Listen to Your Heart(33)

I chuckle. That sounds like Luisa.

“All this has given Mom something to look forward to, but it will not make her live any longer. I was fine going along with it, but not anymore. Not if it’s going to keep you from being with someone you love. So, it’s over. I’ll tell my dad the truth, and we’ll figure out a way to break it to Mom. It will be fine. Call Skye.”

I’m so tired of arguing.

Needing a distraction, I leave her with her documentary and head to my room. I grab my guitar. I’m so blurry-eyed I can’t even focus on the sheet music, so I just close my eyes and make shit up as I go. Eventually, the chords start to complement each other, and the tune is haunting and soft. I have no idea how long I play, but suddenly, I feel Juliana’s hand on my shoulder.

“That’s the prettiest song I’ve ever heard.”

“Thanks.”

“And the saddest.”

“Then it’s perfect.”

Jules takes the guitar out of my hand and places it on the bed. She then walks over, kneeling down on the floor and taking my hand in hers.

“I love you, Caleb. You are the best friend a girl could ever ask for. And the fact that you’re willing to sacrifice your own happiness, just to make my mother happy for a few more months, is something I will never, ever forget. But this is asking too much. It ends. Today.”

I shake my head.

“Caleb, for the love of—”

“I won’t give up on Skye. Maybe if I keep bugging the shit out of her, she’ll . . . I don’t know. Maybe she’ll listen. Aren’t we supposed to check out cake samples or something this week?”

“We have an appointment, yeah. Easily cancelled.”

“No. Keep the appointment.”

“No, Caleb.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not getting married. Not to you.”

“Damn it, Jules—”

She stands up. “You keep playing the martyr if it makes you feel better. But I meant what I said. This ends today. I’m not making one more decision about this farce of a wedding.”

I smirk. Like that’s a threat. We haven’t been making decisions anyway.

“No problem. I’ll just call Lynsey and tell her to pick whatever she wants. It’s worked so far. Or, hell, I like cake. Especially free cake. Maybe I’ll actually go to that appointment.”

“Knock yourself out, Lynch.”

Juliana’s almost to the door when she stops. Suddenly, her face brightens. I know that look. It’s the expression she usually reserves for whenever she’s just snapped the perfect picture, or found a high-quality lens on sale.

“You know what?” she says sweetly. “Let me call Lynsey for you.”

I snort. She’s such a control freak.

“I thought you were done?”

“I am. Right after I call Lynsey.”

“Knock yourself out, Martinez.”

She grins triumphantly.





Lynsey’s smiling like an idiot when I walk into the office. I must look as bad as I feel because her smile fades when she sees me.

“Still not sleeping?”

I say hello to Robyn and grab my messages.

“Not really.”

“That’s too bad. I’m really in a bind, and I’m hoping you can help me out.”

“Did you double book again?”

When it comes to the visual aspects of wedding planning, Lynsey’s the best. She has an eye for colors and textures that would put Vera Wang to shame. But when it comes to appointment scheduling, Lynsey’s hopeless, which is why I rarely let her touch the calendar.

Come to think of it, I didn’t let her touch the calendar.

“No, this was a last minute scheduling change. Couldn’t be avoided.” She follows me into my office and smiles when she sees the display on my desk. “More daisies, huh?”

I roll my eyes. While the deliveries haven’t completely stopped, at least he’s spreading them out a little. My office no longer resembles a flower shop, but there are two vases of wildflowers on my windowsill.

Sitting down at my desk, I grab my phone and check my schedule.

“Okay, when’s the appointment?”

“Both are at four. Do you want the cake testing or the bridesmaid fitting?”

My stomach drops. “Is the fitting with Antonio?”

“Yes.”

“Then cake testing it is.”

I’ll probably never be able to show my face in Antonio’s again. The thought makes me sad. Sadder. Which I didn’t think was possible.

“Thank you so much! It’s at Pierre’s.”

“Awesome. I love Pierre.”

“And it’s the groom only. Bride can’t make it.”

“The bride can’t make it for free cake?”

“I know, right?” She makes a note on her phone before scrutinizing my face. “So, still not sleeping?”

“A few hours here and there. It’s fine.”

“We could hit the gym. They say exercise helps.”

“I’m sure it does, but who has the energy when you’re an insomniac?”

“True.”

Sweet Robyn walks in with a cup of coffee. I thank her and offer to give her a raise if she promises to keep them coming.