Chapter 21: Rehearsal Night

The rehearsal dinner ended at nine, and by ten Cass had stopped pretending she wasn't going to cry about the room.

"You have a hotel room," she said, in the lobby of the harbor inn. "Aunt Pru gave you a hotel room."

"She did."

"With one bed."

"She said she asked."

"I'm going to need a minute." Cass fanned her face with a menu. "Okay. I'm fine. Take the key. Go."

"Cass."

"I mean it. I'm sleeping three doors down with six bridesmaids and a steamer for the dress. Go be in love somewhere I can't hear it."

She hugged me so hard my ribs creaked.

Lark stood a polite foot behind us with a paper bag in her hand.

Inside the bag was the last box of champagne truffles from the wedding favors, dusted with gold.

I had made two hundred on Tuesday and saved a dozen for tonight.

Room 412 was at the end of the hall, with a view of the harbor and a bed the size of a small boat.

There was a bathtub in the corner of the room, standing on four curved iron feet.

Lark stopped in the doorway.

"A real bed," she said.

"A bathtub."

"Don't get excited."

"I live on a sailboat, Noor. I am extremely excited."

She dropped her bag on the chair and ran the tap.

Steam rolled off the water and the mirror fogged white.

I sat on the edge of the bed with the box of truffles in my lap and watched her test the temperature with her wrist.

"Come here," she said.

"I'm eating."

"Bring one."

I brought two.

She stepped out of her dress with the ease of a person who has spent her life changing in a cold boat cabin.

I forgot the truffles for a moment and then remembered them and fed her one.

Her mouth closed around my fingertips, and her eyes held mine.

The chocolate was dark and the champagne center was sharp and sweet.

"That's very good," she said.

"It's the best thing I've made all week."

"Better than the cake?"

"Different."

I put the second one on the edge of the tub, then undid my own buttons, and climbed in behind her.

The water came up warm over my knees.

Lark leaned back against me, her wet braid heavy on my shoulder.

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