Above: the café Harry and Ev visit in this chapter (and continually throughout the book)
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Ara smiled at me as we pulled up to Evelynn's office. "Babe, I'm in love with a fall wedding. I mean, the colours on the trees and the temperature. It's all to die for, if I'm being honest." She smiled to me, and I nodded, agreeing with her. "Fall is lovely. I think that's a great time of year to get married." I smiled cheekily at her. "I can't wait to tell Ev!" She said, practically running into the building.
We've been planning this wedding for a week now, which really isn't that long, but Ara and Evelynn are practically best friends. I know that Evelynn is just doing her job and really trying to bond with Ara over our wedding, but I just wish Ara didn't get so attached. It seems like Evelynn gets incredibly annoyed by Ara's presence sometimes and I can't help but laugh.
But, Evelynn is cool. She's really supportive and fun, which makes planning a wedding slightly less stressful, especially when it comes to avoiding the press. There's no giant sign that says she's a wedding planner on the outside of her building, which means that pictures of Ara and I going in here are meaningless.
The one thing that keeps me coming to these meetings is talking with the guy who works the front desk- Jack I believe his name is. He's a fan of my music, so we have lots to talk about.
"What's up man?" Jack says to me as I follow in behind Ara. "Not much. Yourself?" I asked him, leaning over the counter. "Just working on this assignment. I came in to work today but Evelynn told me to take the morning to finish a paper I have due. She's a fucking angel." Jack said, typing away on his laptop. I smiled. "So, are you guys like, a thing?" I pressed, taking some candy from the bowl situated on the front desk. I could hear Ara and Evelynn talking in her office, so I knew we were safe.
"Me and Ev? I fucking wish, man. She's a dedicated woman, and she's gorgeous as hell. I would give anything just to take her out one night. But she's so focused on her work that she barely leaves this place to head back to her flat and sleep. We're only one year apart so I think about us being together all the time. But I don't think she wants anything right now." Jack sighed.
I nodded. "Why does she work so much?" I found myself growing curious. Jack shrugged. "Something about trying to prove her Dad wrong." I raised my eyebrows. "That sounds rather serious."
"Well, I don't really know the details. She doesn't talk about it much. She doesn't talk about anything much, just work." Jack ran a hand through his hair. "Anyway, how's that new song coming?" I chuckled at his attempt to change the subject. "It's good. But hey, if you want the girl, you have to get her." I winked at him. "I know, I know." Jack sighed.
I found myself thinking about Jack and Evelynn. They're both extremely attractive people, this is true. But he didn't seem like he was entirely invested in her. She's more of an elaborate dream that he thinks about and believes he can't have, but still insists it would be amazing if he could.
"Hey, I never asked. How did you meet Ara?" Jack's question snapped me back into reality. "Oh, yeah. She worked wardrobe on my tour last year. When the tour ended, I asked her out. It all happened pretty quickly." I shrugged. "Wait, so you've only been together for just over a year?" Jack asked me. "Yeah, but she's the one. I feel it in my heart and soul." I replied, feeling butterflies in my stomach when I thought about how happy she makes me.
"Nice man. That's what we all want, isn't it?" Jack pondered, just as Evelynn and Ara walked out of the office. "Harry, you're going to have to meet Evelynn at this venue tomorrow to check it out. I can't be there because I have meetings all day tomorrow, but take pictures, okay?" Ara said. "Okay, no biggie. That's all?" I say, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.
"Yeah, it is. But a venue is a big deal. Be serious about it. This place is supposed to be gorgeous in fall." Ara explained to me. "Sounds good."
"All the information is there, directions and everything. Is 1:00 tomorrow afternoon good with you?" Evelynn's dark brown eyes met mine. "Yeah, for sure." "Perfect, and you can book your next appointment with Jack!" Evelynn said before waving and walking away.
As Ara booked our next appointment, I thought about Evelynn's brown eyes. They are a gorgeous shade of brown, like a mix of autumn air and chocolate. Her hair was a similar shade. Her hair had curl to it as well, just as mine did.
"Ready to go, babe?" Ara asked me, and I fished the car keys out of my pocket. "You bet. See you, Jack. Remember, go for what you want." I winked at him and he smirked and waved goodbye to me.
***
I pulled up to the traditional style looking church and saw Evelynn standing on the steps, talking on the phone. I parked my Range Rover and walked over to her, waving. She waved back, trying to end her phone call.
"Jack, tell them I'll talk to them when I get back to the office." Evelynn said before hanging up. "Busy?" I asked her. "Yeah. We've got some other people interested in a wedding planner. Apparently Ara has referred me to some other friends." Evelynn smiled widely at me. "That's nice of her." I replied, squinting in the warm autumn sunshine. "Nice of her? She's saving my entire career. It's been hell trying to break into this business. She's a saint." Evelynn said, pulling some papers out of her bag.
"Okay, so, what do you think?" She said as we both stood back and took it all in. The scenery was beautiful, but I wasn't sure I saw myself getting married here. "No?" She asked before I could even say anything. "How did you know?" I asked, smirking. "When a client falls in love with a venue, you'll be able to tell. You look like you're trying to think of an answer that will spare my feelings. Don't. Tell me it straight. Yes or no?" She said honestly.
"Okay," I smiled, "No."
She nodded her head. "I agree. I don't think this is the one either. Did you want to look at some other places?" She asked me, ever so kindly.
"I guess, but I'm kind of hungry. Can we grab lunch before we go look?" I asked her, and she looked at me, confused. "Uhm, are you sure?" She said, looking around. "What will the tabloids say when they figure out I'm a wedding planner?"
"I know a few places there won't be cameras. Just follow my car." I called to her as I began walking towards my Range Rover. she shrugged and walked towards her car.
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I waited for Evelynn to pull in behind me at my favourite local café. It wasn't a hot spot for the press, so I knew we would be safe.
Evelynn hopped out of her car and walked over to me. "Are you sure about this? I don't want you to be bombarded in public." Her hesitancy was sweet. "Don't worry, most of the people in there are over 60 and have no idea who I am." I said, holding the door open for her. Evelynn shrugged and walked inside.
After we both ordered and got our food, we sat down at a table near the window.
"So, tell me. What is your dream wedding- the venue, the band, the food. I want to hear it all. Ara is vocally passionate about her dream wedding but you're usually pretty quiet." Evelynn questioned. I shrugged. "It's a really big deal to her and I want her to get everything she wants, I guess. I haven't entirely thought about what I want." I admitted, and Evelynn looked at me sideways.
"You know, if you let her plan every little detail to her liking, you may end up hating your wedding." Evelynn raised her eyebrows at me, taking a bite of her sandwich. I thought about that for a second. She was right, it was my wedding, too.
"I guess it would be nice if I could do a song, for her." I said. "You mean, like, serenade her? Harry, that's adorable." Evelynn smiled. I shrugged. "I'm a singer and it's my wedding. Don't you think it would look bad if I didn't sing to her?"
"Not necessarily, you're also entitled to sit back and enjoy your wedding as well. I've heard of plenty of couples tiring themselves out in wedding planning. You don't want to do that." Evelynn warned, and I smiled at her. "That won't happen. Ara and I already agreed we would make sure things don't get out of hand." I explained.
"Okay, fair enough. Should we take a look at those other venues now?" She asked, and I nodded.
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"So, you've only known her for a year?" Evelynn pressed, and I nodded slowly. We were sitting on a bench outside of a church we just looked at. "Yeah, it's gone by quick. I proposed to her because I know in my heart she's the right person. Otherwise, I wouldn't have jumped on it so soon. I've always been someone that falls super quick and super hard, but this time I made sure that it was what I wanted." I explained.
"Does your family like her?" Evelynn asked. I shrugged. "I think so. They say they do, but it's hard to tell for sure. She gets along with my sister fine, and my mom told me that she thinks Ara is lovely, but it's not like they're begging me to bring her by for visits like they did with previous girlfriends of mine."
She nodded. "I see. Does that bother you?"
Her question, though simple, caused me to think. Does it bother me that my mom and sister aren't eager to spend time with my fiancé? I mean, just last week, Gemma texted me about coming to check out a show with her, and then said 'Just a brother sister thing pls? Just want to spend time with my brother for a bit' which is basically her way of saying 'come visit, just don't bring your fiancé'.
"Maybe." I replied. Evelynn frowned. "Harry, forgive me for saying this, as I don't mean to intrude, but I don't think there should be any 'maybes' as an answer regarding your relationship to your fiancé, especially when they're about to become a permanent part of your life and your family."
She was right.
***
first chapter with the cafe! this location has so much significance in the story, and you'll see why later :)