“I promised I’d tell you. So here I am. I can’t marry you, Ravenna.”
“I figured as much.”
“I need you to know that I value your friendship. I like you more than I expected to.”
She snorted. “Oh, please.”
“No, really. If things weren’t about to go the way I suspect, I’d suggest a group game night. Cocktails and Dungeons and Inquisitions.”
“Really?” She arched a brow. “And not just because you know your best friend has it bad for me?”
“Nope. I like who you are. Even when you’re evil.”
“For fuck’s sake. Of course you do. Prince Charming likes everyone.”
“No, I don’t. Really. But I do like you.”
“You’re so rude.” She sniffed and looked away. “Why do you have to tell me you want to be friends and then go be a frog forever?”
“Shit happens, darlin’. That’s all I’ve got for that.”
“If you turn into a forever frog, you can come live in my fountain. No one will eat you. I’ll feed you strawberries every day. I promise.”
“Hey, what the hell, right? Might as well take good care of future frog me. Thanks, Ravenna.”
“Was it Zuri who made you see the light?” she asked.
“In a way. She didn’t ask me to, of course. But I realized that I love her.”
“You already knew that you loved her, dumb-dumb.”
It was his turn to snort. “Yeah, okay. But it’s because I love her that I can’t let her think for one second she’s not enough. One last day with her is worth whatever time I’d buy if you and I got married.”
She took his hands. “I understand. I expected it sooner, honestly.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“Would you have listened? No. But you’re actually Prince Charming. You’ve earned the title. This is who you are. There’s no other choice you could make. And I have a confession.”
He arched a brow. “Oh, really?”
She looked sheepish but only for a moment. “I never thought this was the right path, but I was scared. I don’t know who the bride in the vision was, but I know it wasn’t me. I promise I’ll come get you. You know, after.”
“How do you know Zuri wasn’t going to keep me with her?”
“She’s a fairy-tale princess, Phillip. Not a saint. But you tell her I’m going to take care of you, so she doesn’t worry.”
“Aren’t you worried people will start to think you have a heart?”
“Nah, I figure it took the godmothers three hundred years to forgive you. I’ve got nothing to worry about.” She smiled at him, and it was an honest, open, and genuine smile.
It transformed her face.
Ravenna was coldly beautiful, like a piece of art in a museum. A carved figure in marble. But her real smile brought that cold marble flesh to life like Pygmalion.
“Thank you, Ravenna. For everything.”
“Phillip, before you go, don’t you think Zuri would look gorgeous in lavender?”
“She’d look gorgeous in anything.”
“Obviously.” Ravenna rolled her eyes. “But a lavender wedding dress?”
“I’m not that lucky.”
“Why not? We live in Ever After. Anything is possible.”
“Don’t give me hope. It’s just cruel at this point.”
“Don’t you know, Phillip? That’s what I do.”
He studied her. “We’re still friends. Be as mean as you want.”
“Jerk,” she said. “Why do you say such mean things?”
“I guess because I’m Prince Charming. It’s what I do.”
Chapter 26
The day of the Markhoff wedding rehearsal dawned dreary and cool. The rain would be gone by breakfast, because that’s just how things in Ever After worked, but Zuri thought it was a fitting start to the kind of day she knew lay ahead.
She had so much to do, she’d be lucky if her head didn’t fall off and roll away.
She’d considered asking Petty if they could clone her just so she could get everything finished.
Hansel had worked his fingers to the bone and, with a little boost of magic had managed to somehow rebuild the stage and even finish the chandelier moon.
He needed a bonus.
And probably a vacation, just like all the rest of them.
Wedding season had only just swung into full gear. She was terrified and excited to see what summer would bring.
Then she reminded herself that she wouldn’t be in Ever After to see it.
That morning, when she’d awakened, she’d found a note scrawled on her shower mirror. It read, “Don’t go.”
As quickly as she’d read it, it had been erased and replaced with “Who will do your hair?”
Zuri didn’t want to leave the castle, and really, who would do her hair? She’d gotten so used to it always being perfect without having to put in all the long hours with a hot comb, or worrying about not getting it wet, or all the other things that came along with maintaining her current style.
Anna found Zuri in the ballroom before the rehearsal.
“You’ve been through so much planning our wedding. I want you to know how much it means to us that you’ve still persevered. We are going to recommend you far and wide. I mean, from that crazy allergic reaction to our best man being your ex-boyfriend and breaking up with the new boyfriend, and pulling this together so beautifully for us, you’ve just had so much to deal with.”
“Breaking up with my current boyfriend? What do you mean?”
“Weren’t you dating the handsome B and B owner?” Anna asked.
“I . . .”
“Oh, I understand that you want to keep your personal life out of work after Alec and Chicago. He’s the one who told me that you and Phillip broke up. Is it true that he’s going to marry someone else, too?”
She coughed. “We weren’t dating. We were just friends. Yes, he’s marrying Ravenna.”
“Honey, you’ve been through so much.”
“I’m fine. I promise. Is everyone here? Are we ready to start the rehearsal?” Zuri peered around Anna’s shoulder to both check for all participants and to disengage herself from that conversation.
“It’s all going to work out,” Anna promised.
“It is! You’re going to have a beautiful wedding. Where’s Jordan?”
“He’s on his way. He wanted to try out the pumpkin carriage. He’s bringing Grammy.”
“Oh, good.”
“We also wanted to say that while we loved Jenn, after meeting you, we see why she wasn’t right for Alec.”
Oh God, not more of this. “Funny. After meeting Jenn, I saw why I wasn’t right for Alec.”
Anna nodded. “Fair enough. Oh, look. They’re here.”
Zuri looked to where Grammy had entered with Red in tow behind her, and Jordan had a bluebell flower in hand for his bride.
Zuri still thought they were a lovely couple. As long as they stayed out of her romantic life.
Grammy looked sharp as ever wearing a gray velvet tux with a blue silk vest, and matching bow tie and suspenders. Zuri gave her a nod of approval. Grammy grinned, showing all of her sharp teeth.
Grammy took her place on the stage and waited for everyone else to take their places. Zuri watched as the bridesmaids went to their marks, as did the groomsmen, and finally, the best man.
Alec flashed her a thumbs-up, and she returned the gesture. She would be happy to see Anna and Jordan finally say their vows both for the culmination of all their hard work and to finally be rid of Alec’s presence. Somehow, he’d even gotten the mostly reasonable Anna and Jordan in on his antics. The sooner she could put more distance between them, the happier she’d be.
The lights in the ballroom dimmed, and the chandelier moon flickered to life. As Anna and Jordan began to play their parts, Zuri was carried away in the story of their love. This might’ve been the best idea she’d ever had.
She watched as the oth
er participants were caught up as well, and her heart soared.
Jordan swept Anna into his arms and carried her up the stairs to stand before Grammy, where he sank to his knees to replace her lost slipper, and Rosebud had managed to re-create a beautiful pair of actual glass slippers. Obviously, magic.
Grammy began speaking, and a sudden sense of dread washed over her as Zuri realized everyone had stopped to look at her.
Alec had stepped out of place.
Oh no.
“Boy, what are you doing?” Grammy asked.
“I’m waiting for you to get to the part where you ask if anyone has any reason why these two shouldn’t be married.”
“What, did you sleep with Anna, too?” Zuri asked.
Everyone gasped collectively.
Grammy turned to look at him and smacked him with the holy book she held in her hands. “Stop it. Get back to your place, son. Read the room.”
“No, I need to speak. I can’t hold my peace.”
Then she realized he’d planned this with Anna and Jordan. They looked at her expectantly, as if some kind of miracle were about to unfold. The crowd collectively followed their lead.
“I warned you, Alec.”
The crowd turned back as a unit to Alec.
“And the wedding has been planned. Your part is finished.”
“You’re right about that,” Zuri said, as fury rose in her chest.
“Make the next wedding you plan ours. Marry me, Zuri!” He sank down on one knee.
The crowd gasped.
“I already planned one wedding for you, Alec. You don’t get two.”
They gasped again and turned their heads back to Zuri. It was almost as if they were watching a tennis match from hell.
Zuri, however, was done.
She’d had enough.
She removed the Bluetooth headset from her ear, put down her planner, and turned on her heel and strode toward the door.
Alec rushed after her.
“Castle, I would enjoy never being in the same room with Alec Marsh again.”
Stairs appeared before her, and with a sigh of gratitude, she realized they led directly to her room.
Alec gave chase, but when he approached the first stair, the doorway closed, leaving him with no way to follow her.
“Thank you.”
She fled to her room and decided that it was time to pack. She’d told Alec her terms. He’d blown past her boundaries again and again, and it was time to enforce them.
Zuri was finished.
This had been her last wedding.
At least, for some time.
All she had left to do was pack and say farewell to Ever After.
And Phillip.
Zuri decided, for once, that she was going to be selfish. She was going to worry about her own needs instead of everyone else’s. She didn’t have it in her to say goodbye to him again.
The other night when he’d come to her rooms and they’d had drinking chocolate, she’d said everything she needed to say to him.
Zuri knew he’d said all he could say, too.
So what was left except more angst and sorrow?
She didn’t want it. She’d had enough.
Zuri tried to put her clothes into her suitcase, but as soon as she’d folded something, it was back where she’d found it.
“Castle. Come on.”
If she hadn’t been used to magic, she would’ve screamed her head off when the dress form that held the lavender dress Rosebud had given her bounced down the stairs from her bedroom.
“I’m not wearing that to travel.”
The dress form rattled, as if the castle was shaking it at her.
“I hear you. I don’t want to leave you, either. But I have to.” She sighed. “You could help me pack.”
Her suitcase slid across the room and out the balcony doors.
She dashed after it and saw it flap its two pieces like wings until it was in the middle of the lake and then drop like a stone.
Zuri didn’t feel much like laughing, but the sight of the angry swan darting out of the way of her flying suitcase was too funny.
“Listen, Castle. I have to go. I’m going even if you don’t give me my clothes. I can come back and visit. After my heart isn’t broken.”
Her suitcase was suddenly back and miraculously dry. It flipped open on the couch.
“You could pack for me?”
No help was forthcoming.
“Okay, fair enough.” She got up and began putting things back into the case.
A glittery purple comb appeared on the table, and she picked it up to inspect it. It was embossed with print that read, “Castle Styler.”
Oh! The castle had given her a gift.
It would keep doing her hair.
“Well, shit.” She sat down and held the comb close to her chest as fat tears slipped down her face.
A blanket wrapped itself around her shoulders, and a hot cup of drinking chocolate appeared within reach.
She sniffed but allowed herself only a moment to be comforted. It would be easy to stay here in this place that had become her home.
Her shelter.
Her vision of Happily Ever After.
She had to get a new vision.
With a puff of green fairy dust, Zeva appeared, looking confused. “What’s going on? How did you do that?”
Zuri looked up at her sister’s confused face.
“Wombmate, why are you crying? Do I need to stuff someone’s head up their own ass, because I’ll do it.”
“No.” Zuri sniffed.
“How did I get here, though?”
Zuri wiped at her tears with the back of her hand. “I guess the castle thought I needed you.”
“What’s happened?”
“Nothing new. Just that I’m leaving.”
“Are you sure that’s what you want to do?” Zeva narrowed her eyes. “I thought you loved it here.”
“I do. I can’t watch Phillip marry someone else. I can’t live here with all this wonderful magic and know it’s not for me.”
“It is for you! You just have to have faith.”
“You keep telling me that, but here we are, and do you know what faith got me?”
“Tell me,” Zeva encouraged, and sat down next to her.
“It got me a proposal from Alec. That definitely wasn’t my heart’s desire. The wish coin was broken. Magic is broken.” She slumped. “Or maybe it’s me. I’m broken.”
“Zuri, honey, you’re not broken. Why would you think that?”
“I’m the common denominator, here. When it seems like the world is against you, it’s time to stop and look at what everything has in common. Me.”
“No, no. That can’t be true. Don’t lose your hope now. It’s too beautiful. It’s too important.”
“I just can’t hope anymore. Not right now.” Zuri slouched, dejected.
“After all that you’ve seen, after you’ve been the guiding hand in so many people’s Happily Ever Afters, how can you not believe?”
“I believe. I do.”
“Then why are you running away?”
“Because it’s too much to see everyone else get what I want. I know it’s selfish and awful, but . . .”
“It’s okay to rest and give yourself space. That’s not selfish or awful. Not in the least.” Zeva hugged her close. “But if you’ve ever trusted me, believe me when I say this is not the time to rest. It’s the time to fight.”
“How, Zeva? How do I fight against magic? How do I fight a curse? I’m not anything special. I’m just Zuri Davis, wedding planner.” She slumped further. “Groom stealer.”
“You’re going to have shaken wedding planner syndrome if you try to come at me with that mess again. No. That’s not what we’re doing.”
“Then what are we doing?”
“Fighting.”
“You keep saying that. How?”
“Tell Phillip that you love him and you’re not letting him go. Tell him tha
t you’re staying together no matter what. Tell him that you believe.” Zeva rattled Zuri’s shoulders.
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” Zeva fairly shrieked. “This job is so hard. It’s like being a social worker but I can’t make anyone listen to even half of what I say.”
“Because I can’t ask him to sacrifice his humanity for me.”
Zeva palmed her forehead with a loud thwap and then leaned back. “Ow. I have to stop doing that. Anyway, you’re not asking him to do anything of the sort. You’re asking him to believe.”
“Did you miss the part where I believed we shared True Love’s Kiss? And nothing happened.”
“Believe now, more than you ever have before.”
“Alec did that earlier. He believed. He asked me to marry him during the wedding rehearsal. The whole crowd seemed to expect me to say yes.”
“You are not Alec.”
“No, I’m not. And I’m not going to ask Phillip to make that choice. I’m leaving now.”
“Aren’t you going to at least say goodbye?”
“We already said our goodbyes,” Zuri said.
“But?” Zeva prompted.
“But nothing.”
“There’s something. I know you too well. I can feel it on the tip of your tongue. Tell me.”
“Fine.” Zuri knew she’d never leave it alone if she didn’t tell her. She’d be ninety years old, on her deathbed, and Zeva would ask her if she remembered that time in Ever After when she’d asked her what she’d been about to say and Zuri refused to tell her. “I promised him I’d say goodbye again when I left. But I just can’t.”
“What if saying goodbye to him again would change everything. Would you do it?”
“Are you speaking to me as an FG in training, or as my sister?”
“Neither. I’m asking you a question as your best friend.”
“What could it possibly change?” She was tired of fey things like what-ifs and hope. Zuri needed something solid and real.
“I don’t know, but Mama didn’t raise us to break our promises.”
“Oh, you played the Mama card. That’s low.” Zuri shook her head in disbelief.
“You know what’s low is breaking your promise to someone you claim to love.”
“Ugh. Fine. I’ll wait until dusk, and I’ll tell him, okay?”
“Okay.”
She’d agreed too easily. “That’s it? You’re not going to try to get me to stay longer?”
Men Are Frogs Page 25