Page 23 (1/2)

She had a binder out on the table

"--you can see how I’ll be capturing the light of the chapel to accentuate not only the soft pastel pinks and peaches of the flowers, but also to set off the natural golden tone of my skin"

"Well, sure, but that depends on the ti a mischievous look my way

Mimi flipped her binder "Based on the sun’s position in the sky that week, I’ve tiht into the church as possible" She pointed to a sun chart

"Ohthe binder around to see "This is ilad to know that I took into account your skin tone and Caroline’s when I chose your dresses"

"Our dresses? You chose our dresses?" Sophia asked

"Hold up, you haven’t even officially asked us yet! Don’t you think you better choose us before you choose the dresses?" I snorted, passing the butter as the plates were set down

"Please, like I need to ask Obviously you’re both bridese into quarter-inch slices and centering them on either side of the plate

"Well, obviously," Iat her when she looked up in surprise "Of course we’ll be your bridesroomsmen And I see that look on your face, Sophia," she said, not looking up but anticipating her reaction "He’s in the wedding and that’s final And there will be no throwing of food"

I h into my napkin

"Make sure Si week because he’s off taking pictures of zebras in Australia," Mi her knife at aroos are in Australia," Sophia interjected

"Australia, Africa, I don’t care if he’s in Akron--justoff in her bridal planner

"Oh, he’ll be home Don’t worry about that," Ielse, I brandishedphrases like wedding week It’s a wedding day, Miss Thing"

"I have sothat I need an entire week, and Ryan says I can And don’t think I didn’t notice you snarking under your breath about Si on?" she asked

"There’s nothing going on He’s just taking some time off, that’s all"

They both looked athe’s never home--well, he’s home now"

They both still looked at reat Really Great"

One more moment of silence, then we all returned to our plates

"So Ryan found out that there’s a group interested in sponsoring a chapter of his charity in San Diego," Mian

"There’s a new kravof taking it As long as I can protect ured out that the cat that’s running back and forth outside the all and anticipating his every move is his own reflection," I said

We chewed

"I think I finally talked Ryan into taking ballrooo!"

"I heard from Professor Bernard Fitzsiether"

"I think Jillian is lying to "

Forks clattered

"Wait, what?" Mimi asked as Sophia looked at ’s going on and she’s not telling me" As soon as I said it out loud, I was even ’s up"

They listened as I told the on: the phone calls, the non–phone calls, the e- I sat back and waited for the this all on the fact that she ht have said Munich when she ar packet

"No I ’s off," I insisted, not understanding why no one else was seeing it too

"She’s on her honeyht, you can be daetful Mmm, you think he likes it dirty? Do you think he likes it when--"

"Good Lord, Mimi!"

"Jesus Christ, woman!"

We stared at Mimi To be fair, we’d all fantasized about it But we never discussed it

She had the decency to blush into her sausage circles