Page 5 of You'll Be the Death of Me

“Cake?” Tommy interjected. “Didn’t we choose that months ago?”

“Yes,” Dell said, a bit of annoyance creeping into her voice. He never remembered details about the wedding. “But they couldn’t get the passionfruit shipped in from Paraguay on time, so we have to choose a new flavor. I told you this last week.”

“Right,” Tommy said with a nod. “You and your insistence on sourcing the rarest ingredients.”

“That cake was going to be epic,” Jason said, as if Tommy’s comment was an insult.

“As willwhatever we choose today,” Dell said before they started sniping at each other. “Mari, please carry on with the schedule.”

“Right,” Mariana said. “Lunch with the mayor and Mr. Moratto at noon.”

Tommy wiggled his eyebrows and kissed Dell’s cheek at that part.

“Meet with the lawyers to sign the prenup at two, then arrive at Pergo for family service by three.”

“You’re still working tonight?” Tommy asked with his arm looped around Dell. He turned sideways to cast her a curious look.

She pecked his cheek and smiled. “I told you: busy day today. Pierrick Moreau, remember?”

“Always a busy day,” Tommy said with a tight smile.

“I also sent a gift basket to your brothers for finalizing the purchase of the China Basin property,” Mariana rattled on. “And a bottle of champagne to your parents for their anniversary.”

Dell’s face flamed in shame. She’d forgotten both. “Thank you.” She shimmied out of Tommy’s grip and set her empty cereal bowl on the counter. “Now, first things first: jog with Jason.”

Jason hopped up off his stool and did a power flex like the Hulk. He growled for special effect. They’d started their day with a jog together for more than a decade, ever since they met in college. Jason was a mainstay in Dell’s life; he folded himself into her routines like a note tucked into a book, and she wasn’t sure she could ever live without him. After culinary school, they’d lived together in New York while Dell honed her kitchen skills in the hellfire of elite fine-dining establishments. When she wanted to move back home to the Bay to open her own restaurant, it wasn’t even a question Jason would move with her. They’d lived together again, and he moved out only when Tommy moved in—which was a transition Dell did not wish to repeat.

“Can you fit me in for a tight fifteen today?” Jason asked. “I want to talk to you about something.”

Dell ran the schedule Mariana had just recited through her mind and could not find a gap. “Sure, let’s talk on our jog,” she offered.

“This isn’t exactly a jog-and-talk conversation,” he said with subtle excitement dancing in his voice.

Dell shot him a curious look. “Consider my interest piqued. Mari, can you find time for a meeting with Jason today?”

“Not without bumping something,” Mariana replied.

“It’s okay. It can wait,” Jason said.

Dell took him at his word because she didn’t have time to rethink her schedule.

Mariana had set up camp at the island. Dell would find her returning emails on her laptop and keeping said schedule in order when they came back wind-tousled and sweaty. She wasn’t sure she could ever live without her either.

Dell and Jason jogged along the marina. The bay was a patchwork of steel gray and bright blue, changing color like a teenager changes moods as the wind whipped around the fog. The Golden Gate Bridge stood guard over its mouth, and Alcatraz looked like a rocky mole on its chin. A few boats with colorful sails cutting the haze like blades braved the morning chill.

They had learned over the years to pace their strides to keep in sync: Jason took shorter steps, and Dell took longer ones to even out their height differential. They moved like a four-legged animal.

“How are you feeling about the wedding one week out?” Jason asked as they neared the end of their route. They’d also perfected the opportune pace for holding conversation while jogging.

“Good. Finalizing a few things today and next week, then all systems go.”

“I’m sure every detail will be perfect. Well, except for the groom, though no doubt he’ll turn out looking like a snack in a tux for the event.”

Dell cast a sideways glare at him. “Okay, one, still weird you have a crush on my fiancé, and two, you can’t do this wholeHe’s so hot, but I hate himbit.”

Jason smirked at her. “You just described every relationship I’ve ever had, so, yes, I assure you I can.”

“Fine, but you have to be nice to him once we’re married.”