Page 76 of Last First Kiss

“Does Auntie Eva know about your hair yet?”

Denz lifts his chin defiantly. “She and Uncle Orlando are in Turks and Caicos. No Wi-Fi for ten days.”

“I can’t wait to be the first to tell her.”

Denz promptly hangs up on him.

-9-?Confirm the Menu

“We’re not doing an oyster bar,” Jordan says, eyes closed as he pinches the bridge of his nose.

He’s exhausted and cranky. Both are a product of the lack of sleep he’s gotten this week, a predictable result from his recurring nightmare waking him in the middle of every night like a restless puppy who needs to go pee. The other cause sits across from him like this ishis officeand not Jordan’s.

“Why not?” Javi asks in that deep, sulky voice Jordan’s started to hate.

He sighs for the thirtieth time today.

They’ve been at this for two hours now. Jordan, reciting what was supposed to be the final reception menu he plans to present to the McClintocks soon. Javi, fighting him on every choice. It’s a specific circle of hell Jordan’s certain is punishment for something he did in another life.

This is not how he wanted to spend his Friday afternoon.

“Because,” he grits out, “we already agreed on the salmon crudo. I’m not serving multiple seafood dishes.”

“But oysters are the perfect summer appetizer,” Javi counters. “It’s about ambience. Oysters make you think of the coast, the beach—”

“They’re getting married in a garden. Not on abeach.”

Javi scoffs. “I know that.”

“The crudo complements the grilled peach salad.”

“As would the oysters,” Javi says. “When I planned the Poston wedding, we had—”

“But this isn’t the Poston wedding or Elite Events, is it?” Jordan blinks his eyes open just to witness Javi’s pinched expression. The way his jaw clenches like he’s biting back words. “It’s Sam and Amy’s wedding. The oneI’min charge of. You’re here to help.”

“I am!”

“No, you’re arguing with me.”

A smooth grin unfurls over Javi’s mouth. “That’s my form of helping.”

Jordan’s going to throw his phone at Javi’s head. No, his entire desk. He exhales out, “Just move on.”

“Fine.” Javi flips through his own copy of the menu. “Let’s talk about your awful rosé popsicle idea.”

“You mean myfunidea. It’s a summer wedding! Who doesn’t love an adult spin on a childhood classic?”

Javi’s hand shoots up. “Me!”

“Like you have any clue what fun is.”

Javi leans forward. His pink button-down stretches tightly across his shoulders. The top buttons are undone enough to reveal a gold chain and sparse chest hair.

“I know plenty about fun,” he says way too confidently. “But guests atthis weddingwill be looking for lots of booze. Overplayed music they can do their silly little dances from social media to. Not cute popsicles.”

“That have booze in them,” Jordan reminds him.

Javi rolls his eyes. “It won’t work.”