They clicked their plastic cups together.
Amelia approached the Bride’s table, clutching a white sack smeared with grease stains. Her name was Sharpied across the front of it. “This is for me?”
“Special order.” Elisa gestured for Amelia to sit.
The teen eased onto the bench seat next to Zoey and opened the bag, brimming over with french fries. Her face lit like a Christmas tree, and she cleared her throat. Sobered. “Um, thanks.”
Not deterred, Elisa raised an eyebrow. “Need ketchup?”
Amelia started to shake her head, then nodded. “Please.”
Zoey paused. That was progress.
“I’ll get it.” Rosalyn slid out of the booth.
“I’ll go with you and refill our glasses.” Elisa took Zoey’s cup. “Can’t have a thirsty bride.”
“There she is!” Mama D joined the booth just as the other two walked away. She beamed at Zoey with burgundy red lips. “I knew you two would finally see the light.”
Apparently, everyone had seen itbutthem. Amelia jerked out of the way as Mama D leaned over the booth to hug Zoey, her floral perfume as strong as her grip. “Congratulations, hon.”
Zoey tried to hold her breath. “Thanks, Mama D.” New lipstick…new perfume. What was Mama D up to? There’d also been that whole panic over what to wear to Elisa’s wedding…
Delia straightened and checked her gold watch. “I’m giving you exactly one minute to finish that cupcake, Mrs. Fontenot, then it’s time for presents.” She beamed before bustling off.
“Uh-oh.” Zoey nudged Amelia again. “Pretty sure the only thing your dad will hate worse than a party in his honor is opening gifts while everyone stares at him.”
“I would too.” Amelia slugged a fry through a pile of ketchup. “So are you guys ditching me for the honeymoon? Where am I going?”
Zoey’s stomach flipped.Honeymoon. There wouldn’t be one of those, would there? Not that anyone else needed that information. And she couldn’t let Amelia think they weren’t interested in one.
“No way. We wouldn’t leave you.” She bumped Amelia’s shoulder with her own, and to her surprise, the younger girl didn’t jerk away. In fact, did her eyes light, just a little?
Amelia reached for another fry. “I’d be fine if you did. I’m used to being alone. Even like it, remember?”
Probably not as much as she pretended to. And this was also probably not the time to remind her it was illegal to leave a teenager home alone for several nights. “Your dad doesn’t need to leave the tour business right now.” Zoey waved one hand in the air, as if it were no big deal. “I’m sure we’ll take a trip later.”
Like when Amelia was eighteen. Or back with her mom. Or living in a college dorm…or maybe not at all. Dunkin’ donuts, they really didn’t know what was going to happen, did they? And now Linc was legally stuck with Zoey. Stuck taking care of her, providing for her.
What she always wanted. So why did it feel like such a burden?
Zoey reached for a fry from Amelia’s basket, took a big chomp. She really needed to get this catering thing going, stop messing up the recipes and start making sales. She couldn’t be dependent on Linc forever—even if he was technically her husband. Being a drain would eventually ruin their friendship…marriage…oh boy, this was weird. Despite Linc’s misguided assurance, everything had changed. Yet later, they’d go home and sleep in their own rooms, wake up separately, have coffee on the porch.
Like nothing had changed at all.
She forced the rising storm cloud aside.Nope. It was her wedding day—only sunshine allowed.
Suddenly Linc was behind her, bracing against the back of the booth, his voice in her ear as he bent low. “Need anything?”
An involuntary tingle sprinted up Zoey’s spine. She craned her head back to smile up at him—glad she didn’t have to hold back her delight at the considerate question. They were supposed to be in love, after all.
Let people think she was a great actor.
“I’m okay. Elisa went to get me more punch. What about you? Do you need anything?”
“Besides my recliner and sweatpants?” He yanked at the collar of his shirt.
Amelia snorted.
