“What do you want?”

“Just...” He gestured for her to follow him; he needed her away from the rest of the bridal party.

She rolled her eyes but walked with him towards the door.

“This could’ve been avoided if you’d replied to my message or answered your phone,” he pointed out. More discreet that way too, but fact was, she could avoid her phone. She couldn’t avoid him in her face like this.

“Phone’s in my bag, and we were a bit busy fawning over Ava. Just get on with it. I’m too hungover for your shit.”

“Ah, a chink in your impenetrable armor.”

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before reopening them and exhaling loudly. “Get on with it.”

Oh, how he wanted to continue teasing, but charm would be better suited here. Cherisse was likely to strangle him with one of the colorful shawls that hung near the door. “You’d be saving Eric’s life here. We’re trying to explain the color scheme, but all we’ve got is it’s sort of peachy? Eric’s not the best with color names, and he obviously didn’t want to ask Ava.”

Cherisse cocked her head. “You serious?”

“Yes.”

Her laughter was unexpected, as was her muttering, “Oh universe, you are so funny.” But the haughty look that replaced her laughter wasn’t. And there was the Cherisse he knew. “Coral, obviously. Things the best man should know.”

Of course, she knew. Cherisse probably had a binder filled with important details or a dedicated folder on her phone. She wouldn’t be scrambling like he’d done in the store. The clerk had been unimpressed, not bothering to conceal his disgust that neither the groom nor the best man had the answer to such a simple question. Another thing on the growing list of things for Cherisse to hold against him. He’d basically shown his soft, exposed belly to a predator, and no matter what anyone thought about Cherisse being nice, that was so not the case. Her sweetness masked a devious interior.

“Keiran, are you over here spying?”

They both turned as Ava strolled over, Julia and Remi not far behind.

“Nope, definitely not.”

“Well, since you’re here, I may as well mention this. I mean, it could be fun? Will be fun.” Ava grinned. “I need everyone’s help making flower crowns. Entire bridal party gets ones with real flowers, and the rest of the guests can get the fake ones. Everyone’s gonna look so cute in them!”

At least he knew it was a garden wedding theme. The flower crowns would be a nice touch.

“So I want to start on making the fake ones soon as a sort of trial run? I know we’re three months away, but I’d rather see if we suck at this before it’s too late. The real ones’ll be done closer to the wedding day.”

“Wait, you want us to make them?” Cherisse looked horrified.

“Well, yeah.” Ava flung an arm around Cherisse’s shoulder. “Think of it as a wedding party bonding moment. All hands on deck.”