HOME

Thirty Five

"God, I love cake." Tara practically moans through the icing she is stuffing into her mouth.

"I don't know." I sigh. "It's not that great. I don't really like it."

"Are you crazy? Cake is cake." Tara rolls her eyes as she takes another bite of the dry cake and I wonder how I haven't locked her in a closet yet.

After finding my dress, we had gone home and decided to taste test cakes at mine and Sebastian's place. We waited until the next day to have the cakes brought over since we were exhausted.

Sebastian had come home later than expected. He was slightly tipsy from hanging out with the boys. Luckily, Aurelia was already asleep by time he stumbled in the door and proceeded to take his clothes off the second he saw me on the couch.

However, as enticing as his bare abs were, I have been so tired the past few days that I sent him straight to bed like a child. I've had no interest in anything sexual since my mind has been so preoccupied with the million things that need to be done.

Mom had flown home the day after I got my dress. She was planning on flying back before the wedding. She couldn't stay the full two weeks to help get everything ready since she had the restaurant to look after. I missed her and her crafty hands. When Nathan and I had gotten married, mom was up late for months trying to help me organize and plan the entire wedding. She even made my flower girl dresses. I miss her. I miss her assuring voice telling me everything will be done in time.

Even with the small wedding Sebastian and I are planning, I'm overwhelmed. The girls have been helping me as much as they can, but they too have lives that don't revolve around me. This cake tasting is driving me crazy. We have only just started and I'm already sick to my stomach with nerves.

"Where is Seb?" Kayla asks as she pushes her plate away with a concerned look on her face.

"He went to the gym. He should be back any time." I tell her and try to take a bite of the tasteless cake.

"Who goes to the gym before eating cake?" Tara laughs.

"Sebastian does." I sigh and slide the cake away before leaving my spot at the table and heading into our room and out on the balcony.

I breathe in the fresh air as I lean against the rail and let out a frustrated sigh. I'm starting to wish I had let Sebastian hire the wedding planner he had offered.

"Fuck." I say into the wind that blows past me as a horn honks below me on the street. A tear of frustration slides out of my eye and I wipe it away. I feel all the anxiety creeping up on me and hope I can hold off the panic attack long enough to get through this cake tasting. My breathing begins to pick up and I close my eyes to try to calm myself.

The door opens behind me before I feel a strong pair of arms snake around me and a familiar warm body press into my back.

"Hello, beautiful." Sebastian says lowly into my ear and I sigh in relief as I let myself lean into his hold.

"Hi." I breathe. My heart begins to slow itself from the comfort of having him so close.

"Why aren't you in there with the girls? They seemed worried when I came in." He asks as his thumb rubs circles into my waist.

"I'm exhausted." I tell him as my head falls back onto his shoulder. "I'm exhausted and the cake is gross."

"How can cake be gross? It's cake." Sebastian chuckles behind me.

"You go taste it then. I don't like it." I laugh as I turn in his arms to face him. His hair is pushed back from being in the gym and he definitely needs a shower.