Page 108

‘No, Katie borrowed him away to the kitchen for something. How are you doing?’

‘I’m good.’

‘You sure?’ She pinned him with one of the stares that usually made him spill his guts. ‘Because one of the reasons Aiden and I had planned to delay was you.’

‘Me?’

‘You and Amrita. You were both so heartbroken… planning a wedding seemed unkind.’

There was only one thing for it: he hugged her again. ‘He’s right, you know… your new husband. You are a princess. An idiot, but a princess.’

‘Hey!’

‘I can’t believe you even considered delaying your wedding over me. Even partly.’

‘I love you, J. I want you to be happy. Besides’ – the next look from her was the mischief he’d seen for years – ‘having you moping around with a long face would have just ruined my wedding pics.’

‘Gee, thanks ever so. Love you too, Mimi.’ He raised his hand automatically and she ducked away. ‘You dare ruffle my hair right now and you might actually suffer bodily harm.’

‘Are you threatening me?’

‘No. But Katie helped me get ready. You don’t want to piss her off, do you?’

‘That would be truly terrifying!’

They giggled together.

‘What are you laughing at?’ Katie marched up to them.

‘Nothing.’

She looked back and forth between them. ‘Not sure I don’t feel a bit suspicious, but we don’t have time for whatever it is. Cake cutting time.’

‘We have a cake?’

‘You just married a baking witch – of course you have a cake.’ Katie laughed.

‘But he didn’t know about it until today… How?’

‘There might have been some scheming involved.’ Jamie chuckled. ‘And an order that was “conveniently” cancelled last minute and carefully and lovingly frozen until yesterday.’

‘You really did think of everything.’ Mia smiled. ‘I’m so lucky to have friends like you.’

‘We’re lucky to have you too.’ Katie smiled and looped her arm through Mia’s. ‘And you’ll be even luckier if you do as you’re told and come with me. Because… cake.’

Jamie chuckled as Mia was towed away. He looked around the barn again, and had to admit they really had done an incredible job.

He watched, took photos, applauded and smiled as the cake was cut, and then headed to the makeshift bar.

Jamie cheered and threw petals with everyone else, then posed, smiling, for photos, but he was struggling more and more to keep his attention on what he should be doing – and celebrating his friends – when Amrita was nearby, the deep blue silk of her dress catching his eye every time she moved.

He lost sight of her for a few minutes after the group photos, then was distracted watching Mist playing with the flower girls.

‘Hi.’

He didn’t need to turn to know it was her. She didn’t even need to speak for him to know it was her – the tug in his magic was enough. She was the only one who did that to him. It had been four months since they’d met, and her presence still hit him like that. He thought he had mentally prepared as much as he possibly could – that it would be enough – but his breath still caught when he turned to look at her. She seemed to shimmer in the light of the spell jars. The ones she had helped create.

‘In case I haven’t said so yet, you look incredibly beautiful. It’s bad form really, to outshine the bride.’