Chapter 3

Three

Harrison

A fter Everly went home, I sent Wren to take her shower. Afterward, she met me in my room so I could brush her hair. This was the time we usually talked about school or anything she was worried about. But tonight, I needed to talk to her.

She climbed into bed next to me. I set my phone aside and took the proffered hairbrush. “I want to talk to you about something.”

“Am I in trouble?” she asked as she cocked her head.

“Do you have something you should be in trouble for?” I asked her.

“Nope.”

“I want to know how you’d feel if Everly moved in with us.” It was something Wren used to ask Everly when she was little. Sometimes we’d have sleepovers in the living room. But this was different. It was more permanent. It felt real, even though it was supposed to be fake.

“Are you serious?” Wren asked, her eyes wide.

I sucked in a breath, not feeling great about lying to my daughter. But this was for her. “Everly and I are dating.”

“Finally,” Wren said as her eyes widened.

I shifted so she could sit in front of me, drawing the brush over her tangled hair. “Wait. What do you mean, finally ?”

Wren shrugged. “Everyone says you should be. It was just a matter of time.”

I had an idea that was the case, but there was one more person who was more adamant about it than anyone else. “Are you talking about Grandma?”

“She’s going to be so happy,” Wren singsonged.

My heart contracted. I was lying to the people I loved, and by the end of this, I might even hurt them. I told myself it was necessary to get what I wanted. What Wren wanted. “Are you okay with it?”

“I want you to be happy. I love Everly.”

I suspected that Everly was another mother figure for Wren, but I felt a pang at her concern for my happiness. She was too young to be worried about me, but I loved that she was empathetic to my feelings. “I’m glad that you and Everly have a close relationship.”

“She’s always been there for me.”

I drew the brush through Wren’s hair with one last stroke before pulling her into my arms. I hated to even think it, but I suspected Everly would be a better role model for Wren. She’d be someone she could go to when she had her first period. Everly would handle it with grace whereas I suspected Lola would tell her to just deal with it.

“Are you sure you’re okay? A lot of things have changed in your life recently. Your mom got married. She’s pregnant.”

Wren pulled back, a frown on her face. “This is different. I want Everly to move in. When will she?”

“This weekend.” Then I held my breath, waiting for her reaction.

Wren clapped her hands together. “Yay! I can’t wait.”

Wren’s enthusiasm was infectious. It was easy to forget that Everly was my best friend and that I’d just lied to my daughter. I’d made Wren happy without destroying my friendship with Everly. Or, at least, I hoped that was what I was doing. We didn’t have feelings for each other, so we could be practical about the situation.

It would be awkward to live with my best friend, but it was for a good cause, and there was zero chance of me catching feelings for her. I’d never thought of Everly as anything more than a friend. At least that’s what I’d told myself over the years.

I was pleased Wren had taken to the news of Everly and me dating so well. It made me wonder if everyone else saw something that I didn’t.

Gia summoned me for a meeting at Happily Ever Afters. I was rarely included because my business was based on orders Gia placed on behalf of her couples. I wasn’t involved in choosing the colors, textures, or sizes of tents. But I was invited to this one.

I parked my truck on Main Street, wondering what I was doing here in my work boots with the lingering smell of sawdust and dirt I couldn’t seem to shake. I hadn’t bothered to change out of my company T-shirt and worn jeans since I’d come here from a job.

Inside, the receptionist, Payton, greeted me.

“You know what I’m doing here?” I asked her.

“No idea. But they’re waiting for you,” Payton said with a smile as she stood and led the way into Gia’s office.

The room was filled with delicate wood furniture and floral cushions. I could see how a bride would feel pampered here; it was a feminine space. But standing in the doorway, I was the only man, and I felt out of place.

All eyes turned to me, intensifying the feeling of being in the wrong place. I held up my hands as if it were a problem, and said, “Gia invited me.”

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Gia said as she approached, closing the door behind me. I stepped farther into the room, worried I was leaving a trail of dust on her gleaming hardwood floors.

“Have a seat.” Gia gestured toward the one chair that was unoccupied.

I sat gingerly, afraid my weight would break it.

“We’re so glad you could make it.”

“I have to be honest. I’m not sure why I’m here.” I didn’t meet directly with the couples they worked with. Gia was the perfect liaison between the couples’ desires and my rental company.

Between Gia and her best friend, Harper, they kept the place organized and running smoothly. I rarely had an issue with their business because Gia rarely allowed brides to make last-minute changes. Either she refused or she was able to work her magic and convince the bride that her original choice was good. Either way, I appreciated the smooth relationship we had.

“I consider you a part of our little family,” Gia said as she sat at her desk which was merely a top with fancy legs. It allowed for very little storage, but then everything was probably on her computer or the tablets that she and the other women always carried with them.

“I realize you don’t meet directly with the couples, but your company is vital to our business. I want to make sure you’re happy and that our relationship continues to thrive.”

“I don’t see why it wouldn’t.”

Payton came in and whispered something into Gia’s ear.

Abby leaned over and said, “I think she’s worried that you work for Silas Sharpe.”

I tipped my head to the side.

“You know he owns Chesapeake Resort? He’s our biggest competition.”

Before I could respond, Gia said, “Sorry about the interruption. The good news is that business has been expanding at a rapid pace, and we needed to hire not one, but two new wedding planners to cover everything. You’ve met Ireland, but I wanted to introduce you to our newest wedding planner, Aria Hope.”

At Gia’s urging, Aria stood, a folder of some sort clutched in her arms. “Why don’t you tell us a little about yourself, Aria?”

“Well, I’m coming here with a background in interior design. It was just something I was good at, but I’m passionate about weddings, making the happiest day come alive for couples. I have so many ideas, and I’m excited to collaborate with everyone here.”

“Aria’s a true romantic, and I thought she’d be a great match for our brides. Her ideas are new and fresh, so if you’re stuck on something, you can ask her for help.”

The other women leaned over to congratulate her and welcome her to the business. I held back since I didn’t have many interactions with the planners, other than Gia. But maybe that would change with their business increasing.

When everyone was seated again, Gia continued. “We’re continually expanding our business and hope to be the premier wedding planning service in the area. Each person in this room is integral to this business, not just the planners.”

Looking around the room, I recognized Sophie from Sophie’s Sweets; Abby, the photographer; Lily, the florist; and me and Everly. Gia was the owner, then there was Harper, her best friend and manager, and then the two new wedding planners, Aria and Ireland. My guess was that Gia wanted me to feel more invested in the business so that I was loyal to her and not to other wedding venues. But the reality was, I was open to other opportunities, even though I’d promised I’d always prioritize her business.

At one point, Gia approached me and offered to pay above and beyond my listed prices so that her business came first. I had no problem with that. But then, she was my biggest customer. I wasn’t sure that would always be the case. Especially if she was worried about other venues competing for my supplies. If that happened, I’d hire employees and expand the supplies I rented. Expansion was risky, but it was the best-case scenario, though I understood why she was worried. More wedding business for me meant more competition for her.

“I want us to be a family. I want you to feel supported. If there’s anything I can do to help you in your business, please feel free to come to me. That includes you, Harrison. You’re just as big a part of this as anyone else.”

I leaned my elbows on my thighs, looking around the room to say, “I’m very happy with our ongoing relationship. I don’t have any issues.”

“I’m glad to hear that. If you wouldn’t mind staying after, I have something I wanted to talk to you about.”

That had me wondering what it could be. She wouldn’t invite me to a business meeting and then cut me loose. The thought left me cold because Gia was my largest and most reliable client. Other customers might only need a tent for a one-time event; it was the businesses that hired me repeatedly that kept me afloat. Especially during the slow months.

She went over a few upcoming weddings, and I checked my phone calendar to make sure I had the same events on my schedule. When she adjourned the meeting, I stood, nodding at the other women as they walked out.

Everly was the last to walk out. She touched my arm and mouthed, “Good luck,” before she was gone too.

“Thank you for coming, Harrison. I really appreciate it.” Gia gestured for me to sit in one of the two chairs in front of her desk. When I sat, she moved around the desk to lean against it. “I called you in here today to make sure things are good on your end.”

“I have no complaints.”

Gia reached behind herself to grab her ever-present tablet. “Harper created a new scheduling system for the vendors. If you sync your system with it, we won’t need to exchange emails and acceptances; the events will automatically be emailed to you, and if you accept them, they’ll go on your calendar, and if you don’t, we’ll reach out to our backup vendor.”

“You know I always take your events. If, for some reason, my calendar started filling up, I’ll hire employees and increase my inventory.” I would have expected Gia to relax at my words, but it only seemed to make her tenser.

“I pay a premium so that our events take priority.”

“And they do.” Was she having an issue with the way I’d conducted business the last few months? I racked my brain but couldn’t think of any problems. I’d taken every job request I’d received.

“I want to offer the wedding arbors you and Ethan do on occasion as a package option.”

“Are you serious?” We’d only done a few of those because they were so time-consuming. “We have a few options in storage that any of the brides can choose.”

“And that’s wonderful, but we’d like to offer a few more custom options. Would you be willing to work with Lily on a few designs?” Once the arch was in place, we worked with Lily to ensure that her flower arrangements worked with the structure.

Gia turned her tablet toward me to flip through several pictures. One had vines that seemed to wrap around the structure, one had flowers etched into the wood, and another was a gazebo-like structure. “Are you and Ethan able to do something like this?”

“I think so. I’ll talk to him about it.” Ethan made furniture, but I was the one who was more skilled with intricate designs. I started by whittling animals out of wood when I was a kid. The entire act of creating something from of a block of wood was exhilarating for me.

Gia’s shoulders lowered slightly. “I just wanted to offer options that other venues don’t.”

“Your business model has always been streamlined packages. Why the custom options?”

“I’ve always offered custom options at a premium, and I want to expand the offerings. It never hurts to have a few larger weddings each year. The newer planners can tackle the package weddings, and I can take on the more complicated, custom ones.

“I’ve asked each vendor to create a few custom options, but the idea is that the bride and groom can ask and get whatever they want.”

I opened my mouth to respond because I wasn’t sure I had the skills to do any thing someone would want with wood, but Gia continued. “I get that we might not always be able to meet those needs, due to skill and time constraints. But I think if we have a few options like these in storage, they could pick one of them and still feel like they’re getting something custom-made.”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

“You built the gazebo on Lily’s property, but I’m wondering if you could create one that’s more mobile that we could use at locations that don’t have one.”

“I don’t see why not. We would just need to use lighter wood.”

“Maybe even vinyl?”

Impressed she was aware of the options, I said, “Let me research the available options for vinyl and work with Ethan on a few custom wooden structures, and I’ll send you the information.

“Everly mentioned that you’re worried about competition from other wedding venues. Are you really concerned?” I loved talking business with others who were in a similar situation to me.

Gia frowned. “I’m always aware of the competition. I’d be an idiot to discount them.”

“But each venue and planner offer something unique. I think you’ve built a good reputation for yourself here in Annapolis.” I didn’t think she had anything to worry about it, but she probably saw things differently.

“I appreciate you saying that.”

I sensed from the set of her shoulders and the grim line of her lips that she wasn’t convinced. She was a competitive person, and no matter how successful she was, she was probably trying to come out on top or prove something to herself or maybe even her parents. They owned the pizza parlor in town, and her brothers ran it alongside them. Maybe they wanted her to do the same, and she’d defied them by opening a different business.

I understood the pressure that parents could put on you, but mine had always encouraged me to follow my dreams. When I explained how I was doing it for an easier schedule for my daughter, they supported me. Especially in the beginning when it wasn’t looking great. Back then, I relied on the occasional children’s birthday party. It hadn’t really taken off until Gia was on the scene. I was grateful for the opportunities she provided and for the steady business.

Gia turned as if she was finished speaking with me. When she rounded her desk, she said, “That reminds me. We have a few rules that we like to follow. I thought I’d mention them to you since you’re a part of this, too.”

“What’s that?” I asked, my mind already racing with the possibilities for arbors and other pieces we could incorporate into the ceremonies. Maybe pedestals for flower arrangements.

Gia opened a flat-looking drawer with a piece of paper taped to it. It was a list of sorts. “Take a look at these and let me know if you have any questions.”

I took the proffered list from her, reading quickly through it, then slowing down when I saw what they were. Don’t sleep with a member of the wedding party? Was this a joke? Chuckling, I said, “Are you serious about this?”

Gia sighed. “The idea is that we’re professionals. It doesn’t look good for my employees or the contractors to be sleeping with members of the wedding party or other vendors. I don’t want to get that reputation.”

“I get that we’re professionals, and I would never sleep with a member of the wedding party.”

“Good. Then we understand each other.”

I’d argue that I was a separate business and wasn’t bound by these rules. Besides, she paid for my priority, not my exclusivity. “Don’t sleep with the other vendors?”

That meant Everly.

“That shouldn’t be a problem. Sophie, Abby, and Lily are already dating someone seriously, and Everly is your best friend.”

“Right.” The words to refute her assumption were stuck in my throat. The arrangement with Everly was new, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to explain to Gia that we were in a pretend relationship. As logical as it sounded when I was talking to my attorney or Everly, I was aware it was a crazy proposition for anyone else.

What had I gotten myself into? Sure, I’d do anything for Wren, but what if it affected my business relationships?