Mine to Take (Southern Weddings #5)(17)

“The wedding will be an all-day event?” At this point, I don’t even know if she is asking the question or telling us.

“It has to be,” Helena says. “His family loves to have parties.”

“Invitations.” Sofia plods on. “I’m assuming that there was an engagement photo shoot?” She smiles, and for the first time, I see something flicker in her eyes, and I look down. What the fuck am I even doing here? This can’t actually happen; she can’t plan my wedding.

“We have not… yet,” Helena says. “I would love to set it up.”

“I can do that for you,” Sofia assures her.

“We can ask my cousin Gabriella.” I look over at Helena, who rolls her eyes.

“We can use the engagement photos for a save the date invitation,” Sofia suggests. “I recommend this since this will be a big wedding.”

“Wedding of the year,” Helena sings and smiles.

“Sounds like it.” Sofia smiles back at her. “Since it’s so big, I suggest the save the date just so they know.”

“When should we do this?” Helena asks.

“The sooner, the better,” Sofia states. “Usually, people send out the wedding invitation four to five months before, so save the dates should be done seven to nine months out.”

“Well, if Gabriella can’t do it,” Helena says hopefully, “we’ll have to look elsewhere.”

“We have a couple that we work closely with.” Sofia tries to soften the tension. “We can look at that.

“Okay, the next questions are for the bridal party,” Sofia says, and I want to get up and walk around, but instead my feet stay put.

“We have a bridal suite on-site,” Sofia informs Helena. “I’m guessing that you would need makeup and a hairstylist, or will you be bringing your own?”

“Oh, I haven’t thought about it,” Helena says, and I want to laugh. Something she hasn’t thought of, shocking.

“We have a list of people we work with. I’m thinking you would need three of each to help do the whole bridal party, plus the moms.”

“And my aunts,” I pipe up. “My cousins will most likely also need that.”

“We can’t do everyone, Matty,” Helena says, and I look at her, then back at Sofia.

“You must have more than three people on the list?” I ask, and she leans back in her chair. “Do you think we can set up the extra people at the hotel?”

“We can do whatever you want,” Sofia confirms. “It’s your wedding.”

“Then I want to do that,” I say, my leg now moving up and down with nerves. There is no fucking way that I’m going to have my family feel like they aren’t included or that they don’t matter. I don’t even care anymore; I stand and stretch my legs.

“Would you like some water?” Sofia looks at me.

“If it’s not too much trouble,” I answer her and she pushes away from her desk, getting up.

“I’ll be right back,” she says, then looks at Helena. “Would you like some as well?”

“I’m fine.” Helena smiles tightly at her. I wait for her to walk out of the room before I look over at Helena.

I don’t even wait for her to say anything before I talk. “This is our wedding.” She looks at me. “But my family is part of that wedding, whether you like it or not. I would do the same for your family.”

“It’s our wedding, not theirs,” she declares, rolling her eyes. “We aren’t paying for them to do their makeup.”

“We aren’t,” I say, “but I am.” I can’t even imagine going to talk to my aunts and asking them to pay for their makeup. My father would kick my ass so fast, scratch that, my mother would kick my ass so fast.

“We aren’t using Gabriella,” she states as if she is going to win this.

“Then we aren’t doing a save the date,” I counter.

“Can we not discuss this here?” Helena says between clenched teeth when she looks over her shoulder as she hears the clicking of heels coming closer to us. “It’s so embarrassing, and you’re making this experience not fun.”

I close my eyes, shaking my head before I walk back over and sit back down in the chair. Sofia walks back in with the water bottles on a silver tray. Helena grabs both bottles, handing me one. “Sorry about that,” I say, not sure what I’m apologizing for.

Sofia sits back down. “Nothing to apologize for. Planning a wedding is a big deal.” She smiles and looks over at Helena. “What about a dress?”

“I would love to have an original and I’m working on getting a designer.” She smiles so big. “But I’m open to anyone you can suggest.”

“I have a couple of names for you.” Sofia smiles at her and my chest contracts as I think of her helping Helena with a wedding dress. I open the bottle of water, drinking it. The cold water hits me right away, and then she says, “We can do that without the groom.”





sofia





I look down at the paper in front of me, not sure I can mask the fact that I’m going to help this woman pick out her wedding dress. I look at the paper with the rest of the questions empty, but I think I’ve done my part for the day. The rest of the questions aren’t that important, and I can always reach out to her. “I think I have everything I need.” I avoid looking back up, but I can’t just look down at my papers until they walk out.