Royalty, Romance Novels + Secret Attackers

Flirt

The last few weeks have been busy trying to meet the date Gus spit out last minute. My mother had been driving the both of us crazy, constantly flip flopping on minute details about the wedding that I couldn't care less about.

True to his word, Gus did fire Berry, which unfortunately sent mother into a panic. Now we've been roped into helping set up the wedding ourselves.

"It will keep you humble," she tells me with a frown, as she hands me a blue curtain.

We have to nail down the color scheme. Make sure the flower arrangements are full, but not too full, because then it's too much. Make sure the venue is big enough, but not so big that the place seems empty. Have you invited everyone who has ever spoken a word to you? Why on earth did we fire Ms. Berry?

Can Gus and I just elope at this point? It'll add an extra five years to my lifespan.

She could easily spend the next ten years on one wedding. Too bad I'm an only child.

At the moment I'm helping put up airy curtains in the ballroom of the venue. I've switched out the color of them four times already. I can't tell the difference between them anymore. And yet, mother keeps handing me a new color to try. Maybe it's her secret way of punishing me.

Am I losing my eyesight? I wonder as I hold up the latest drapery. It looks the same as the last one.

I hear Gus walk in and give a few words of encouragement to the staff.

I tug on the curtain. "What color is this?" I ask him.

He squints at it. "Light blue?" He answers slowly, expecting a punchline.

I sigh. "I thought that's what the last one's color was." I complain.

"She's driving you crazy too?"

"What is she having you do?" I ask.

"Put together party favors and setting out flower boutiques. Look, I distracted her with the seating arrangements. We can sneak away now and take a well-deserved break."

I sigh in relief. "Yes! Please! Get me out of here!" He gives me his hand and helps me down the ladder.

———————————————————-

We step out of the limo in front of a bar. The Bronze Front, the sign reads. I follow Gus inside and sit with him at a table towards the back of the room.

I admire the interior. It is indeed bronze inside, but the color is reserved for accents.

Gus flips open a menu. "I recommend Apple Apparition."

"Oh, I think you forgot. I don't drink." I chuckle nervously.

He glances up at me. "You can get a non-alcoholic version. Besides, it has apples in it."

I glare at him, annoyed. "Just because I said I wanted to eat apples one time doesn't mean they're my favorite."

The bartender approaches, and asks for our orders.

Gus requests the apple drink for me. "Non-alcoholic, please." He adds. The bartender nods as he walks off.

"I said I didn't want it." I mutter.

He smugly ignores me. "You know, maybe it's a good thing you don't drink. You're wild enough as it is." Gus says.

I roll my eyes. "Har, har."

"Any other crazy surprises for the wedding I have to watch out for?" He clasps his hands together and leans closer.

I lean forward and lower my voice. "Oh just you wait! You've never seen a wedding quite like this one."