Page 34
Beau tenses, turning around.
“Too soon?” I shoot him a nervous smile.
“It will take some getting used to.” He nods with a glint in his eyes before turning to walk away.
When I was planning my pretend wedding all those years ago, I always pictured walking down the aisle to the man who held my heart. Never in all the times I envisioned it did the groom walk away from me.
Chapter 8
Lucy
“It’s about damn time.” Emma flings open the wooden door to Zoey’s cute little cottage house. “We were beginning to think that you were ignoring us.”
She’s not exactly wrong. After the breakup and then the not-so-one-night stand, I’ve been trying to keep myself busy. Especially after the crazy agreement I made with my fake fiancé. Knowing I have to tell my friends the truth about Beau has me on edge. But not telling them is not an option. The thought of asking two of the people I trust the most to sign NDAs makes my stomach swirl with nerves. But this will be good practice for the family. Because if I can’t face them, how will I ever tell my dad and granny?
“I brought margaritas.” I hold up the gift basket I received after the wedding on Saturday, plastering on my best everything is okay smile. I’ve had a lot of practice with this one lately. “Apparently, the groom’s family owns a tequila distillery and gifted the whole wedding party, including myself, a huge basket from their infused tequila line.”
Emma’s eyes widen. “Lucky us. Remember the last time we all drank tequila? When you and Zoey took me out to River’s End and I had one too many tequila shots? Yeah, that’s the night I basically shoved my tongue down Mattie’s throat.”
“And look how well that worked out.” I can’t help but laugh. I remember that night vividly. It was the night my best friend finally went after what she wanted. “Tell Mattie he can thank me later.”
I wink, shoving the basket into her arms, and head into the house. “Where’s Zoey?”
“She’s finding a movie for the twins.”
“Gigi’s not babysitting?” Zoey’s grandma usually watches the girls on Wine-Down Wednesday.
“Nope.” Emma follows me into the family room. “Birthday club got moved to tonight because there was a conflict with their big bridge tournament.”
“I can’t keep up with those ladies and all their clubs.”
“Me neither.” Emma sits the basket on the coffee table and plops down on the couch.
“Speaking of keeping up…” Zoey walks into the room with a box of Sharpies in one hand and an empty wineglass in the other. “Fill and spill, Luce.”
“Yeah, Luce,” Emma taunts.
“About that.” I drop my tote and reach for the basket, untying the ribbon and letting the cellophane fall to the sides. “I forgot the wine, but I have stuff for margaritas.”
“Yeah—no you don’t.” Emma reads the labels of each of the bottles. “So much for margaritas. There is no mix, just some primo tequila.”
“Shots, anyone?” I joke.
“Oh, hell no! The twins are in rare form tonight. There is no way I can consume any of that hard stuff with them here. I caught Riley writing her name all over the bedroom door.” Zoey holds out the permanent markers. “With Sharpies!”
“Magic Eraser will take it off, and I’m pretty sure I have some…” I start to dig through my handy dandy bag. There’s nothing that I don’t have in there. This girl is always prepared.
They laugh.
“What?”
“You and your tote,” Zoey chuckles while waving me off. “I actually have a box under my sink. I’ll deal with it tomorrow. Either it will come off, or I’ll end up drinking enough that I won’t even care.”
“Let’s do the latter,” Emma votes.
“I agree with Em. I could use a little numbness after the week I’ve had.”
“Literally, so crappy,” Emma mumbles.
