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I step in through the back door leading into the kitchen where Calum is waiting for me, surprisingly not wearing an apron. The sleeves of his dress shirt are rolled up his forearms and a pair of expensive looking shoes are on his feet. "Hey."
"What's going on?" I ask him and he beckons me over. Calum places a hand on my lower back and leads me to the doors leading to the restaurant.
"Thought I'd surprise you," he says and when he holds the swinging door open for us to step through I can't find it in me to find the words to speak. "We haven't been on a date in a while so I figured it was about time."
"It's perfect." I turn to him and plant a kiss against his lips and he leads me over to the one set table in the locale. Calum pulls my seat out for me to take a seat before he sits down himself.
"Anything new going on in your life since I last saw you three days ago?"
"Poppy decided that she wants to change the flavor of the wedding cake," I announce. "We're doing lemon now."
"Poppy seems like a character."
"She really is."
"Can't wait to meet her."
...
I turn around on the podium as Poppy inspects the yellow dress I have on. "Fits like a glove."
"That's because my body hasn't changed since I last tried it on which by the way wasn't very long ago."
"Well, since Brie decided to go and get herself pregnant a month away from my wedding day her dress will have to be resized and I just want to make sure no one else will have to suffer the same fate."
"Having a child?"
"It'll be great for her I'm sure," she waves it off. "It's not so great for me. I want my bridesmaids to look their best, and by the time the wedding comes around she'll obviously be showing."
"Are you body shaming a pregnant woman?"
"You get what I mean, Scotty," she exasperates. "You look gorgeous by the way."
"Thanks," I smile down at her. "Wait, you wanted to make sure Calum hasn't impregnated me?"
"No," she rolls her eyes. "I'd be less surprised if Emma got knocked up by that new boyfriend of hers. But you are in a relationship now and it's easy to succumb to a relationship body."
"Relationship body?"
"You write a relationship column, Scotty. How do you not know about this?" I shrug. "When you start getting comfortable with each other and no longer feel the need to look perfect to keep them around it's just easy to put on a few."
"Is that what happened to Sarah senior year when she started dating T.J?"
"That's exactly what happened, and I can't have that happening to my bridal party before the wedding. Now it's not only you but Emma is in the risk zone as well."
"You know what, if it helps ease your stress about the wedding I'll totally force Emma out to go running, all right?"
"That sounds great," she breathes out of relief. Emma comes walking out of her own dressing room to stand beside me on the podium.
"What are you two talking about."
"Nothing," I hum. "Just try not to get pregnant before the wedding."
"Why would I get pregnant?"
"It's nothing," I laugh. "Oh! I was just going to remind you that you have to go over and water Mrs. Holland's flowers tomorrow since Calum and I leave before noon."
"Can't she just let her plants die? It's winter for Christ's sake."
"It's just one time."
"Isn't she the super nice lady who makes those amazing cookies?" Poppy asks and I nod .
"That's her."
"Where is she?"
"Her husband had a heart attack so she's with him at the hospital."
"Emma, you have to water her plants," Poppy insists. "She's taking care of her sick husband at least let her have some nice flowers to come home to."
"Fine."
"And I can't believe you're actually taking Calum with you to meet your mother, Scotty."
"Tell me about it," I sigh. "I'm so incredibly nervous."
"But he's been doing everything right so far, so I don't think it should be a big issue."
"Isn't it crazy?" Emma butts in. "It's like every thing that Scotty had ever complained about in guys he does completely right."
"He's just a great guy."
"Are you sure he hasn't been doing his research?"
"No," I say quickly, shaking my head. "Calum hasn't even read any of my writing."
"Maybe he's just the last perfect man left on earth."
