Latte Darling: Book Two of The Darling Series

“Alright ladies, we’ll get going in about fifteen,” the photographer tells us, poking her head through the door.

“Thanks!” I call back, handing Elouise a water. “You ready?”

Elouise lets out a happy laugh. “So ready.”

My smile is genuine, because I know she’s telling the truth.

Elouise and Beckett met this spring. Well, actually, they met almost 20 years ago, but that’s a whole other story. But even though they’ve only been together for a short time, I know they’re perfect for each other. And I know she’s right to feel the way she does. There’s nothing for her to be worried about.

“How about you?”

Elouise’s question catches me off guard and I turn back from the window I’d been staring out of. “Me?”

She smirks. “Yeah, you. Don’t act like there’s nothing going on with you. You’ve been checking the windows – looking for someone – for the past 30 minutes.”

Elouise punctuates this by putting her fists on her hips. But the reprimand is softened by the fact she’s wearing a wedding dress. A pretty, antique-white, V-neck number that stops just below her knees. It has a 50’s vibe and she looks absolutely stunning in it.

I smile, “You’re getting married.”

She rolls her eyes, “You’re not changing the topic that easily.”

“Ugh, fine. Yes, I’m looking for a guy.” I put my palms on my cheeks, hoping they’ll somehow stop me from blushing.

“Oh my god, is it Axel?”

I flip my hands over so the backs are against my cheeks now, trying in vain to keep them cool. “It is.”

“And?” Elouise prompts when I don’t say more.

“And…” I sigh. “We spent most of last weekend together. And every day this past week he’s come to BeanBag to have lunch with me.” Elouise’s mouth pops open, but I keep talking. “So I asked him to come to the wedding today and he said he would. And,” I switch to fanning my face with my hands, “I really like him.”

“Eeek!” Elouise squeals and grips her hands together in front of her chest. “That’s so cute!”

I flap my hands faster, “I’m freaking out!”

She steps closer, “Don’t freak out! This is good. Even if you don’t want to marry him,” she gestures down her body, “it’s good to just get out there. Get your feet wet, so to speak.”

My cheeks burn hotter, and I bite my lip.

Elouise laughs, “I said feet, not vagina, you perv.”

“Seriously though,” I laugh with her, “I feel like my mind just lives in the gutter now. I’ve even started keeping my little vibrator in the shower.”

She laughs even louder. “Sounds like you need to spend more nights together so you can give Little Vibey a night off.”

“Little Vibey?” I shake my head, “You’re the worst.”

“Maybe. But you love it.”

The urge to cry suddenly crashes into me, “You’re getting married.” This time it comes out crackled.

Elouise smiles back at me, “I’m getting married.”

I step towards her, opening my arms for a hug, but her gaze darts to the window and her eyes widen.

“What…” I turn and trail off. Because there on the sidewalk, is the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on.

“Damn girl,” Elouise whispers, recognizing him from his annoyingly good ID photo.

“Yeah. Damn,” I agree, drinking him in.

His giant frame stands out, and his all-black outfit is severe, but he looks hot as hell.

I glance down at my own outfit and heat fills my belly.

Elouise isn’t having a bridal party, so I got to get whatever sort of dress I wanted. And this one was a lucky find. It fit perfectly off the rack, wasn’t crazy expensive and went great with my black wedges.

The dress itself is a little… sexier than I’d usually wear.

It has loose short sleeves and stops mid-calf, but the deep red material plunges into an ultralow neckline. And if that didn’t draw enough attention to my chest, the fabric gathers right below my breasts, ruching out from there. And there’s also a small slit running up the front of the dress, stopping a hair shorter than indecent.

Elouise nudges me in the arm, “You two are gonna look great next to each other.”

I don’t bother arguing, because she’s right.