A Very Perry Wedding by Marie Landry

Author:Marie Landry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romantic comedy, contemporary romance, autumn, friends to lovers, seasonal romance, canadian fiction, slow burn romance, forced proximity
Publisher: Marie Landry

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

I’m thrilled to learn Jasper lives in Cabbagetown, a neighborhood in central Toronto that’s known for its funky, colorful Victorian houses and picturesque nooks and crannies. When I lived in Toronto, I’d come here often on my days off, particularly in the autumn when the leaves turned and the flowering cabbages were in bloom. I’d stroll along the streets, check out the shops and restaurants, and, when I needed an hour or two of solitude to clear my head, I’d wander the vast, peaceful grounds of St. James’ Cemetery.

“Is it sad I was hoping Jasper lived in one of the Victorian houses?” I ask as Evan pulls the car up in front of a four-story apartment building.

Gwen laughs. “No. The first time we came for a visit and Evan told me Jasper lived in Cabbagetown, I hoped it’d be one of the Victorians.”

“She was especially hoping it’d be one of the hideous yellow and purple ones,” Evan says.

“They’re not hideous!” Gwen’s tone is so scandalized you’d think Evan had just called her hideous. “They’re charming and full of character, just like this whole area.”

“It’s that charm that’s taken this from a beautiful neighborhood to something trendy, which has driven up real estate prices. Do you know the Victorians cost up to two million dollars these days? The prices have driven out so many families and middle class people who want to live in Toronto but don’t necessarily want the hustle and bustle of the busier areas.”

Gwen glances over her shoulder at me as Evan hops out of the car. “Touchy subject,” she whispers. “We’ve been talking about buying a house within the next year, and everything is more expensive than we realized. He was grumbling the other day about how people are leaving Toronto and coming to Bellevue, and it’s driving up real estate prices.”

“I’d believe it, considering what I’m paying for my itty bitty apartment,” I tell her.

We get out of the car and join Evan, who has my bags waiting on the sidewalk. He’s dropping us off at the front of Jasper’s building and then driving to one of the nearby public parking lots.

“Next time I do an impression of a miser, I’m really going to lean into it,” Evan says with a wry smile. “I’ll go full Scrooge McDuck with a Scottish accent and everything.”

Gwen presses into him on one side and I do the same on the other. “Make sure to complain about the price of bread and eggs too,” she says, kissing his cheek.

“And how much it costs to go to the movie theater these days,” I add, kissing his other cheek.

With a laugh, he playfully shoves us away from him. We take my bags and head toward Jasper’s building, slipping in behind someone who’s on their way out. When we get out of the elevator on the fourth floor a minute later, I follow Gwen to the end of the hall, where she knocks on a door with a small autumnal wreath. We wait for several beats and then she knocks again.

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