Summary: In a chaotic living room, Kiara struggles with a wedding flower mishap while Rafe, her reluctant partner, tries to help despite his confusion. As they brainstorm backup ideas, their initial resentment transforms into a budding friendship, revealing their shared desire to make Sarah’s wedding perfect.
The sun streamed through the windows of Rafe’s sprawling house, illuminating the chaotic scene that unfolded in the living room. Kiara was sprawled across the brown sofa, her laptop resting on her lap, a scowl etched on her face as she read an email that seemed to ruin her entire day. Rafe, on the other hand, was pacing back and forth, his restless energy palpable as he tried to figure out how to help with Kiara’s complaints.
“Okay, so… what’s the issue again?” Rafe asked, his brows furrowed in confusion. When he didn’t hear Kiara respond, he paused in his pacing, glancing at her. She was now furiously typing a response to the florist.
“The issue is that the flowers are completely wrong!” Kiara snapped, her frustration bubbling over. She didn’t know if it stemmed from receiving bad news or from Rafe not understanding the issue.
“Sarah specifically wanted peonies and gardenias, and apparently, they are going to send sunflowers and daisies instead! I have no idea if we can get the correct flowers on such short notice. Even their email response team has a policy of replying within 10 to 15 business days!”
Rafe blinked, genuinely baffled. “Okay… but flowers are flowers, right? Can’t we just… I don’t know, put them in a vase and call it a day? I mean, it’s not like they’re ugly flowers or are going to ruin the entire wedding.”
Rafe didn’t understand the issue but soon realized that what he had just said might not have been helpful at all.
Kiara sat up, her laptop sliding slightly off her lap as she turned to face him. “It’s her favorite flowers, Rafe. She’s been talking about how excited she is for the place to be filled with them. Apparently, she got Wheezie to help her make a whole mood board when she was 15 years old?”
“Not concerning at all…” Rafe whispered sarcastically.
Kiara heard him and shot him a glare. “I need to prove to her, as the maid of honor, that I can make this wedding perfect for her… Gosh, I don’t even know why I’m explaining this to you. Of course, you don’t see the big deal in this!”
Rafe raised his hands in a defensive gesture; her upcoming outburst was the last thing he wanted to provoke. “I’m just trying to help!” He let out a deep sigh.
“Why did Sarah put us together for this anyway? I mean, she knows we don’t exactly get along. I’m surprised she even has me involved, really.”
Kiara paused, her anger deflating slightly as she realized he wasn’t trying to be a jerk. He was genuinely confused and unsure about his role in all this. He was just trying to help in his own misguided way.
“I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice quieter now. “Maybe she thought we’d balance each other out or something.”
“Balance?” Rafe scoffed, but there was no malice in his tone. “I’m not even balanced myself. I’m a mess.”
Kiara chuckled softly, despite herself. “Yeah, you’re not wrong on that.” She looked up at Rafe again and heard a chuckle escape him too, but his face said something else.
Rafe looked away, but Kiara held his stare; she saw the guilt and insecurity creeping up on him again. It was the same little frown he had given her back when they were kidnapped under the same roof.
“Hey, Rafe…” She tried to get his attention back from wherever it had gone. “We’re both a mess right now.”
Rafe now stood in front of the coffee table, looking down at her, or rather at the floor. He still didn’t say a word.
“Maybe that’s why she thought we could work together, or maybe she just wanted the people she trusts the most to do the job. To give her the perfect day. She trusts you to do that, Rafe. And we both want to make Sarah happy, even if we don’t see eye to eye.”
Kiara tried to reassure him, maybe even herself.
Kiara waited for any form of response, and Rafe finally gave a little nod. “Okay,” he whispered, now making direct eye contact with Kiara.
Those goddamn blue eyes pierced right through her soul. “So, what do we do about the flowers?” He said, making his way around the table and sitting on the couch but keeping a good distance between them.
“Because I really don’t want to be on Sarah’s bad side, or yours for that matter.”
Kiara couldn’t help but smile a little. “Maybe… we can brainstorm some backup ideas if they can’t send the original order in time.”
“Backup ideas? Like what?” Rafe scratched his head, still trying to wrap his mind around the whole concept of wedding planning and the importance of flowers.
“Like, if they can’t get the right flowers in time, we can think of alternatives that still fit the vibe. Maybe something that incorporates the colors Sarah loves, or even a wildflower theme…” Kiara began to explain, her enthusiasm slowly creeping back.
Rafe listened, genuinely interested. “Okay, I can do that. Just tell me what to do, and I’ll help.”
As they started to work together, something shifted in the air. The tension between them, once thick with resentment, began to dissipate, replaced by a cautious sense of friendship. Rafe found himself captivated by Kiara’s dedication, while she began to see him as someone who genuinely wanted to contribute positively.
Hours passed as they sorted through the details, and for the first time, Kiara felt a sense of ease around Rafe. Maybe, just maybe, they could turn this chaotic wedding planning into something more than just a task to endure.
As the sun set, casting a golden glow in the room, Kiara glanced over at Rafe, who was now sitting on the floor and flipping through a floral catalog, his brow furrowed in concentration. “You know, you’re not as bad as I thought,” she said, her voice light and teasing.
Rafe looked up, a playful smirk on his face. “And you’re not as uptight as I thought. Maybe we’re not so different after all, kie.”
“Don’t push it,” Kiara replied, but her smile betrayed her amusement.
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author’s note:
Hi lovelies,
I got inspired by the fact that John B and Sarah might be having a wedding in Season 5, and in an alternate universe, we would have Kiara and Rafe do all the planning
My first language isn’t English, so I apologize if some of the grammar isn’t correct or if the story is a little boring. I’m also aware that the story might not fit the characters and that it isn’t romantic at all, but I hope you still enjoyed it. I would love to receive any feedback or advice moving forward, and I might even consider doing a part 2 if people are interested?
your response was so cute ❤️ even i follow the first three blogs and honestly @stylessupremacy @tinydestinybear are so sweet 💝
Aww thank youuu! ❤
that's so greatt! Both of them are really sweethearts. I literally call @stylessupremacy my dilf cause of the inside joke we had once on her blog and @tinydestinybear oh man! Her desi posts and intricate writing in blurbs are to die for!
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