Page 39 of The Wedding Run (The Wedding Letter #1)
Libby
W ith the bride and groom off to celebrate their honeymoon on a sun-drenched beach—not in Ohio—the wedding party, family, and guests scatter like leaves in a blustery spring breeze.
“Off to take a nap,” Luke jokes as he shuts the door behind the last guest.
“Not after all that caffeine.” Charlie moves much faster than the rest of us while stacking chairs.
Elle cleans up cake crumbs and eyes her sister suspiciously. “Did you have coffee?”
“Everyone was raving about the lattes, so I tried Libby’s. I’m fine. Maybe I should do this more often.”
Luke, Elle, Roxie, and I stare at her as if she had signed up to run five marathons.
“I better get her home soon,” Elle states, “before she crashes.”
“Good idea.” I move out of Charlie’s way. “I’ll be more careful where I leave my latte from now on.”
“It’s all good, all good,” Charlie mumbles to herself.
The rest of us return to our slower tasks. Luke scrubs the counter. Roxie sweeps up flower petals and birdseed from the floor. I gather used paper plates and plastic forks. Charlie finishes stacking chairs and starts hauling trash bags to the alley.
When The Brew no longer resembles an explosion of sugar and flowers, I collapse into a chair with my iPad and double-check the final list.
Charlie stays in constant motion, wiping down counters and tables that are already clean.
“She’ll be like that until the caffeine wears off,” Elle explains as she joins me.
“That was a success.” Roxie plops down beside Elle. “We should advertise. I bet folks would love to tie the knot in a coffee shop. There were probably plenty who had their first dates right here.”
“Post a picture of the bride and groom on the wall.” Charlie sweeps her arms through the air, more animated than usual. “I can see it now. Dozens and dozens of framed photos.”
Elle props her feet on a chair. “A wall dedicated to people who get married here.”
Luke joins our circle. “I should focus on what I do best.”
I raise my cup. “Making lattes.”
His head snaps toward me. “Are you forfeiting?”
“What? No way.”
“You haven’t once attempted to make me coffee,” he complains.
"Attempted?" I repeat.
“Beware. She makes instant!” Elle exclaims.
“Libby! Libby! Libby!” Charlie chants.
Elle snags Charlie’s arm and pushes her into a seat. She massages Charlie’s shoulders to soothe her. “Think blue skies. Ocean breezes.”
Charlie’s leg keeps jiggling. “We need?—”
“Shh,” Elle commands. “Think of a hammock swaying. Slowly.”
“It’s more of a hurricane in her mind.” I push to my feet and move behind the counter. “If you want coffee, Luke, I’ll make you a cup to beat all cups. What'll it be?”
“You have to figure it out,” he says. “That’s part of it.”
"Are there rules now?” I tease.
“You are brave,” Charlie says to Luke. “She makes instant.”
He tips his chair back. “I’ve heard.”
My sisters laugh.
But I frown as I survey the stainless-steel equipment. I feel completely out of my depth. Where are my instant crystals when I need them?
Roxie appears at my side. “Need help?”
“Well, I..." I don’t even know where to begin.
“This equipment can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing,” she explains.
“Dangerous?” I pull my hand back from a shiny lever.
“Tell me what you want to make, and I’ll facilitate,” she whispers.
“What’s his favorite?”
“I call foul!” Luke protests.
“I’m not giving away secrets,” Roxie says. “Only making sure no one gets burned.”
“Burned?” That makes me hesitate. My gaze shifts toward Luke, and I feel infinitely more at risk with him.
“Okay,” I whisper to Roxie, “let’s give him a jolt.”
She smiles and nods.
A few minutes later, I present him with a steaming latte. “Just ignore the foam.”
He twists the cup, turning it to the right, then to the left, and then all the way around. “What was it supposed to look like?”
“Guess.”
“Like looking at the clouds?” He winks. “Is it a rabbit?”
“Just drink it.”
He looks at Roxie. “Dare I?”
“What’s the worst that can happen?” Charlie asks.
We all stare at her leg, which can’t stop bouncing up and down.
“A heart attack,” he suggests.
“Probably won’t hurt you,” Elle confides.
“Probably?” Luke asks.
“You’ll be fine,” Roxie says. “Eventually.”
Charlie snorts, and Elle nudges her with an elbow.
“Get it over with,” I say. “Declare me the winner.”
He takes hold of the cup with both hands, slurping and swallowing. After a long pause, he finally says, “Not bad.”
“But not good?” I ask.
“I didn’t say that.” He tastes the coffee again. “How many espresso shots are in there?”
“A few.”
“Guess I’ll be fine for the drive to Atlanta.” With that, he downs the rest.
“Impressive,” Charlie observes.
A dot of foam clings to his upper lip. Charlie points to her own, but Luke doesn’t catch the hint. I lean forward and scoop up the dollop with my finger. Luke looks surprised, but not as shocked as my sisters.
Roxie clears her throat. “You’re going to Atlanta?”
“Closing shop for the rest of the weekend,” he declares. “Take a day off, Roxie. You deserve it.”
Elle, Charlie, and I exchange glances. We understand what it’s like to run a business. Days off, which are rare, equal no revenue.
“You don’t have to go with me if you don’t have the time. I don’t want you to lose business,” I argue.
“Haven’t you heard of ‘goin’ fishing?’” He grins.
“In Mayberry,” Charlie states.
“But this is reality,” I add.
“We all need rest after last night.” His gaze shifts toward me. “Besides, I made a promise.”
“You made Libby a promise?” Charlie asks.
“Ooh! What promise?” Elle asks, excitement pinching her words. As the youngest in the family, she never likes to be left out of anything. “Is it a secret?”
Not long after, Luke closes The Brew, and we all head to Stacy and Wade’s house.
With Bailey sitting beside her, Charlie plugs into her computer and begins loading the photos. Her agitation has slowed somewhat, but she still appears a bit manic. “Look at this, Luke!”
He gazes at the screen. “You were supposed to photograph the bride and groom.”
“If you need a publicity shot,” she says, “this is it.”
I take a peek. It’s a fantastic shot of Luke in his element, unguarded yet smiling. My heart feels a gentle tug.
Elle juggles a box of supplies and struggles to open the back door. Irritated with Charlie, I jerk the door open, slamming it into the box.
“Careful!” she warns.
“Sorry.” I step outside with her and assist her in loading everything into her trunk.
“Go for it,” she whispers.
“What are you talking about?”
She tilts her head toward the house. “Luke’s a good guy. And you deserve a good guy.”
“Luke? We’re friends.”
“Uh-huh.”
“We are!”
“I hear you.”
With Bailey at her heels, Charlie joins us next to Elle’s car. “You hear what?”
“Nothing,” I say.
“Lib says she’s not interested in Luke.”
Charlie’s eyebrows rise. “Since when?”
“I didn’t say that,” I argue. “Not exactly.”
Charlie has a sharp eye and adds her two cents, “Libby probably believes that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask.
“She wants her cake and eat it too,” Elle states.
Charlie and I focus on Elle and ask at the same time, “What?”
Elle sighs and explains, “She doesn’t want Luke, but she doesn’t want anyone else to have him either.”
Charlie and I exchange looks and shrug.
“Maybe Charlie’s interested in him.” I direct the accusation at her.
Charlie bursts out laughing. “He’s nice and all, but… nope. He’s got an eye for Lib.”
“That’s how much you know,” I say. “He told me he isn’t interested.”
“When?” Elle asks.
“A bunch of different ways. Luke and Derek are friends, and Derek owns half of Luke’s business. He could ruin him.
Elle grabs my shoulders. “You were brave beyond belief when you walked out of your wedding. Don’t let that bravery disappear now when you need it the most.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do.” Elle hugs me close. “I’ll see you in Atlanta. In the meantime, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Charlie adds, “Do what I’d do and go for it!”
“You talk a good game, Charlie, but I never see you with a boyfriend,” I challenge her.
“I like going solo.”
“Maybe I do, too,” I say.
But both of my sisters shake their heads in disbelief.