He’s my home, his arms, his eyes, his voice telling me how much he’s missed me.
I’ve never felt this way before, not even in the throes of my obsession with Liam. That’s what it was with my ex. Obsession, not love. I can see that now.
Love isn’t painful or misery-inducing. Love doesn’t make you feel desperate or unworthy. Love lifts you up and makes you freer, happier, and better than you were before. With Nash, I feel like the best version of myself. The way he loves me just makes my soul shine a little brighter.
I sigh again. “Isn’t love the best thing ever?”
Lark laughs and tosses a wilted piece of lettuce at my face that hits me on the shoulder. “Now you’re even grossing me out.”
“I am not! You’re way grosser than I am!” I toss the leaf back at her and follow it with a strawberry, laughing as it sails down the front of her shirt. “Ha! Direct hit! Serves you right. You and Mason are the grossest couple I know. Googly eyes for days.”
“Oh yeah? Well at least I don’t hump his leg when I kiss him goodbye,” she says, throwing more lettuce with one hand while she fishes the strawberry from her bra with the other.
“I do not!” I dodge the lettuce and toss another strawberry, laughing as it follows the first down her shirt. “I am unstoppable!”
“Oh, I’m going to stop you, just wait,” she says, jogging around the table.
I vault off my stool to avoid a crushed berry to the face and Lark and I spend the next few minutes in a deep food fight, until we’re both laughing too hard to aim and agree to call a truce before we make an unholy mess.
Because love does that, too.
It makes you laugh and smile and spread rays of happiness around you like sunshine. “People should always be in love,” I say, accepting the cup of coffee Lark’s made, topped off with extra cream, just the way I like it.
“Agreed,” she says with a sigh. “Agreed.”
Chapter Twenty
Melody
I’m about to head back into the kitchen when I hear Lark and Aria giggling inside and decide I just can’t take it anymore.
I spin on my heel and flee my sisters, shedding my apron as I go and tossing it on an empty serving cart by the door. I’ll get it on my way back inside. Right now, I need to feel the wind blowing through my chiffon skirt. I need fresh air after being stuck in a hot kitchen all afternoon.
“With Happy and Happier, the love zombies,” I grumble beneath my breath, and immediately feel guilty about it.
This isn’t like me.
I love my sisters and I love love. The fact that my sisters have both found the love they deserve should be wonderfully, inspirationally romantic. I should be twirling through the kitchen, high on happiness right along with them.
But I’m not.
I’m sour and cranky and don’t even know why.
Yes, I’ve been on a roll with the bad dates, lately. Yes, I’ve been feeling lonely and sad and like something important is missing from my life, but that’s no excuse for being a buzz-killing grump.
I’m better than this, and from now on I’m going to act like it.
I vow to apologize to Aria and Lark when I get back to the kitchen, and immediately my heart rests easier in my chest. I pick up my pace, a spring coming into my step as I head up to the large Sunset Ranch staff parking lot.
Lark hired two extra waiters for the wedding today—a gala affair with nearly five hundred guests—which takes some of the stress off the three of us. I won’t have to serve so I’ll be able to focus on food prep and then helping Aria bring out the desserts after the final course.
All twelve of them. This bride’s mother has a sweet tooth and the cash to afford a decadent spread. The dessert table is going to be a showstopper, and Aria promised to make extra dark-chocolate-covered strawberries so we can gorge on them when the wedding is over.
That’s what I’ll focus on today. Sugar trumps boys and Aria’s desserts never disappoint.
Dreaming of berries covered in chilled chocolate brings a smile to my face as I join the group of regulars gathered in the shade of the Ever After van. Natalie, Mitch, Manny, George, and Sadie-Lynn are already suited up and a woman with dark brown skin and super cute braids, who I’m guessing is one of our temporary hires, is tying on her apron.
But there’s no sign of any other newbies around, though I’m not sure exactly who I’m looking for.
Lark interviewed applicants yesterday, while I was in Atlanta taking a French Sauces class before heading out on my disastrous date with Chad, the cheapskate. I only know we’re expecting one new guy and one new girl.