Page 20 of Meant for Me (Magnolia Bay #3)

eleven

T he Magnolia Blossom had been transformed into a frothy, lacy, cupcake-laden reception hall.

From her assigned booth by the window, evident by the white streamers draping the entire table and the brIDE sign scribbled in marker, Zoey bit into a chocolate cupcake with hot pink icing.

Frosting squished into her teeth. They’d probably be stained later, but the treat tasted so great, she didn’t even care.

She’d decided to chase away the clouds and have fun at her party—even if things weren’t ideal.

As always, she’d look on the bright side.

“Okay, spill it. How did you guys know?” Zoey accepted a cup of creamy white punch from Elisa, who slid into the booth across from her.

She took a sip, casting a quick look around the crowded room for Amelia.

She’d lost her in the initial overwhelming fray of warm wishes and congratulations. Maybe she’d escaped to the bathroom.

“Mama D knows all.” Elisa, wearing a sleeveless pink sundress that matched the decorations, toasted Zoey with her own clear punch cup. “Including someone who works at the courthouse, apparently.”

Ah. They should have guessed that would happen.

Elisa set down her drink. “The question is, why didn’t I know? I’m only your best friend.”

Zoey couldn’t quite tell if Elisa was upset or teasing. “Oh come on, you’re the real bride around here. I didn’t want to rain on your parade.”

“I love parades.” With a grin, Rosalyn slid into the bench seat next to Elisa, wearing a gauzy lavender dress with sheer short sleeves. Her long blonde hair was tied back, revealing the graceful long lines of her neck. “As long as Cade doesn’t have to plan it, of course.”

“They might throw us a parade next.” Zoey cast a wary look at Mama D, who was busy stacking gifts on an empty table by the counter. “Someone sent a limo, after all. I felt like I was being kidnapped in the most polite way possible.”

“We all pitched in for that one. I can’t believe Linc got inside it, honestly.” Elisa blew out her breath. “I half expected him to just run back home.”

Rosalyn fluttered her long lashes. “The power of love.”

Ha. More like the power of trying to keep up pretenses in front of his daughter.

“Zoey, for the record, you couldn’t rain on anyone if you tried.” Elisa’s small smile assured Zoey she wasn’t mad. “That’s considerate, but there’s plenty room in the Bay for more than one wedding this year.” Then she elbowed Rosalyn. “Remember that.”

“Hey, if I rushed down an aisle right now, I’d probably trip over my own feet.” Rosalyn twisted a dainty gold bracelet on her wrist. “Cade and I are taking it slow.”

“Yeah, that’s the face of a man who looks like he wants to wait a long time to get married.” Elisa leaned forward and discreetly pointed. Cade’s eyes practically pulsed cartoon hearts from where he stood at the counter, holding a plate laden with bite-sized appetizers and cupcakes.

“Nah. He always looks like that when he’s got food.” Rosalyn smirked.

Linc, however—not so much. Zoey’s gaze found him across the diner, standing in a circle with Noah, Owen, and Cade’s father, Mayor Landry. Linc’s stony expression looked like he’d rather be standing knee deep in the bay.

In a lightning storm.

Holding a metal rod.

Zoey caught Linc’s eyes, raised her cupcake in a satire-laden toast. He glowered.

She grinned. Teasing him was fun, even this far away.

Then Pastor Dubois and Farmer Branson joined the men’s huddle, which started another round of shoulder-slapping and cheers, forcing Linc to start over with niceties. Her grin morphed into a smirk.

“For the record, Zoey…” Rosalyn tapped her fingers on the tabletop between them, drawing Zoey’s attention back to her friends. “Can’t say we didn’t all see this coming.”

“You did?” Zoey blinked. Rosalyn had only been back in Magnolia Bay since that summer, didn’t even know Linc before that. How did she?—

“Yeah, you two were obviously a perfect fit during all the Cajun Circus fundraising.” She elegantly peeled back the wrapper on a cupcake.

They were? Zoey glanced at Elisa, who held her gaze, eyes assessing.

Uh-oh.

“Definitely a perfect fit. And then all the close proximity of late, well, it was bound to happen. You guys moved fast, but that’s what they say.” Rosalyn pinched off a piece of cake. “When you know, you know!”

“Something like that.” Zoey avoided Elisa’s eyes that time, letting her gaze drift back to Linc. His strong shoulders, the broad span of his chest the confident way he carried himself.

What about when one person in the relationship knew but the other didn’t?

She looked away. “We just figured it was good timing, with Amelia and all.” She shrugged a little. “We were talking the other day, and Linc pitched the idea.”

“Pitched? Don’t you mean proposed?” Rosalyn asked with a little frown.

“Ha. You don’t know Linc yet.” Elisa laughed. But her eyes still held something, some spark of knowing , that made Zoey shift in her seat.

“I’ll admit, the rush part is for Amelia.” Maybe giving partial truth would keep the full truth from being exposed—that Linc didn’t love her like that, that he was just a father trying to do the right thing for his kid.

“Everything happens for a reason, right?” Rosalyn toasted Zoey with her glass. “Cheers to God’s creative timing!”

Hmm. That was one way to look at it. Zoey rolled the idea around in her mind, trying it on. Everything had happened so fast, and she had prayed. Seemed like the signs were pointing toward this being the right move. So, yeah—creative timing. She could drink to that.

And it was better than the alternative—that she had made a huge mistake.

They clicked their plastic cups together.

Amelia approached the Bride’s table, clutching a white sack smeared with grease stains. Her name was Sharpied across the front of it. “This is for me?”

“Special order.” Elisa gestured for Amelia to sit.

The teen eased onto the bench seat next to Zoey and opened the bag, brimming over with french fries. Her face lit like a Christmas tree, and she cleared her throat. Sobered. “Um, thanks.”

Not deterred, Elisa raised an eyebrow. “Need ketchup?”

Amelia started to shake her head, then nodded. “Please.”

Zoey paused. That was progress.

“I’ll get it.” Rosalyn slid out of the booth.

“I’ll go with you and refill our glasses.” Elisa took Zoey’s cup. “Can’t have a thirsty bride.”

“There she is!” Mama D joined the booth just as the other two walked away. She beamed at Zoey with burgundy red lips. “I knew you two would finally see the light.”

Apparently, everyone had seen it but them. Amelia jerked out of the way as Mama D leaned over the booth to hug Zoey, her floral perfume as strong as her grip. “Congratulations, hon.”

Zoey tried to hold her breath. “Thanks, Mama D.” New lipstick…new perfume. What was Mama D up to? There’d also been that whole panic over what to wear to Elisa’s wedding…

Delia straightened and checked her gold watch. “I’m giving you exactly one minute to finish that cupcake, Mrs. Fontenot, then it’s time for presents.” She beamed before bustling off.

“Uh-oh.” Zoey nudged Amelia again. “Pretty sure the only thing your dad will hate worse than a party in his honor is opening gifts while everyone stares at him.”

“I would too.” Amelia slugged a fry through a pile of ketchup. “So are you guys ditching me for the honeymoon? Where am I going?”

Zoey’s stomach flipped. Honeymoon . There wouldn’t be one of those, would there? Not that anyone else needed that information. And she couldn’t let Amelia think they weren’t interested in one.

“No way. We wouldn’t leave you.” She bumped Amelia’s shoulder with her own, and to her surprise, the younger girl didn’t jerk away. In fact, did her eyes light, just a little?

Amelia reached for another fry. “I’d be fine if you did. I’m used to being alone. Even like it, remember?”

Probably not as much as she pretended to.

And this was also probably not the time to remind her it was illegal to leave a teenager home alone for several nights.

“Your dad doesn’t need to leave the tour business right now.

” Zoey waved one hand in the air, as if it were no big deal. “I’m sure we’ll take a trip later.”

Like when Amelia was eighteen. Or back with her mom. Or living in a college dorm…or maybe not at all. Dunkin’ donuts, they really didn’t know what was going to happen, did they? And now Linc was legally stuck with Zoey. Stuck taking care of her, providing for her.

What she always wanted. So why did it feel like such a burden?

Zoey reached for a fry from Amelia’s basket, took a big chomp.

She really needed to get this catering thing going, stop messing up the recipes and start making sales.

She couldn’t be dependent on Linc forever—even if he was technically her husband.

Being a drain would eventually ruin their friendship…

marriage …oh boy, this was weird. Despite Linc’s misguided assurance, everything had changed.

Yet later, they’d go home and sleep in their own rooms, wake up separately, have coffee on the porch.

Like nothing had changed at all.

She forced the rising storm cloud aside. Nope . It was her wedding day—only sunshine allowed.

Suddenly Linc was behind her, bracing against the back of the booth, his voice in her ear as he bent low. “Need anything?”

An involuntary tingle sprinted up Zoey’s spine. She craned her head back to smile up at him—glad she didn’t have to hold back her delight at the considerate question. They were supposed to be in love, after all.

Let people think she was a great actor.

“I’m okay. Elisa went to get me more punch. What about you? Do you need anything?”

“Besides my recliner and sweatpants?” He yanked at the collar of his shirt.

Amelia snorted.