Meeting Mr. Wright Read Free

tape.
    “That’s where the tent for the reception is going to go. Amy blocked it off so that no one would drive on it and get tire tracks in the grass. She said she didn’t want the pictures to look ‘rednecky,’” Gabby replies.
    Amy, Ben’s mother, is quite possibly one of the best event planners that I’ve ever met. Not that I’ve met all that many, mind you, but she’s pretty great at it is what I’m saying. She also happens to be an incredibly sweet woman and she treats Gabby like one of her own children. That puts her up pretty high in my book.
    “In a place like this, I don’t think the pictures could be anything but gorgeous.” I take a deep breath as I look up at the stunning purples and pinks in the sky. The sun starts to peek over the horizon.
    “You really like it here, don’t you?”
    “I do. I’m glad you had the sense to take off the week before your wedding and invite me along. It’s a nice little vacation.”
    “That was part of my wedding requirements checklist, actually.” Gabby unscrews the top of her thermos and pours some hot chocolate into two small styrofoam cups. She hands one to me and keeps the other. “Beautiful locale, nice weather, good vacation spot for Callie.”
    “And it’s free,” I say, laughing.
    “Yes, free is good. We definitely lucked out with that.”
    “When is everyone else getting here?”
    “Thursday,” she says, bringing her cup to her lips. Tendrils of steam curl into the air around her fingers.
    We both look out over the mountains, watching the day come to life. I decide that this might be the right time to tell Gabby about what happened with Nate. As it is she’ll probably want to kill me for not telling her the second that I stepped off the plane yesterday morning. But Ben was there with her, and then the three of us spent the day driving through the mountains. This is the first one-on-one time that we’ve had together since I got here.
    “So,” I say, fiddling with the edge of the blanket. “I did something on Friday night.”
    Gabby’s expression changes ever so slightly, from content to cautious.
    “If I have to find a new maid of honor, Callie, I swear I’ll-”
    “What, do you think I committed a felony or something?” I ask, laughing.
    Gabby laughs too, and I can’t help but think about what a lovely bride she’ll be. She has flawless mocha-colored skin and shiny, gorgeous hair that comes down to her shoulders in springy, tight spirals. She’s radiant even in the barely there early morning light.
    “ Did you commit a felony?”
    “Not this time.”
    “Good,” she replies. “It would’ve been difficult to find someone who could fit into that tiny dress of yours on such short notice anyway.”
    “We have six more days to focus on the wedding, Gabs,” I say, trying to sound exasperated. “Can we please just focus on me right now?”
    Gabby bumps my shoulder with hers. “What is it?”
    I twist my fingers together, nervous to tell her about this for some reason. But she’s my best friend. If I can’t tell her, who can I tell?
    “I, um…I slept with a guy I met at the airport.” I can’t help but cringe as I say it. It’s not that I’m ashamed or anything…it’s just that the words sound wrong coming out of my mouth for some reason. Like I’m telling her about something someone else did.
    “Is that why you didn’t come until yesterday morning?” she asks, her eyes wide.
    “I came Friday night, actually. Several times.”
    Gabby leans forward, clutching her stomach as she laughs. “Oh my god, Callie.”
    “Seriously though, there was actually a weather delay. That was how I spent it.”
    “I thought you were swearing off men?” she asks. It’s not an accusatory tone, but more of an I-told-you-so. Because she doesn’t think that I can do it, doesn’t think that I’ll stick with it.
    “I swore off love, not men,” I remind her. “I don’t need Ethan: Part Two.”
    “Was it good?”
    I take a deep