She’d known he’d fish for information eventually. It was a testament to her resting bitch face that he’d held out this long. Still, she didn’t want to bite Dustin’s head off. He’d dedicated his whole Christmas Eve to the shelter so she could go to the engagement party.
The engagement party.
Would it still happen? It was past five, creeping toward six. It had taken her a long time to pull herself together.
Part of her thought she should warn River about the epic mess that awaited him. He’d texted her to check in—apparently Jack had seen Finn, and Finn had called River and told him something was up, although he’d refused to say more (apparently his ability to retain secrets was improving…she’d have to thank Adalia for that), but she couldn’t bring herself to call him right now. Not after her fight with Jack. Not yet. Still, River was her oldest friend, and she’d already missed the majority of his bachelor party… Could she really skip the engagement party, knowing what she knew? Whether or not Lee showed, Prescott was sure to blow the whole thing to hell. She should go to offer her support.
Finn had texted her too, of course, telling her that he’d seen Jack and he knew her wink-wink-nudge-nudge secret was out, and if she wanted to talk, he was only a phone call away. Or he’d see her at the party.
Finn was right. Now that River and Georgie both knew, and Jack too, it really wasn’t much of a secret anymore. There was freedom in that, but she feared it had come at a price she didn’t want to pay.
“They’re not coming today,” she said, choking out the words. “The engagement party starts soon.”
Dustin shuffled on his feet a little, one hand coming up to stroke his beard. “Now, I might be reading the room wrong, but it seems to me you’re a little upset.”
Another laugh ripped out of her. “Dustin, you excel at reading psychic energy.”
He puffed up like bread dough left out in the sun. “I’ve always thought so. River’s aunt gave me some suggestions the last time she came around.”
“Sounds like Dottie.”
“Well, if you need to talk, I’m two shakes of a dog’s tail away,” he said, laughing at his own attempted pun. “And if you need to leave, I’d be happy to take over.”
“Thank you, Dustin,” she said, meaning it.
He started to back out of the room but paused in the doorway. “For what it’s worth, I hope you work it out, and not just because Iris knows how to make Beatrice laugh. There’s something else I’ve read in your psychic energy—and Jack’s. He’s good for you. And he looks like a young Marlon Brando…you know, with dark hair.”
Her heart was pounding in her ears, but she tilted her head and gave him a vacant look. “Who’s that?”
“What?” he said, looking thunderstruck. “You don’t know…” Her small smile finally penetrated. “Oh, you’re messing with me. Well, you know where I am.”
“I do.”
He shut the door behind him, leaving her alone with the stockings. Only a few left. What would she do afterward? She could go home to Einstein and Chaco, but the prospect of spending the night sitting by the tree, alone, knowing her friends were at the party with Jack made her feel frozen inside. Maybe she should take the tree down so there wouldn’t be such an ever-present reminder of him, but somehow she knew that would be worse.
Her phone buzzed again, and she drew it out with trembling fingers. She’d stopped thinking Jack would call. He had to be at the brewery now, making last-minute preparations.
He wouldn’t want her there, probably. He’d said he wanted space. Time. Obviously, a few hours didn’t qualify.
She’d thought about calling Molly back and telling her everything, but she hadn’t. Because Molly was more sensitive than most people realized, and she’d think it was her fault. And Maisie wanted her to like Jack, because she still thought, she still hoped…
The text was from Blue.
Are we still on for the party? Ended up throwing away the shoes, but I didn’t like them anyway.
Shoot. She’d forgotten she was supposed to call Blue today. Blue likely wouldn’t want to go to the party if Maisie didn’t. Adalia was Georgie’s sister, and she’d probably be tied up the majority of the night. The last thing Maisie wanted to do was spend the night pretending to like drippy Dan, an uncharitable thought she forgave herself for given the circumstances, but she would like to talk to Blue. Blue was a good listener, and she was removed enough from the situation that she could be counted on to give impartial advice, unlike Dottie and Adalia, who had both made it very clear they wanted Maisie and Jack together.
Rather than text back, she called her, and Blue answered on the first ring.
“How’d it go with Jack last night?” she asked excitedly. “I was going to ask you more questions, but then…well, you know.”
Of course, that was when the tears decided to make another showing.
“I’m in love with him,” she said through sobs. “But I think I lost him. I think he’s gone for good.”
And then she told her everything.
“We can still change our minds and go to a bar,” Maisie offered as Blue parked in a lot close to the brewery. Drippy Dan had been told to stay at home, not that he’d minded.
There you go, making assumptions again.
But at least she hadn’t bad-mouthed him to Blue. She’d just thanked her, profusely, for listening to her fall apart. And for being enough of a friend to tell her it was more important for her to change her animal-hair-encrusted clothes than to be on time for the party. Blue had come to the shelter with a silky green dress, and Dustin had played Madonna’s “Vogue” on his phone while Maisie changed. There was no getting past the fact that she had sensible wooden clogs on her feet, but Dustin had taken one look at her and insisted no one was going to look at her feet. He’d then sent them out the door with a couple of Danishes and hollered, “You go get your man!” like he thought he was in a romantic comedy.
“We are going to a bar,” Blue said, returning her mind to the present. “I assume there’ll be beer.” She made a face. “Although maybe someone should cut Adalia’s brother off this time.”
“Fair point. But just in case, maybe you should stay out of spew range.”
“If he shows up,” Blue said quietly.
And Maisie nodded and repeated it. “If he shows up.”
It wasn’t her place to tell Blue his secrets, so she hadn’t, but for all his flaws, Lee wasn’t a drunk, she didn’t think, nor did he have a fetish for ruining women’s shoes. So she hadn’t felt she was making excuses for him when she’d told Blue that he was going through a hard time. A really hard time.
Blue hadn’t pressed. She’d just said she understood.
Looking at her friend now, across the front seat, she knew Blue understood her dilemma too. After Maisie had finished her sob story, sobs included, Blue had told her they were going to the party together, no Dan, because Maisie would regret it forever if she didn’t fight for what she wanted. She’d said it like a person who knew from experience.
Maybe she was just stalling for time, but Maisie found herself asking, “Why’d you join the Bad Luck Club, Blue? What happened to you?”
Blue looked at her for a long moment, considering, then heaved a deep sigh. “We don’t have time to get into it right now, but trust me when I say it wasn’t just bad luck. I spent my whole life letting my father make decisions for me, and then I married a man who did the same thing.” She winced. “Two men.”
Maisie’s mouth fell open. “You’re a polygamist?”
Blue laughed at that, a tinkling, infectious laugh that almost had Maisie laughing with her. Except she sensed a hint of bitterness behind it.
“No,” Blue said at last, “but some people would say I’m something worse. It’s a rare woman who’s divorced twice by the time she hits thirty.” She looked down at her hands, as if searching for the ring she probably used to wear. Make that rings. “I should have told you and Addy, but I was embarrassed. I’m tryin
g to get past that, though.”
It took Maisie a second to find words. Not that she judged Blue. She didn’t. This just wasn’t something she’d anticipated. “I’m sorry you didn’t feel you could tell us. I know I can sometimes come off as judgmental…that’s something I’m working on too.”
“It wasn’t that,” Blue said, looking up and meeting her eyes. “I wasn’t worried about you two judging me. This was about me judging myself.”
Maisie grinned at her. “Well, maybe you, me, and Addy can get drinks sometime soon, after this travesty of an engagement party, and we can be judgmental of your exes instead.”
Blue gave her a soft smile. “You just want gossip.”
“I’m dying for it.”
“We’ll see. In the meantime, stop stalling. We’re already twenty minutes late.”
Twenty minutes. A lot could happen in twenty minutes. Had Lee confronted Prescott already? What about Victoria? Would she show up in one of her wedding dresses and insist one of the Buchanan men make a solid commitment?
River had texted her again a little while back, after arriving at the party. He hadn’t pressed her for details or asked why she wasn’t there yet. He’d just asked if she was coming.
She’d replied in the affirmative, although she hadn’t made the decision for him—she’d made it for herself.
And then her phone had died on her. There’d been no word from Adalia before it winked out. Presumably she was busy with Georgie and Iris, but it was still a little surprising. Were they at the party? There was no way of knowing without showing up herself.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, she opened the door. “Let’s do this thing.”
“There you are,” Blue said, getting out too. “I’ve been waiting for your fiery redhead side to take over.”
She’d been waiting too.
Chapter Thirty-Four
When Jack still hadn’t heard from his sisters at 5:55, he started to get worried, but Dottie waved off his concerns.
“They’ll be here soon.” She gave him one of her knowing looks. “I sense that all is as it should be with them.”
“They’re not answering any texts or calls,” he said. “Shouldn’t they have left the spa by now? Maybe I should go by and make sure everything’s okay.” It had bothered him a little that Iris had gone off for the day without checking in with him, but he’d told himself to calm down. She was almost eighteen, and next year she’d be in college. Besides, he was happy that she wanted to hang out with his other sisters, who were, after all, mature, responsible adults. Well, Addy was most of the time. But now the party was about to start, and he still hadn’t heard from any of them.
He sent a quick text to Finn, asking if he’d talked to them. He didn’t answer, but he walked through the door about a minute later with River in tow.
“Seemed easier to answer you in person,” Finn said.
Both of the men were dressed in gray suits, although Jack noticed that River’s looked more fitted than the one he’d worn to the will reading back in June. Georgie’s influence, no doubt. He couldn’t help smiling a little at that. In many ways, large and small, his relationship with Georgie had made him into a better man.
A lot like Maisie’s influence was making Jack a better man. More grounded and happier. The urge to carve out a place for himself had driven him to Asheville, but when he was with Maisie, he didn’t feel like he needed to carve or gouge or fight. He felt like he fit. He felt like he could finally just be.
Now that his anger and resentment had eased, all that was left was a sharp ache in his chest, along with the fear that he’d just ruined the best thing that had ever happened to him. A lump filled his throat. River gave him an apologetic look and was opening his mouth to speak when Georgie, Adalia, and Iris rushed into the room. All three had on dresses and heels, but it was their elaborate updos that caught his attention.
“Oh, my dears,” Dottie gasped with tears in her eyes as she clasped her hands together. “You look beautiful.”
Iris caught Jack’s eye and winked, a signal they had developed from enduring life with their mother—Have I got a story to tell you.
She looked beautiful in her dark blue dress. And so grown up. And her hair—along with his other sisters’—looked better suited for a wedding than an engagement party. The way Adalia kept lifting her hand to her hair and wincing suggested that she was less than thrilled with it. Then again, she had short hair, and it would take many, many pins to hold it up like that, so maybe she was wincing from pain.
“Sorry we’re late!” Georgie said as River walked over to intercept her.
“Everything okay?” he asked, wrapping his arm around her back in such a protective way, Jack felt like a Peeping Tom to their tenderness.
“It was crazy,” Georgie said with a nervous laugh. “I almost felt like we were being held hostage.” She shot an accusatory glance at Dottie. “Especially since Dottie suggested we bring our clothes just in case the appointment ran long.”
Dottie beamed. “You of all people know the importance of being prepared.” She gave a slight nod. “You’re welcome.”
Finn was staring at Adalia in amazement and reached out a tentative hand to touch her hair.
She slapped his hand away. “Don’t you dare. There’s so much hair spray holding all of this up, I’ll fall over if it gets unbalanced.”
“I wanted to call so you wouldn’t worry, Jack,” Iris said, looking guilty. “But they took our phones and then they couldn’t find them when it was time to go. We still don’t have them.”
He pulled her into a hug. She’d looked so happy and confident when she walked in, and now she seemed nervous. He hated for anything to steal her joy, especially him. “I’m just glad you’re here and that you had a fun day.” He pulled back to study her face. “You had a good day, right?”
Her eyes lit up. “The best. You’ll never believe what happened.” She glanced at a Buchanan employee walking toward them. “But I’ll tell you later. It’s going to take a while to explain the ostrich.”
He would have loved the distraction from worrying about Maisie, but a staffer pulled him away to deal with an issue in the kitchen. By the time he returned, some of the guests had arrived and were getting drinks at the bar. So far, there was no sign of the New York Buchanans, and he wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed or relieved.
Iris’s forehead furrowed. “Are you okay? You look upset.”
He gave her a weak smile. “Long day.”
She glanced around the room. “Where’s Maisie?”
“Not here yet. I had to set up, so I’ve been here for a few hours. She’s coming on her own.” Which had been the original plan, but now he wondered if she’d skip the party to avoid seeing him. They’d left things badly, after all, and she knew as well as he did there would be plenty of drama to go around tonight.
A little voice in his head, the one that gave voice to all his doubts, whispered that maybe she’d been looking for an excuse to skip it. Even if Dottie was right and Maisie was mostly beyond the whole River thing, it might still bother her to see him officially move on. Except she’d shown no hesitation when they’d talked about the party earlier. No hint of regret either. Which meant if she missed the party, it was likely because of him. He pulled out his phone to text her, to tell her that she didn’t need to stay away on his account. That he wanted her there. That he was desperate to talk to her and set things right.
But he’d only made it halfway through typing out a lengthy text that would have made Finn proud when Prescott and Victoria entered the room. Victoria’s nose scrunched up as she surveyed the space, making it clear she found it lacking. Prescott marched right up to Georgie, ignoring the fact that she and River were in the middle of a conversation with another couple, and demanded, “Where is your brother?”
Georgie’s mouth dropped open and she glanced to the side, her gaze landing on Jack.
“Not him,” Prescott said in an icy tone. “Your real brother.”
“I have two real brothers,” Georgie retorted. “One of whom has gone above and beyond to make this evening special for River and me. If you wish to have a discussion about our family, then it can wait until later.” Then she turned back to the couple they’d been talking to, who looked understandably uncomfortable, and said, “I’m sorry, where were we?”
Prescott looked stunned that one of his children could dismiss him so efficiently, but Victoria wrapped her hand around his upper arm and tugged him toward the bar. “Come, Pressy. Let’s get a drink.”
Pressy? The way she clung to him, the way she looked at him so adoringly…how had no one seen the signs that they were sleeping together? Maybe Lee had seen them and dismissed them. It had to be hard to believe your own father would betray you that way, although Jack was only guessing. He wouldn’t put it past Prescott to try to sleep with Maisie, if for no other reason than to hurt and humiliate him.
The thought of Prescott with Maisie was both nauseating and hilarious. Maisie had the best bullshit meter of anyone he’d ever met. One attempt to touch her, let alone kiss her, and she’d knee Prescott in the balls. He almost wished the fool would try it.
His lips twitched with a smile. God, he loved her fieriness.
But then he quickly sobered. If he loved that side of her, why had he held it against her in their argument this morning?
Prescott and Victoria got their drinks—a glass of wine for both, not that Jack was surprised—and moved to a high top table in the corner, surveying the room like they were a king and queen sitting on a dais. It astounded Jack that Prescott could act so high and mighty knowing that he was in deep trouble with the law, but then again, Beau had always been there to bail him out in the past. Who did he expect to bail him out this time?
Getting Lucky (Asheville Brewing Book 3) Page 31