“Anything is doable,” Alexis said. “Like I told you at our consultation, there are always sacrifices that have to be made with shorter timelines, and that’s not even mentioning the increased costs. But Audrey’s reputation is more valuable to a lot of vendors than the money. Though it would be expensive,” she clarified with a smile.

“Sure,” Clarke said distractedly.

“I know this is a lot to think about,” Alexis said, looking back at Audrey. “I can put a twenty-four-hour hold on it, but after that—”

“Put the hold on it,” Clarke said.

Audrey’s eyes went wide. “What?”

How had they gone from agreeing to call this whole thing off to pretending they were going to book the Plaza?

“Actually, we don’t need twenty-four hours to decide,” he told Alexis. “We just need one hour.”

“Clarke.” If he were closer, she’d kick him.

He met her eyes, and Audrey was alarmed that she couldn’t read him—didn’t have a clue what he was thinking or what the hell he was doing.

Clarke took a deep breath. “Dree. Can we talk?”

The wide-eyed, appalled look Audrey was sporting as she sat across from him in the Plaza’s champagne bar wasn’t the strong start he’d been hoping for. Neither were the first words out of her mouth.

“Clarke, if you want to keep the charade going for a bit longer, I’m game, but I draw the line at taking this spot at the Plaza. Even if the deposit is refundable, which I doubt it is, I am not taking that spot away from someone who will actually use it. Saturdays in the wedding world are precious currency.”

“I know.” He picked up the cocktail menu and scanned the expansive sparkling wine options. “Moët or Veuve?”

“I don’t care,” she said distractedly. “If you keep acting crazy, the only sparkling beverage I’m letting you drink is water.”

He merely smiled as he flagged down a server and ordered them two glasses of the most expensive champagne on the menu. It seemed to fit the occasion. What he was about to suggest was nuts, and yet it also felt exactly right.

Clarke waited until the server moved away, then met Audrey’s gaze. “I’m sorry.”

“For being a weirdo?”

“For Elizabeth. For not telling you about her.”

She waved her hand. “We already went through that. Water under the bridge. It’s fine. I told you, you don’t have to share every detail—”

“No, I mean, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what happened with me and Elizabeth before. Years ago.”

“Oh.” She blinked. “Oh. Why?”

“I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately.” He waited until the server had placed the champagne in front of them and moved away. He took a sip, barely tasted it.

“And?” Audrey nudged.

He lifted his gaze. “I didn’t want you to know.”

“Know what?”