CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“I would like to propose to the committee that we revisit a declined pairing,” Bruce announced to the room. “Since the original resistance to this pairing is no longer a decision maker, I would like to finally pair up Eden Moody and Davis Gates.”
A collective gasp worked its way through the entire Beautification Committee except Eva. She had no idea what was gasp-able but had a feeling that Ellery was the “original resistance” to which Bruce was referring.
“Their feud has gone on for far too long, and it’s clear to us all that they would make an ideal match,” Bruce continued.
Eva blinked, remembering Eden flinch at the mention of Blue Moon Winery. Her phone buzzed quietly in her lap.
Ellery: No! No! No! Nope! Abort! Abort!
Eva nudged Gia under the table and turned her phone toward her sister. Gia read and frowned.
Gia cleared her throat. “Question. What was their feud about?”
Bruce waved both hands. “Oh, it was a tiny, practically insignificant misunderstanding.”
“How insignificant?” Eva pressed.
The other members around the table shared guilty glances.
“Technically it was a feud between their fathers,” Bobby said vaguely. “It carried through to the next generation.”
“Now, I know that some people felt that they needed more time to cool off,” Bruce began. There was a loud clang from the air duct. Eva refused to look in the direction of the vent. Her phone buzzed.
Ellery: “Sorry. Leg cramp.”
“However, I see this as an opportunity to really spread our wings,” Bruce pressed on. “Not only would we be matching up excellent candidates for soulmate-hood, but we’d also be ridding our town of the negativity their feud has caused.”
Eva: “Keep it together up there!”
A hand raised and Bruce pointed at his wife. “Yes, Amethyst, my pearl?”
Ellery: “If I don’t get out of here soon I’m going to enter the beginning stages of rigor mortis. Make them wrap it up!
Amethyst blushed prettily at her husband’s nickname for her. “What would we do with our Team Eden Team Davis signs?” She asked the question as if she was reading the question from a cue card.
Oh sweet Jesus, this town, Eva thought.
Bruce clapped his hands. “I’m so glad you asked. We could have a celebratory bonfire when the engagement is announced and use the signs as kindling.”
Eva’s phone vibrated.
Ellery: “This is bad. Real bad.”
Donovan: “Where should we go on our honeymoon?”
“All in favor of committing to Eden and Davis for our next match?” Bruce called for the vote.
Eva held Gia’s hand down just in case her sister got swept up in the crowd mentality. Everyone else except Bobby raised their hands in favor.
“I don’t feel comfortable voting when I don’t have any background information on the couple,” Eva said hastily when Bruce frowned in her direction.
“We still have a majority,” he said, glaring at Bobby who remained unfazed under his scrutiny. “I suggest, before our next meeting, you review the couple biography in your binders and be prepared to offer suggestions on the best approach.”
“I’m sure they’ll make a lovely couple,” Gia placated when Bruce handed over their pretty pink binders.
Eva wasn’t so certain. If Ellery had been the brains behind the B.C.’s operations, they were practically flying blind without her.
“Now, I’ll need you both to sign the nondisclosure agreements at the front of the binder and return them to me before the next meeting,” Bruce announced, tapping a finger on the table.
Eva made a mental note to have Beckett review the NDAs before she signed anything. It wouldn’t do to get sued by the B.C. If she upset them, she could just imagine the chaos they could wreak on her life.
She breathed a sigh of relief when the meeting let out and towed Gia into the hallway. They ducked into the darkened conference room on the other side of the hall, and Gia held the desk while Eva climbed up to help unwedge Ellery.
She came out sneezing and swearing, platform boots first followed by black and white striped tights and then her corduroy romper.
They helped her down, and Gia offered Ellery a drink from her water bottle while Eva picked cobwebs and dust bunnies out of her dark hair.
They were so busy whispering none of them noticed when the door opened.
“Aha!” Bobby shut the door behind her and crossed her arms. “Who wants to go first?”
“Hello, Bobby,” Ellery said coolly.
Eva tugged Gia out of the line of fire. They backed up against the conference table and tried to be as inconspicuous as possible.
“Hello, Ellery.”
The women stared each other down for nearly a full minute.
“Girl, what the hell?” Bobby broke first. “You knew the rules. Why didn’t you just tell us about Mason and let us do our thing?”
“I planned to!” Ellery said defensively. “I just got swept up in it. I mean we’d barely started dating, and then he was proposing and it was just magical. And I was so excited.”
“You should have told us.”
“I know. And you shouldn’t have kicked me out.”
“I know,” Bobby agreed.
“What’s happening?” Eva whispered to Gia.
“Shh,” her sister shushed her. “They’re communicating to solve their problem.”
“That’s weird,” Eva hissed back.
“Shut up.” Gia nudged her.
“I’m sorry,” Ellery said offering her hand to Bobby.
“I’m sorry, too,” Bobby said, shaking Ellery’s hand.
“See? That’s how grown-ups solve their problems,” Gia said smugly.
“What are you trying to say, smarty pants?”
“You’re asking everyone their advice on what you should do about Donovan. Why don’t you just go talk to him about it?”
“Shut up,” Eva sighed.
“Now, what are we going to do about this disaster with Eden and Davis?” Bobby asked.