Natalie nodded. “I was. And it wasn’t like it looked. I came out of the bathroom and someone slammed into me, and I fell. Omar was just there, and unfortunately for him, slowed my fall. With his crotch.”
A laugh burst from Landon. One he covered up before he winced. “That… um… I have no words. Ouch?”
Omar cracked for the first time, a laugh falling from his lips. “Yeah, ouch was the first word I thought of, too. Followed by a few others I shouldn’t say to anyone besides my future wife.”
I swear to God, I swooned. These damn men. Ramsey, Omar, hell, even Landon. How in the hell did I end up with Kyle when there were men like these others out there? Why couldn’t I find one of them now?
Nope. Nope. I didn’t want one. I wanted sex. I wanted flirtation and desire and a few really good orgasms. Not a relationship. I wasn’t looking to pick out flowers and a white dress and promise to love someone for the rest of my life. Been there, done that, was not going back.
Ever.
5
Landon
Well, well, well. The pretty woman who knocked over my display was the reporter following Natalie and Omar around for the month leading up to their wedding. That wasn’t what I expected.
When Natalie and Omar showed up early for our appointment, Natalie was apologetic about the whole situation and springing it on me. I assured her it was fine, but seeing who the reporter was definitely made it more than fine.
Casey was beautiful. A little older than me, if I had to guess, but close enough to my age that I didn’t feel like a child next to her. She had an easy laugh and was adorable when her cheeks flamed red every time she was embarrassed.
And man did I like seeing that when I flirted with her. She made me feel like I wasn’t destined to be single forever since everyone in town had decided Reegan and I were still a couple and would eventually figure it out and get back together.
Even Natalie made a comment about us reconnecting at the wedding since we were both invited.
Kill me now.
The last thing I needed was to have my dating potential eliminated because the town decided Reegan and I were meant to be when we’d decided we weren’t. That was only part of why I was enjoying online dating.
Or online conversing. It hadn’t progressed to actual dating yet, but I had hope.
“This is gorgeous,” Natalie whispered as she flipped the pages of the display book I kept on hand.
“Sunflowers are pretty classic for fall weddings. They’re simple and fun and make everyone smile,” I told her. Flowers were my love language. The meaning behind each flower was something I found fascinating, even if sometimes I felt like flowers should say whatever the hell you wanted them to say. If a bride loved chrysanthemums, I wasn’t going to tell her they symbolized grief in some cultures. The meaning of a flower was what a person made it, not always what someone said it should mean.
Then again, I was never able to decipher classic literature in high school either. If the author wrote one thing, I couldn’t make the jump that they really meant something else, which was a metaphor for another thing, and what they really intended was nothing close to what was written. I was too literal. Or so I’d been told.
I was more of the say what you mean mentality. And that translated to flowers.
“I like simple,” Natalie said for the second time.
I glanced at Omar and noticed the hint of a smile on his face. I smothered my own grin, but not fast enough.
“What?” Natalie demanded, her eyes flipping between Omar and me. “You seriously think I’m complicated?”
“I think you’re beautiful and smart and kind. But simple is not a word I’d use to describe you,” Omar said, ending his statement with a kiss.
“How am I not simple? I can’t do complicated. I get overwhelmed, and my anxiety takes over, and I lose it. I like simple.” Natalie huffed, arms crossed as she scowled at her fiancé.
“All of that is true. But nothing about this wedding has been simple. You wanted a band and a DJ, so people could enjoy both. You asked for hors d’oeuvres that could be served when we’re taking pictures, more for when we arrive at the reception, and then dinner. And don’t forget the three flavors of wedding cake because you couldn’t decide what you liked best.” Omar smirked throughout his entire diatribe.
Natalie’s scowl morphed into a grin as she lost her fight to hold on to her mad. “Fine. I’m not simple. But I really want to be.”
“All those things sound like you’re trying to create a wedding that will make your guests very happy,” Casey said. “Maybe the flowers should be more about what would make you happy?”
My chest expanded with joy. Damn. She got it. I was about to say the same damn thing. “What she said.”
Omar and Natalie chuckled.
