“Is that what you really want?” Rose asked the bold question, giving Maggie a chance to voice whatever reservations or feelings she had about it.
Maggie seemed to snap back to herself. “Of course. Sorry. I was thrown by seeing Joel and now the cake thing. They say something always goes wrong at a wedding. If the cake is the worst of it, I guess I’m lucky.” That sounded more like Maggie.
“Well, let’s start calling the other shops and see if we can get a replacement cake.” Rose pulled out her phone, ready to help, and smiled at the text.
GRAY:Miss you still. Work sucks. I’d rather be with you.
GRAY:I’m coming to see you tonight even if Marc isn’t ready to go back.
He texted her several times a day. They talked on the phone last night for two hours about everything and nothing. Shelearned that he’d loved doing tricks on his BMX bike when he was a kid. He’d been on the swim and tennis teams in high school. And he wished he’d had a sister growing up. She teased him that Marc had spoiled the idea of having a brother. He agreed, but also acknowledged that having Marc around in the summers and on holidays showed him how good he had it at home with his parents.
“You’re smiling. Let me guess... Gray,” Maggie said.
Rose held up her phone. “He texted me.”
Maggie smirked. “Something scandalous, I hope.”
Rose sighed. “More like sweet.”
“Of course it is. Marc apologized to me. I think we’re both on edge. I can’t wait for the honeymoon where we can be alone and just be happy like we’ve been all this time.”
“You really love him.”
“I do. Everything’s been great up until a few weeks ago when he started spending more time looking at his phone than at me. I know he’s working hard to impress his dad and prove he can take over the company so his dad can retire. Add that stress in with the wedding and it’s no wonder we’re both tired and cranky and wanting things to just be like they were before all this.”
“Once you’re back from the honeymoon, everything will fall back into routine. And you two will be living together, so that will make things easier.”
“I hope so. In my mind, it all seemed so easy. Find a guy who loved me and wanted a family. Get married. Move in together. Start a family. Live a happy life.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Rose agreed. “And I want you to have all the happiness in the world.”
“But?” Maggie asked, sensing something in Rose.
“No ‘but.’ Just something I should have told you the night we all got together at the bar. I wanted to, but—”
Maggie leaned in. “You were awestruck by Gray.”
Rose couldn’t deny it. “Yes. The second I saw him... I don’t know what happened to me. I just wanted him. I felt this connection.”
Maggie’s grin grew wider. “Exactly.”
Rose wondered if Maggie was talking about her connection to Joel or to Marc, but didn’t ask.
Maggie sat forward. “Does this have something to do with Marc’s surprise? Please don’t tell me the surprise he’s come up with sucks.”
“We actually didn’t talk about a surprise. He wanted to tell me not to tell you what I’m about to tell you.”
Maggie fell back in her seat and eyed her. “What? Why?”
“Because he doesn’t want you to know. Because he thinks you’ll be upset or angry.”
“Now you really need to tell me what it is.”
Rose sucked in a breath and revealed the truth she’d been holding on to for too long. “Marc and I know each other. We met a little over a year ago. Though I didn’t know your Marc was the same Marc until I saw him with you.”
Maggie shrugged. “So. What’s the big deal?”
“We had a one-night stand.” Rose held her breath, hoping this didn’t ruin their relationship.