“I’m sorry, Elli!” Mary Ann said turning around, and grabbing Elli’s hand, “This is Elli Fisher, she’s Shea’s date.”

“We know each other, Mary Ann. Harper is my best friend and my assistant photographer,” Elli said with a grin as Harper smiled at Mary Ann. Jakob was beaming, and Elli had to admit that Harper looked just as happy. Maybe things were different for her and Jakob; maybe Jakob was her person. Elli smiled at the thought; she didn’t want anything more than for Harper to find her happily-ever-after.

The four talked for a little longer before Jakob walked off, leaving the girls with Mary Ann. Elli could see that Mary Ann was testing Harper out, but Harper didn’t seem to mind. She answered any question Mary Ann had, with not so much as a blush. Harper always amazed Elli; she was so fearless, so beautiful.

After a while, dinner was called to be served. Luckily the three couples were at a table together, so they were able to keep the conversation going. The food was divine. Elli knew it would be, but gosh, Mary Ann had great taste. The pork loin was spectacular, and the potatoes were the most amazing potatoes she had ever put in her mouth. Elli almost moaned every time she ate one, they were so delicious. She took another bite, and from the corner of her eye saw Shea staring at her. She blushed as she covered her mouth, looking over at him.

“Stop staring at me!” she whispered. He just smiled, leaning closer to her to place a kiss on the side of her mouth.

“I can’t help it; you’re so hot when you eat.” Elli giggled and everyone looked over at them, smiling.

“Y’all are too stinkin’ cute! Aren’t they, Alex?” Mary Ann gushed as she drank her wine.

“Yes, honey, yes,” Alex teased in a fake country accent that had everyone laughing.

Elli loved Mary Ann and Alex; they were funny and real. They got into a fight right in front of everyone about the seasoning on the meat, but two seconds after it, they kissed like two teenagers that couldn’t get enough of each other.

It was the second time that Elli had seen Harper with Jakob and it still blew her mind how Harper acted towards him. She wasn’t cold like she was with other guys, and she wasn’t hateful either. She was nice, not lovey-dovey like Jakob was, always touching her face, or holding her hand, but she was nice to him, smiling and kissing him whenever she had the chance. It was weird, but a good weird.

As for her and Shea, the only way Elli could put it was that they were perfect. He would move her hair off her shoulder, or kiss her neck, or hold her hand, kissing her knuckles. He didn’t care that they were sitting with four other people; all he cared about was her. It was weird, but an amazing, over the top, awesome weird.

As dessert was served, Mary Ann and Alex excused themselves to go thank people. Elli was busy enjoying the delicious chocolate cake which was fantastic! She knew Shea was watching her, but she was too busy stuffing her face to care.

“My goodness, this is wonderful,” she muttered as she ate.

“It really is,” Shea agreed. She smiled at him, and looked over at Harper, who was also stuffing her face.

“It’s amazin’,” she gushed, as Jakob laughed. That was when Elli noticed that he hadn’t even touched his piece yet.

“Why aren’t you eating?” Elli asked, pointing her spoon at his plate.

“I don’t like chocolate.”

Elli dropped her spoon.

“Say what?” Shea chose that moment to drink his beer, and started choking on it as he noted Elli’s complete and utter shock.

“What do you mean, you don’t like chocolate? I’ll have to run five miles tomorrow, but I don’t care. This is God’s gift to me.”

Jakob smiled and shook his head while Harper and Shea laughed.

“It's not my thing, and Mary Ann knows that. That’s probably why she skipped out,” he said with a laugh.

Shea nodded his head, chuckling as he said, “Probably.”

Elli just shook her head. Didn’t like chocolate? That was a sin, she thought as she took another huge bite. A microphone was bumped and Mary Ann’s voice filled the room.

“Hey, everyone! We just wanted to thank everyone for coming out, and bringing your dates. I have met so many new people this year, and that is just awesome to me!” she gushed.

Alex took the mic then and smiled at the crowd.

“As my beautiful wife, who has had a little too much, said,” everyone laughed while Mary Ann pouted, “thanks for coming out. We hope you guys have enjoyed the food, and will like the dancing to come. Go Assassins!”

The hall filled with everyone repeating ‘Go Assassins’. Even Shea and Jakob did it, leaving Harper and Elli out, not that they minded. They were too busy eating Jakob’s piece of cake. The music started as Mary Ann and Alex made it off the stage. Some people got up to dance, while others went to the bar as the waiters came around to clean up the plates.

Shea leaned closer to Elli as she licked her spoon and made sure she didn’t leave any of the most amazing cake she had ever eaten on it. She was going to have to ask for the recipe; it was fantastic.

“Hey,” he whispered in her ear, knocking her out of her chocolate haze.

“Hey,” she said, leaning her head over a little so he had full range of her neck.

“Do you like to dance?”

“I love to dance,” she answered with a giggle as he sucked on her earlobe. “Do you?”

“Yeah, I like to get down with a pretty girl every once in a while.”