Honor

Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

E vie

“Have you ever been to Paris?” Lottie asks as we step out of Cremza into midtown Manhattan’s busy evening foot traffic.

I sidestep around a woman rushing into the ice cream shop holding tightly to a man’s hand. The grin on his face says it all. He’s in love. Maybe it’s with ice cream, but my romantic heart has to wonder if he’s infatuated with her.

True love is my ultimate personal goal at some point in my life.

It’s not that I’m actively looking for it right now, but when it does happen, I’ll be over the moon happy.

“Paris, France?” I question back as we start a slow trek down the sidewalk.

I’m not sure where in the city Lottie lives, so I’m heading in the direction I need to go to my apartment in Murray Hill.

My limited sleep last night is starting to catch up to me. I’m craving some quiet time in bed for at least the next eight hours.

“Yes,” she answers with a smile. “Have you been?”

“No,” I say honestly and tack on an extra tidbit of information so she doesn’t waste another second of her time asking about other cities I’ve never been to. “The only place I’ve traveled to is Australia. My mom and I went when I graduated college. It was a gift from her and my dad. We had the best time.”

“Australia is phenomenal.” Her smile widens. “So, you have a passport that’s current?”

“For another few years.” I laugh. “I’m sure it’ll expire before I need it again.”

As we slow at the corner to wait for the walk light to change, she brushes her hand against mine. “You might need it sooner than you think.”

I glance at her. “My mom and dad work full-time, and my sister is busy with her family. I’m not the type of person who likes to travel alone, although I guess it could be something I challenge myself with…”

“Come to Paris with me,” she interrupts.

My eyes go wide. “What?”

“I have an appointment next weekend in Paris at a bridal boutique,” she says, ignoring the fact that my jaw must be hanging open. “I’m going to pick a wedding dress. I want you to go with me.”

“Why?” I ask without thinking.

Her smile fades. “This is going to sound bizarre, Evie, and I get that it’s coming out of left field. We only met today, but would you consider being my maid of honor?”

“Your maid of honor?” I repeat, unsure if I heard her correctly.

We’re virtual strangers. I didn’t know her when I got out of bed this morning.

“I don’t have any real friends.” She sighs deeply. “I’m an only child. I don’t even have a cousin I can call on for this. There’s literally no one to take on the role.”

Emotions tug at me as I listen to her. I don’t really know her, but I recognize loneliness when I hear and see it.

“Do you think your mom will want to do it?” I ask softly, even though I know it’s not traditional.

To me, that’s one of the best things about weddings. The bride and groom can make their own rules about every aspect of the ceremony, including who they choose to stand next to them when they marry the person they love.

The best man at my sister’s wedding was the groom’s uncle.

“No,” she answers decisively. “When I told my parents I’m getting married, my mom said it was too quick, and there’s no way he’s the right guy for me.”

Since I have no idea how long she’s known her fiancé, I don’t have an opinion on that, but in my experience, moms are often spot on when it comes to their intuition about matters of the heart.

“My dad is taking her side on this.” She takes a deep breath. “I hope one day they’ll see I’m making the right choice.”

For her sake, I hope they do, too.

“Randall has two sisters,” she says. “I met them briefly. They were each other’s maids of honor, and both said they’d never do it again, so I haven’t asked either of them.”

Still unsure how to respond to any of it, I motion that it’s safe to cross the street since the light has changed.

She seamlessly falls in step beside me. “I feel there’s potential for us to be friends, Evie. I get that it’s wild that I’m asking you to be my maid of honor, but you can run a background check on me if you want.”

I laugh while I seriously contemplate doing just that.

“It might be fun to go to Paris together for the weekend,” she continues trying to sell me on the benefits of agreeing to this as we stroll down the sidewalk. “I could use help with other things, too. Randall has seen enough cakes in his life that he refuses to help me choose a wedding cake.”

I’m tempted to ask what that’s about, but I let it slide.

“In addition to the cake tasting, I booked an appointment to try a few different types of champagne, and of course, we’ll need to sample some of the best food the city has to offer, so the reception dinner is utter perfection.”

“Is it a big wedding?” I ask because I don’t know what else to say.

“No one from my side,” she answers solemnly. “Randall wants to invite some of his extended family, and he has a few friends he insists need to be there.”

I scratch my ear as words fail me.

“I don’t expect you to say yes.” She stops walking to face me. “We don’t know each other, but I just want to say it meant a lot to me when you paid for my dinner and the ice cream. You did it even after I told you I’m an Emmel.”

“Tonight was my treat,” I remind her. “To me, you’re Lottie Rushing. You’re someone who likes burgers and strawberry ice cream as much as I do.”

“Maybe more.” She laughs.

I join in, too. “Maybe.”

“You haven’t said no, so can I assume you’re considering my request?” Hope fills her green eyes. “We’d leave for Paris on Thursday night and be back by Monday night.”

“Work,” I let that word out with a sigh. “I’m not sure I can get the time off.”

I can’t imagine a world in which Mr. Hunt would grant me a long weekend so I can jet off to Paris with anyone.

“So, you are considering it?” She grins.

“I am,” I admit. “I haven’t had many adventures in my life, and this sounds like a big one.”

“You can choose a dress in Paris, too.” She digs her phone out of her purse. “I’ll pull up the designer’s site to show you his style of maid of honor dresses.”

The first dress I see on the screen when she flips her phone around is a beautiful floor-length, off-the-shoulder teal gown. “That’s gorgeous, Lottie.”

“We’ll find the perfect dresses, enjoy some of the best food in Paris, and if you aren’t comfortable staying in my flat, I’ll get you settled in one of the best hotels in the city. All expenses are on me. I hope that goes without saying.”

This should be a horrible idea, but I can only think of one thing. It’s something I’ve imagined endlessly since I was a little girl. “Can you see the Eiffel Tower from your flat?”

“Perfectly,” she answers. “When it’s lit up at night, it’ll take your breath away.”

I ignore my common sense and look into her eyes. “Okay. If I can get the time off, I’m in.”

“For the Paris trip or for being my maid of honor?”

“Both,” I say. “I’d be honored to be your maid of honor, Lottie.”

She wraps her arms around me and lets out a sob. “Thank you, Evie. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

I hug her back, hoping with everything I am, that I’m not making the biggest mistake of my life.