Callie

“Have you been to Aspen before?” I asked Kate as we rode into town in the back of another black SUV.

“Yeah, but not in the Spring. It’s beautiful.” She looked out the window.

“Colder then I thought it would be,” I said as I buttoned my coat. “The house is so beautiful. How’s your house coming along?”

“It was moving along great during the season when Preston couldn’t get out there to change stuff.” Kate shook her head. “I swear he must be scanning Pinterest daily,” she rolled her eyes. “Finding new ideas and changing his mind about stuff. The contractor called me for help. They’re excited for us to be out of their hair for a while.”

“When will it be finished?”

“I hope by July. Get moved in and settled before the season starts.”

I smirked.

“Is that how it is now? Our lives are divided between the season and off season.”

“Yep. That’s the life of loving an NFL player.” Kate took my hand and squeezed.

“I feel bad." I turned to face her. "Noah has all this time on his hands. I told him to go do what every he would be doing at this time of year.”

“What did he say?”

“He said last year, he was holed up in a house with you and it turned out pretty good.” I grinned.

“He is a sweetheart. He’s mellowed so much.” Kate turned to me. “You know I’ve known Noah for three years. We’ve hung out with Preston dozens of times over the years and last night is the first time we’ve ever talked if that makes sense.”

“It does?” Noah didn't open up to anyone. He had tons of old friends. Most made out of the common association of being a football player. The rest of the world were acquaintances.

“Usually we’re at an event or at dinner with tons of other people or moving in and out." Kate pushed a hair behind her ear. "It was nice to get to know him finally.”

“They said we’d love this trip. I think they’re right.” I squeezed her hand back.

“I know, but don’t tell them, okay. Their ego’s are big enough.”

“You’ve been going non stop since the wedding." I leaned my head back. "Is it hard for you to turn it off?”

“Yeah, I kind of work to exhaustion where I get to the point I have to take a break.” She looked out the window. “I’m trying not to do that anymore, but I’m conflicted. I want to spend time with Preston, but I keep getting offered these great parts. I can't very well ask them to change the schedule to accommodate the football schedule. You know it’s hard.”

I frowned. At least I could do my job from anywhere.

“And the paparazzi saw me in a non bloat friendly dress and now they are on baby watch.” Kate rubbed her stomach.

“Oh my god.” I giggled.

“It's been crazy.” She nodded her. “What about you? How's it going with Garret? I read your first column. It was good.”

“Thank you.” I smiled, my heart raced thinking about the column in and the response. “No. It’s so much fun. He’s so encouraging and supportive. He waits until after he’s done critiquing my work to hit on me. It’s been smooth.”

“He is a big flirt isn’t he?” Kate laughed. “We need to get him a woman.”

“Yeah, that would be a full time job. With school, Noah and the dogs,” I shook my head. “I don’t have the time.”

“And, now the wedding. What are you guys decided so far?”

“Nothing,” I said.

Kate’s face dropped. She grabbed my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

“Well that’s okay.”

I looked at her.

“Yeah. It’s okay. We have plenty of time?” I squeezed her hand back as we pulled up to the spa.

“Oh my goodness.” Kate walked into the reception area after our spa treatments rolling her neck. “That was amazing.”

I sat near the fire waiting for her. I might have fallen asleep. My spirit was calm.

I nodded in agreement. “I could live here.”

“Come on.” Kate helped me up. “I’m starving.”

We walked through the streets of Aspen; the center of town was almost empty. The buildings, restaurants and bars all had a warm laid-back vibe to them. We entered a hotel and headed towards the restaurant.

“This place has amazing food.” Kate said.

A few people were scattered around the restaurant, the warm tones made me sleepy, but my stomach growled.

“Now I’m starving too.” I held my stomach. “Can we sit by the fire?” I asked the hostess.

“Of course.” We followed her. “Why don’t you sit back here that way you can get the fireplace and the view?”

The little alcove behind the fireplace had windows all around.

“A friend of mine might be stopping by if she has time.” Kate said to the hostess. “Can you let her know we’re back here?”

“Of course Ms. Stone.”

Kate eyes grew wide and she shook her hands out once.

“I guess she didn’t get the memo.” I sat down and turned toward the fire.

Kate laughed and peeked behind her to see if anyone else recognized her.

We ordered hot drinks and food. We reached for the warm pretzel bread as soon as the waiter dropped it on the table.

“Can I ask you a question about that person who doesn’t exist for the next five days?” I asked.

Kate giggled and took another bite of bread.

“Sure.”

“How are you so fabulous and normal at the same time?”

Kate cackled and threw her head back. It was so cute and unattractive at the same time. As I thought about her public persona, it wasn’t that far from the truth. I wanted to write a piece about her, but hadn’t figured out the angle, yet. How was she a young movie star and a regular person at the same time?

I couldn’t wait to find out.

My thoughts were interrupted by a high-pitched voice singing her name.

“Kate Stone.” We both turned toward the voice. It belonged to a short tiny blond woman, half her faced covered in sunglasses. She wore a fur trimmed leather jacket, black leggings and Uggs.

“Brenda.” Kate stood up and hugged her friend. “You made it.”

“I only have about twenty minutes.” Brenda hugged Kate again. “Not all brides are as amazing as you.”

Recognition hit me. She looked different without her headset buried in her blond hair. She was the woman running round all over the place at Kate and Preston’s wedding. I never had the chance to meet her.

“Oh please. I was a nightmare,” Kate said.

“Not at all.” Brenda turned to me. “You must be Callie.”

I nodded.

“Yes. This is Callie Blake,” Kate said. “She’s Noah Patrick’s soon to be bride.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Noah is gorgeous. You snagged you a good one.” Brenda leaned in and gave me an awkward hug.

I patted her back and tried not to sneeze from the smell of fur and pineapple shampoo.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Brenda pulled up a chair and motioned for the waiter who stood near by. “Can I have a glass of rosé, please?”

The waiter nodded and left.

“So. I only have a few minutes, but when Kate said you would be in Aspen this week, too. I figured its fate. I’d love to work with you.”

“On what?” I scrunched my nose.

“On your wedding of course.” She grabbed my hand.

“Surprise.” Kate said with her hands wide open.

“My wedding,” I said.

“Yes. I know you haven’t much time to work out what you want, but Brenda is amazing and she can pull anything off. She is the anti bride wedding magician.” Kate clapped her hands.

“Anti-bride?” Who said I was anti-bride?

“That’s how I was. I didn’t have a clue about how to plan a wedding. Had no clue what I wanted. Brenda took care of everything. And it was beautiful, right?”

I stared at the two of them.

“It was beautiful, right?” Kate said her eyes wide.

“Oh. Yes. Yourvwedding was amazing.” I reached for more bread. “This is just premature. I mean. I’ve been engaged for days. I haven’t even told my family yet.”

“You haven’t told your family.” Brenda said, the judgment thick in her voice.

“No. I haven’t it.”

“Well, that’s okay.” She patted my hand.

“Thank you.”

“Hey, Callie. I’m sorry. I just thought since Brenda was here you’d want to meet her. It’s no big deal. You’re not ready, yet. That’s okay.”

Again with the okay’s. I shut my eyes and counted to three. My whole body prickled with anger and anxiety. I tried to remain calm.

“Brenda. How’s LA?” Kate asked. A not so obvious change of subject.

I opened my eyes and ignored the concerned looks on their faces as they tried to talk about anything else besides my upcoming wedding.