Wedding Day - Romance Short Story Read online

  Chapter 3 "I think this idea will work, don't you?"

  Tiffany and I agreed to meet for lunch at Harry's Deli to discuss Samantha's plans.? It's been no secret that Tiffany and I have been known to butt heads over wedding planning, hell more like knock down drag outs.? But in the end we somehow find middle ground and work things out.? I've known Tiffany for over five years.? She's a cute brunette with all the other parts in the right places.? We've never dated although we are at several weddings and receptions together

  "Hey you" said Tiffany letting down her hair and pulling off her coat and gloves

  "Hey" I said French kissing her on both cheeks.

  "What's on special today?" she asked looking over the menu then up at me

  "I don't know.? I just got here myself.? I think I'll have my usual hot pastrami on marble rye and salad" I said looking over the menu.

  "I'm feeling like a hearty veggie soup and half roast beef. Yep, that's what I'm havin'" she said closing the menu.

  "Hey you two let me guess you're planning a wedding.? Of course I don't mean yours" said Barbara smiling and chuckling.? She's our regular waitress who's been at Harry's since it opened.

  "Nope not ours" said Tiffany laughing looking at me

  "Always planning but not planning ours" I said handing Barbara our menus

  "So what can I get you two today"

  "Tiffany is having a bowl of veggie soup, half roast beef and I'll have my usual"

  "Coming right up" said Barbara jotting down there order.

  "So, here are some ideas I have lined up for the brides maids and table settings" said Tiffany laying out a portfolio.

  "Very nice, very nice indeed" I said looking over her ideas.

  "Well now that you've showed me yours, I'll show you mine" I said laughing laying out my cake ideas next to her layouts.

  "Well now look at us working together without clashing" she said scooting her chair next to mine.

  "This is what happens when we play nice" I said.

  I could smell her perfume as she reached across me pointing at the numerous drawings we had spread out on the table.? I just watched her as she talked about the flower settings with all the enthusiasm of a little girl playing tea party with her stuffed animals. I had thought about asking her out on a date off and on but our fights over client wedding plans made me think we would be terrible at dating or trying to be a couple.

  "So what do you think" she asked looking at me realizing my mind was somewhere else.

  "Ah, earth to Mitch, hello" she snapped her fingers at me trying to get my attention

  "I'm with you" I said

  "What were thinking about?"

  "Oh nothing.? I like these two and that one" I said trying to throw her off her investigation of my thoughts.

  "No, no, no, you're not getting off that easy. Your mind was someplace else"

  "Really, these two and that one"

  "Beeeeep, wrong answer mister.? Come on.? Spill it"

  "Well"

  "Come on.?Out with it" she smiled poking me in the side.

  "Okay, okay? I was thinking about us" I said reaching for my glass of water trying to avoid eye contact afterwards.

  "What about us?? You're no backing out of doing this wedding are you?? Because if you are you're nuts.? It's the wedding of the year!? Hell, the wedding of your career!" she said starring at me wide eyed.

  "Oh, hell no, I haven't lost my mind"

  "Then what?" she snapped back knowing I was avoiding the subject.

  I took another sip of water, then another.? I was about to take another sip when she reached for my hand pushing it slowly down to the table.

  "What are you trying to say?" she said looking me dead in the eyes smiling.

  I was nervous as hell.? Now I know how guys feel when they are about to pop the question.

  "Well?" she asked again looking at me "Out with it."

  "I, I was thinking that?"

  "Here you go guys, veggie soup half roast beef, hot pastrami on marble rye, salad, two diet cokes.? Anything else?" said Barbara in a fast steady tone repeating our orders as she placed them on the table one by one.

  Thank God for Barbara I gasped to myself.? Barbara to the rescue!

  "Ahhhh, no Barbara, that's all for now, check back with us in a little while" said Tiffany pushing the food to the center of the table.?

  "Mitch is about to tell me something" she continued staring me in the eyes.? She wasn't about to let up on me.

  "Okay, I'll check back on you two in a little while" said Barbara flipping the pages on her?receipt book walking over to another table.

  "Okay, now you have no more excuses, spill it" she said firmly

  I pursed my lips and adjusted the silverware.? I felt small beads of sweat starting to form on my forehead.

  "Well, if you must know, I was thinking about asking you out on a date sometime.? There I said it" I said nervously twirling the knife on the table.

  Tiffany was speechless. She sat back in her chair, crossed her hands on her chest then took a sip of water.

  "Well, I said it?" I repeated to her

  "I heard you" she said taking a couple more sips of water staring straight ahead

  "Yeah I know it's a crazy idea.? You, me dating, hah, that's rich" I said pulling my sandwich towards me. Tiffany pushed the sandwich back away from my hand and looked at me.

  "I've been waiting for you to ask me out forever you dope" she said with a big smile

  "Haven't you seen the signs?" she continued

  "I don't know. ?We are always working together and well I didn't think anything of you acting out of the ordinary."

  "What are you blind?? Remember at the Masterson's wedding when I shared my cake slice with you?"

  "I didn't think anything of that.? We're always eating cake at the weddings" I said trying to figure out where she was going with this.

  "Noooo, remember when I fed you the cake then I took a bite off the same fork?" she said slowly

  "Yeah" I said with a puzzled look on my face.

  "Well, hello? That's girl sign talk for I like you"

  "Noooo, get otta here, really?" I said sitting back in my chair

  "I swear sometimes guys just don't get it when a girl is interested" she said crossing her arms

  "Tiffany?? I get it.? Really I do.? I kinda thought about that moment.? But now it all makes since."

  "Really?" she asked smiling.

  "Yep, it all makes since now.? I've thought about asking you out four or five times."

  "Well what stopped you?"

  "I didn't think you would say yes and that coupled with the fact that we both work together so much it might ruin our business relationship."

  "Trust me if after all the fighting and yelling we have done and we're still working together, dating is a cake walk.? Hey, I made a funny!" she giggled hysterically.

  "Soooo, will you go out with me?" I said reaching for her hands

  "Yeah and when do you have in mine" she said holding onto my hands between us

  "How about dinner tonight, seven thirty at Three Forks on forty third?"

  "My favorite restaurant"

  "I know, it's where I first saw you"

  "You saw me?"

  "Yep, you wore a black one piece with pearls and matching earrings."

  "You did see me!? I was out with my mother for her birthday" she beamed

  "I hope we're not making a mistake" I said pulling her close

  She leaned in close to me? "Don't worry, remember, we're in the wedding business.? If we don't know what love is, who does?"

  We kissed and sat together holding hands under the table like a couple of high school sweethearts on a first date.? A year later from that day we invited all of our friends and clients to our wedding.

  The End?

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