behind her. I look up at the beautiful facade of One Bean with its worn, red brick walls, the upper balcony surrounded in black wrought iron, and the marquis letters spelling out the name of the coffee shop. Admittedly, there’s a tiny pull occurring right now and perhaps I actually did miss this more than I had thought.
“I’m so glad all of you came,” Rainey gushes as she steps out to hold the door open for us. We walk in single file past her, where Myles greets us with fist bumps and smiles.
I haven’t seen Rainey and Myles in the last few days, as, like the others, they’re giving me space to spend time with Zora. While I know Rainey still has reservations about Zora’s trustworthiness and there has to be a little bit of jealousy that I have made room in my life for my sister which pushes Rainey back just a bit, she warmly welcomes her as she follows in behind us.
Stepping up to Zora, she links her arm through my sister’s. “Let me give you the grand tour since this is your first time here.”
Zora glances over her shoulder at me, only a slight bit of panic on her face, but I make a shooing motion with my hand that she should go. She has to get used to these things.
While Rainey shows her around, Myles points out some of the finishing touches. By the tone of his voice, there’s no hiding how proud he is of Rainey’s work.
Carrick, Titus, Zaid, and Maddox walk around, talking about manly things like construction lines and craftsmanship.
I merely look around at how pretty everything is with gleaming new flooring, a new layout, and expanded upper floor space. Rainey’s vision was everything I had wanted and more.
When she returns with Zora, who thanks Rainey for the tour, Rainey beams a smile back at her as if they’re now fast friends before turning to me. “Got a few minutes we can talk in private?”
“Sure,” I reply and then turn to Zora. My first instinct is to ask if she’ll be okay on her own, but I shut my mouth. She survived the Underworld. Of course she’ll be okay here, surrounded by my closest friends.
Rainey grabs my hand, then leads me back to the office. This was the one place that is actually already finished, and I’m stunned as I take it in. When Rich occupied this place, it was bare and utilitarian. I hadn’t bothered to change it. But Rainey has gone all out with a soft cream paint on the walls, framed artwork of peaceful landscape scenery, a feminine-style desk in whitewashed wood with a matching credenza, and the most beautiful executive style chair, that was framed for a woman’s size, done in cream leather and black lacquered wood. The floor is new hardwood, but a plush rug in creams and mint green adds just enough color to the space.
“It’s stunning,” I praise Rainey as she pushes me inside and shuts the door. “Just, wow.”
Waving her hand impatiently, she says, “Yes… glad you like it and all, but that’s not why I pulled you back here.”
I frown, crossing my arms. “What’s up?”
“I need to get married now,” she gushes, her expression pained.
“Are you pregnant?” I ask in shock.
Rainey slaps me on the arm.
Hard.
“Ow,” I exclaim, jerking sideways lest she decides to smack me again.
“No, I’m not pregnant,” she snaps. “But the world could be ending soon, so time is of the essence.”
“But your wedding is next weekend,” I point out calmly. “Eight days. Surely you can wait that—”
“No,” she hisses, leaning into me. “No, I can’t wait. Just this month alone, you’ve battled a wraith, stole the Blood Stone from Micah’s realm where you almost got crushed by a tree, got kidnapped by Pyke and Kymaris, and traveled to the Underworld to save your sister. God knows what you’re going to do next week.”
I smile at Rainey, pulling her into a hug and rubbing her back, understanding exactly what she’s saying. And it’s all born from worry about me and that I might meet my demise at any time.
“I need you to be there for the wedding,” she murmurs as she gets that I understand her but it needs to be said. “I just don’t want to wait.”
Pulling back and tucking my chin in so I can look her in the eye, “When do you want to do this?”
“Tomorrow,” she says. “Myles agrees.”
“You know we can’t get the flowers and cake