Page 44 of Never Not Friends

I fold my hands in my lap, as if that might anchor me.

It’s just cake.

This is fine.

This is harmless.

What could possibly go wrong?

She sets the tray down in front of us. “I like to do the taste testing here properly.”

Something in her tone makes my stomach drop. “Properly?”

She reaches into her apron and pulls out two blindfolds. “We’re going to have you blindfolded, so that all you have to do is concentrate on the flavors.”

I guess that makes sense.

“And to make it fun and romantic, you’ll feed each other.”

No, no, no.

Absolutely not.

“That’s not necessary.” I push my palm out like a stop sign. “We don’t do fun and romantic. We’re not that kind of bride and groom.”

Her brows drop just as Vinny says, “She’s joking. Of course we do fun and romantic…mostly just when we’re alone, though.” And because the man has no clue how I feel about him, he adds a suggestive wink to his words that I will be thinking about long after we leave here.

This is not good.

Lucille laughs. “I’m glad you’re on board, because this is really the only way to know what kind of wedding cake you want. Feeding each other creates a connection to the cake. And with sight removed from the equation, it’s about feeling what speaks to you as a couple.”

What speaks to me right now is leaving.

Immediately.

Vinny slaps the table. “I’m ready to feel the connection to cake.”

“You know what?” Lucille examines one of the blindfolds. “The tie on this one broke. Let me go get another one.” She turns and heads to the back.

I hit Vinny’s shoulder. “You want to feed me cake while I’m blindfolded?”

“When you say it like that, it sounds weird.”

“It is weird.”

“It’s memorable,” he counters.

That’s what I’m afraid of.

He leans in slightly, lowering his voice. “Come on. It’ll be funny.”

And even though I can think of a million reasons to say no, I don’t. I’m a yes man. I say yes to everything and everyone. But I especially have a weakness for saying yes to Vinny.

“Okay, fine,” I sigh.

Lucille returns practically bubbling with excitement, holding the blindfolds out like this is a sacred ritual. “This is my favorite part of my job.”

And suddenly, it’s not about me and what I want. I can’t disappoint this woman. I can’t take away her favorite part of her job. The people pleaser in me is louder than my common sense.