been to early in declaring this moment emergency-free?
It was from Zoe.
Julie blinked. Her throat was suddenly dry. She looked around and could overhear Zoe somewhere in the kitchen, hidden behind the dividers that they set up yesterday. Julie jumped as the couch cushion moved underneath her. Yasmine had returned, not a hair out of place, and sunk down on the other end of the sofa. Luckily, she seemed to be engrossed with her own phone and didn’t notice Julie’s sudden jumpiness.
Julie swiped at the screen and opened the message.
“Can we talk today?”
Another text came in.“About last night?”
Julie couldn’t repress a smile. As if she could have forgotten about what happened the night before. She typed back.
“I would like that. When and where?”
A few seconds and her phone buzzed again.
“3:30 pm in the garden shed?”
“Perfect. See you later.”
