Chapter Six

“Okay, so our final options are lilac ribbons and mason jars, or we can go with citrus ribbons and mini-bouquets on every table,” I explained. “Which one do you like better?”

“What? Am I just supposed to imagine it?” Clarissa frowned. “Couldn’t you whip up a 3D model or something for me to look at?”

“You don’t need a 3D model, Clarissa. This is about ribbons and the wall color. You just need to use your imagination for now because of the last-minute change with Naomi doing the flowers.” I pointed toward the blank wall on the far side of the venue’s space. “When you think about your perfect wedding, what’s hanging down that wall? Lilac ribbons? Citrus ribbons--”

“I don’t know! I don’t know if I can choose!” Clarissa shook her head. “Not without seeing it first.”

I resisted the urge to bang my head against the wall. Clarissa was going to drive me insane.

We’d been at the banquet hall for the last five hours, going over the final touches for the wedding, making sure everything had been cleared with the staff and that there were enough tables and chairs on hand for both the wedding and reception.

We were now at the final stage of the process, which involved getting Clarissa’s okay to move forward with everything as planned. Without her stamp of approval, none of the wheels in the wedding machine would be able to start turning, which meant that it was vital that she make up her mind before she broke mine right in two.

“Clarissa, you have to make a choice today,” I said. “If you don’t nail down a color scheme for the walls, then how will I be able to tell Naomi which flowers we need for the ceremony? And how will Briar know what color napkins to pick out? Everything comes down to the walls. Everything.”

“I know everything comes down to the walls! You think I don’t know that everything comes down to the walls?” Clarissa shouted before she sucked in a deep breath. “Sorry. I’m sorry. It’s just that I didn’t realize that we’d be doing this today and I just… I just need a second opinion.”

“I can call Laurel?” I suggested. “He’s pretty good with visualizing things like this, working with empty spaces.”

“No. It’s okay. I already called for backup…” Clarissa’s words trailed off before she beamed at someone across the room. “And there he is right now! Sky! Come over here! We need you!”

I turned to see Sky standing in the doorway of the banquet hall. He was wearing a green polo shirt with beige slacks, looking as if he’d just stepped off a pricey golf course. I offered him a small wave, and he quickly waved back.

He made his way toward us, coming to stand between Clarissa and me. “Sorry I’m late, Clarissa. My dad finally came into town, and he wanted to spend some time with me.”

“That’s totally fine! Tell Marshall that I say hi,” Clarissa said with a smile. “Anyway, I called you down here so you could help Raven and me figure something out.”

“And what’s that?” Sky asked.

She placed her hand on his shoulder, gently nudging his frame toward the blank wall. “When you look at that wall, what do you see? Lilac ribbons? Or citrus?”

“What the hell is a lilac ribbon?” Sky grimaced. “Sorry. I don’t think I’m going to be much help with this one. Wedding design isn’t exactly my strong suit.”

“Come on, Sky! Just try!” Clarissa begged.

“Please, Sky. Please try,” I whispered. “If you don’t, she’s going to keep me here for the next five years. She’s never going to let me go home, Sky. I’m already forgetting what it’s like out there. Does the sun still shine the same? Are the people still riding bikes? Are there flying cars now, Sky? Are there?”

He laughed at my plea, trying to cover his laugh with a fake coughing fit.

But Clarissa figured him out and shot him a pissed off expression. “Are you seriously laughing right now? Nothing about this is funny, Sky! If this wall doesn’t come together, the whole wedding falls apart!”

“Right, because it’s like they always say, if you don’t have ribbons on the wall at your wedding, you might as well not have gotten married at all.” Sky’s words were drenched in sarcasm. “Seriously though, Clarissa. I don’t think I’m the right guy for--”

“Lilac or citrus!” She cut him off. “Think, Sky. Me in a white dress. Black tuxedos. Glitter in the air--”

“Glitter in the air?” It was Sky’s turn to cut Clarissa off.

“From the ceiling,” I explained. “It’s supposed to be a surprise. Should happen right in the middle of the bride and groom’s first dance.”

“What color is the glitter?”

“Silver and gold.”

“Silver and gold…” Sky murmured before he nodded. “Okay. Well, if this place is going to be caked in glitter like that, then the ribbon on the walls should be lilac.”

“Lilac? Are you sure?” Clarissa pressed.

“Yeah. I’m sure,” he replied. “Citrus is already kind of a bright color, so it’d probably just drown out the glitter. But with the lilac? I think it’ll make a nice contrast.”

“I think he’s right,” I said, surprised by Sky’s apparent talent for color coordination.

He smiled as he looked over at me. “Impressed?”

“A little,” I said as I smiled back at him. “Fine. A lot.”

“Good. I like it when you’re impressed,” he replied before he quickly backtracked. “I mean, I like it when I impress people.”

“No, you had it right the first time,” I corrected, a grin spreading across my face.

And for a moment, Sky and I were staring at each other, our eyes locked, not breaking the view for even a second.

It felt like we were the only two people in the room.

But then I was reminded of how not-alone we were when I felt Clarissa’s hand on my shoulder. “Hey! You’re going to make sure we have lilac ribbons for my big day, right?”

“Yeah, of course.” I snapped back into wedding planner mode.

“Good.” She smiled. “Call them on the way to the bakery? You can sit in the back of my car. I’ll try to keep the radio down in the front.”

“Call them on the way to -- wait. We’re going to the bakery today, too?”

“Yeah, of course,” she casually responded. “How else am I supposed to pick what flavors I want for the cupcakes? Don’t forget that I want a table filled with cupcakes of various flavors to compliment the colors -- and the cake -- that I already chose.”

“You haven’t picked the cupcake flavors yet?” My tone was restrained even though I felt like screaming bloody murder.

Clarissa shrugged. “Don’t freak out about it. Now that I know we’re having lilac ribbons on the wall, I can figure out what I want the cupcakes to taste like.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” I whispered. “Nothing you’re saying makes any sense.”

“Sky, you’re coming with us, right?” Clarissa didn’t appear to be bothered by my whispering as she happily turned toward him.

“Oh. Uh…” Sky seemed to be taken off guard. “Wouldn’t it be better if Trent was here for that part?”

“He’s at work,” Clarissa sighed. “Besides, he doesn’t care about the cupcakes. He’s not really a sweets guy, anyway. Honestly, I’m not that into dessert myself.”

“So why the cupcakes?” Sky asked. “I mean, if you don’t like desserts, why even bother having a cake?”

Clarissa and I shared a knowing look before we broke into a shared laugh.

We continued with our laughter while we packed up our things to leave the wedding venue.

“Wait. I don’t get it,” Sky said, his footsteps echoing behind our own. “Why are you having a cake if you don’t like cake? Clarissa? Clarissa?”