“Too girly? When did you even see them?”
I haven’t. “Today.” He paced the small hallway. “They’re perfect for a bridal shower but since it’s co-ed, they don’t represent the couple.”
“This is so stupid. Who has a fucking co-ed wedding shower? It’s absurd.”
“Oh, look, we actually agree on something.”
Macie laughed. She had a beautiful laugh. He could listen to it all day. If she didn’t have such a huge chip on her shoulder, they might be friends or tolerable acquaintances.
“Mace, I know it’s a pain in the ass. I know you put a lot of work into designing those invites. But—”
“Here we go,” she muttered.
“—can you just change the font to something less...” He didn’t want to offend her by saying feminine, but it hung in the air between them.
“I already sent them to Lauren to send to the printer.”
“So?”
“So, if she sent them to the printer, there’s nothing I can do now. It’s out of my hands.”
“And you’re not willing to make another neutral pattern for a small print run?” He knew he was pushing his luck, but he promised Ford he’d talk to her about it. One thing Zac never did was break a promise.
“You know what pisses me off about this entire thing?” Macie’s voice cracked as if she might cry again. “I love Lauren and Ford, but they keep forgetting I’m doing this for free. Lauren at least thanks me, but Ford...I don’t get it. He doesn’t appreciate anything I’m doing here. It took me hours to make the shower invites and then I had to change them because they wanted it to be a wedding shower instead of bridal shower. And I changed it. Without complaining, I might add. Now you’re telling me that you want me to change them again? No. Even if Ford and Lauren came up to me, I wouldn’t. They need to go in the mail by the end of next week. And they still need to be printed. There isn’t any time.” Macie sniffled again, and this time Zac thought it had nothing to do with joy and everything to do with him. “I worked my ass off on those damn things. The least anybody could say is thanks.”
He opened his mouth, but the silence filled in his ears. “Macie?”
Nothing. The line was dead.
No one had hung up on him since high school. He wanted to call her back, but he knew she wouldn’t answer. And what would he say? That she was right. He rewound his memories since Ford and Lauren started planning the wedding. Macie had volunteered to make the invitations and the graphics, so they would have something unique. She’d saved them money, which Zac respected. He couldn’t remember a single time Ford thanked her. That was something he’d have to talk to his friend about.
MARK CALLED MACIE THE next day while she was in class. He needed her schedule for the last week of school and the days off for the wedding.
Her job. She loved the sound of that. She typed a quick text to Mark with her schedule.
He replied two minutes later. How’s my application looking?
Macie smiled, but she didn’t want to lead him on too much. Interviews have been put on hold for the time being. The HR department is moving to a new location and needs more time to review.
I understand. You do know I have my application in other places? he replied.
Of course, you can’t only apply one place. Just let me know if you receive any offers so I can remove you from the candidate pile. This was easier, letting him down this way. He’d move on. She wouldn’t have the awkwardness at work when it didn’t work out. And it wouldn’t. In her gut, she knew that even as she flirted with him.
She added the dates of the shower, the two potential party dates, and the wedding date in another text. Mark simply responded, Noted, but doubtful all days will be approved.
That wasn’t a surprise. Lauren would understand. If Macie was going to miss anything, it was the shower. Macie just didn’t know when the party would be, but she was hoping for the weekend before. Her preliminary bachelorette planning had everything prepared for two weeks before and the week before the ceremony, but nothing had been settled. Macie wasn’t sure if Lauren wanted that big of a break between the fun day and the big day. She just had to talk to Zac to confirm what would work best for everyone involved. The shower was a month before the wedding on a date pre-approved by the all-mighty Sylvia. Lauren’s mom was out of town every weekend for conventions and conferences where she promoted her books, her healthcare products, or spoke to fellow health nuts. Lauren loved that her mom was finally following her dream, but she’d been heartbroken, too. Macie had held her friend the night Sylvia told Lauren not to marry Ford.
“His dreams, his life will be more important than yours. He’ll want kids. Then you’ll raise them on your own while he continues to live. Your life will be in suspended animation,” Sylvia had said. “I know you love him. And I know he loves you. Just wait. Don’t rush into this.”
Macie understood and secretly agreed with Sylvia but for different reasons. She just didn’t think it was a very Mom thing to say. Her own mother would’ve supported her unconditionally. Sylvia and Lauren’s father were still married, but only because of years of intense therapy. Bitterness still seeped into Sylvia’s voice. She’d put her own career on hold to support her husband. When she was ready to get back into the workforce, Lauren came along then Lauren’s little brother. Sylvia was incredibly successful now as a health and nutrition guru, but she resented everyone for holding her back.
Maybe that’s why Lauren kept Sylvia in the dark about her app. The bidding war was heating up. As it stood, Lauren would be able
