She and Maddie groaned at the same time and shared a quick laugh before starting in. Again, Joan explained each of the cakes, but even with the coffee to sip between bites, it was hard going. She saw Maddie grimace before a bite and couldn’t help but giggle. Maddie grinned more broadly at her before shoving it into her mouth, appearing determined, chewing quickly and swallowing before chugging her coffee again. Ryann laughed out loud.

“You would think you guys were being force-fed,” Joan said.

“I’m sorry, Joan,” Maddie said, touching her arm. “Like I said earlier, I never knew I could get tired of cake.”

“Which is exactly why this is such a terrible way to do this,” Joan explained. “Still, you’ve only got a couple more to try.”

Ryann and Maddie made eye contact, and Ryann nodded reassuringly. They could get through this.

She set her fork down after the last bite, trying to catch something in this one beyond the overwhelming sweetness. She couldn’t. She grabbed her mug, drinking the rest of the contents, fighting the urge to swish the bitter flavor around in her mouth. She shuddered slightly and then realized the others were watching her.

“I’m so sorry, Joan,” she said. “It was just too much.”

“I understand. Well, hopefully this doesn’t turn you completely off whatever cake the two of you decide on.”

“Oh, no! Not at all,” she said. “I’m just not much of a sweets person. I’m not even sure…” They stared at her, seeming expectant. “Never mind.”

“What?” Maddie asked.

She laughed nervously, fidgeting. “I was going to say, if I were getting married, I’m not even sure I’d have a cake.”

“Oh?” Maddie asked, leaning forward. “What would you have instead?”

She gazed at Maddie’s eyes, struck at once by the sensation of sinking into those blue depths. Her breath caught, and she made herself swallow against a strange tightness in her throat.

“Sushi,” she managed to say.

Maddie’s lips curled slightly. “Really? I’ll have to keep that in mind.”

Joan was looking back and forth between them, her eyebrows up in her hairline. She cleared her throat. “Uh, so, despite the overabundance, did either of you try something you liked, or think the guys would like? Well, Stuart, really. Jai likes anything.”

“Black Forest,” they both said and shared an amused smile.

“Okay!” Joan stood up. “Sounds like a consensus. I’ll need to know whether you choose my bakery no later than this Wednesday. Does that work for you two?”

“Yes,” Maddie said, also standing. “We’re trying the last bakery Tuesday, so we should be able choose fairly by then.” She paused. “When are you getting there tonight?”

“Mom said no later than seven, so probably about six thirty. You?”

“About then. I have to take care of some stuff first, but I should be done by then.”