“This one’s amazing.”

“I know, right? It’s so moist and…and…”

“Subtle?”

“Yeah, subtle…not too sweet…”

“Not too rich.”

“Exactly, it’s just…”

“Perfect.”

“Perfect.”

“Perfect?”

“Yeah, I think this is the one,” Ashley said to the short, older Russian woman who owned the bakery where she and Spencer had spent the last hour sampling wedding cakes.

“This the one?”

“Definitely, we’ll take it,” Spencer said with a smile.

“Which one of you get married?” the woman asked in her thick Russian accent, dutifully returning Spencer’s smile.

“Oh, we both are.”

The woman looked confused for a moment, but quickly recovered, “Two best friends get married on same day?”

“Well, actually…we’re marrying each other.”

“I not understand. You mean you both get married in same church?”

Ashley laughed, “Yeah, sure. Now, how much should I make this check out for?”

“You want me to be your man of honor?”

“You’re the best man I know. It seems fitting,” Ashley said. She sat in bed, casually flipping through a magazine with one hand and clutching her cell phone in the other. Aiden had already been filled in on her and Spencer’s trip to the slammer and the makeshift jailhouse proposal, but Ashley’s desire to have him stand beside her at the altar was news to him.

“I’ll do it, but I’m not wearing some frilly, purple dress or whatever.”

“I’m sure we can find you a very nice, frilly, purple suit instead.”

“Ash…”

“I’m kidding. No frilly anything, I promise.”

“Good, so how completely and utterly stressed out are you two right about now?”

“You have no idea. Everyday there’s something else to buy or plan or arrange or order. Weddings are work, man. You’ll see one day.”

“Looking forward to it,” Aiden laughed.

“Speaking of which…”

“Don’t go there.”

“What? I didn’t even say anything!” Ashley exclaimed with a grin.

“You’re about to try to figure out my love life, and thank you very much, but it’s progressing rather nicely without your bad advice.”

“I give awesome relationship advice and you know it.”

“Yeah, says the girl that popped the question behind bars.”

“Better behind bars then in a bar…I think.”

Just then Spencer emerged from the bathroom in her favorite powder blue robe. It amazed Ashley that no matter how years she had been around to witness the “fresh out of the shower” version of Spencer Carlin, the site never ceased to send a chill all the way from the tip of her toes to the top of her head. Spencer smiled at her, sidestepping to softly kiss Ashley’s lips before walking out of the room.