The women in the No Brides Club would understand. They would be happy for her and this new stage of life. Just because her stance on love changed didn’t mean anything else had to change… did it? Would they be accepting of this news? Would they still welcome her to Thursday meetings? Would this change things?
Rachel supposed it was too late to worry about it. Life was about change, no matter how much you wanted to avoid that fact. She would have to just maneuver these new waters as best she could. Of course, for once in her life, she wouldn’t be alone in doing so. She would have someone right by her side to see her through.
“Hey, you! You’re early,” Georgie said when she blew through the doors of the Briarwood Tavern a few minutes later. Rachel smiled at her best friend, wondering how she’d react. She had wanted so badly to call Georgie and to spill everything. Still, she’d found it best to tell everyone at once. She wanted to make the announcement and let all of the shock fall where it would.
Plus, she knew that no matter how the other women reacted, Georgie would have her back. She was a guaranteed ally who might be surprised, but who would still be happy for her.
“Yes, we didn’t actually have a performance at all today, so I could get here early.”
“Well, I’m glad. Did you order me a glass?” she asked, and when Rachel shook her head no, Georgie reached for hers, taking a gulp. I really needed that. I’ve had quite the day.”
The others quickly trickled in, all of their vibrancy and animated chatter bringing life and volume to the Tavern. There were hugs and smiles as the whole group gathered together, everyone there for this week’s meeting, which was sometimes a rare occasion. Each of them had such hectic careers, they couldn’t always gather for every meeting.
But, they were all here, every single member, to hear Rachel’s news. That was both unnerving and a good thing because she’d get it all out in the open at once.
When everyone had settled in and ordered drinks, Rachel cleared her throat, took a breath, and announced above the chatter, “Everyone, I have to say something.”
The gazes of the women simultaneously landed on Rachel, and she felt the pressure of being in the spotlight like she never had before. She continued.
“This is going to be shocking, perhaps, because it was shocking for me. It wasn’t something I ever expected, but we’ve all come to learn life rarely follows our expectations. It changes and surprises us in ways we could’ve never imagined when we started this club. I’ll be the first to admit that what I’m about to tell you is kind of crazy and scary and just so surprising. But in other ways, it’s not. I’ve come to a point in my life where I’ve realized something was missing for a while now. I thought that had to do with my career. I was wrong. It absolutely had to do with my heart.”
The women didn’t say a word, staring at Rachel as she continued. She took a breath, found some courage, and pushed on. “I met a man who has changed things quite a bit. He’s changed my views of love and life. He’s changed my views of myself and my future. I didn’t expect this to happen. Neither did he. In fact, we both fought it quite a bit. Somewhere in these past few months, though, we’ve realized the instant attraction we felt on the first day we met was more than just chemistry. It was something much, much stronger. It was a need we didn’t know we wanted to fill. It was a connection more powerful than even our darkest fears about love. And over the past few months, he’s helped me realize love and careers can coexist, if you find the right person. Love doesn’t have to tear down your dreams like I once let it. It can actually help you build your dreams right up. And that’s what Zander Riley’s done for me.”
“The roses guy?” Kinsley asked, smiling softly.
“Yes,” Rachel admitted, and the whole group seemed to be grinning.
Rachel raised an eyebrow, surprised they were smiling at each other like they had an inside joke. “What?” she asked.
“Nothing. It’s just, well, after that first night in your apartment when we saw the roses, we all kind of came to the consensus on our way out of your apartment you were in trouble. That the way your face looked when you said his name gave it all away. We knew then it was more than a kind gesture. We knew there was something building. And we’ve seen it in the way you carry yourself. We called you out, remember? And said you seemed different, happier? We might be in this club for a reason, Rachel, but we’re also not blind. We have hearts of our own, and we know life changes. We know what it’s like when someone is in love, real love,” Georgie announced.
Rachel studied her. “Wait, you’ve all known all along?” She had, of course, confided in Georgie.
“I didn’t say anything. I didn’t have to. They all came to their own conclusions,” Georgie defended.
“We did,” Julie added. “We knew this guy was going to change you, in a good way. We haven’t even met him, and we knew that.”
Rachel was taken aback. All this time, she’d thought she had this secret. She’d been afraid of how they would react—but they’d known all along on some level. There was no hiding it.
“So you aren’t mad about it?” Rachel asked.
“Why would we be mad? We’re not some teenagers, Rachel, who need to hide our life choices from each other. Sure, we made this club a few years back because of where we were in our lives then. But as we’ve all come to learn, life and love change. This club at the core is about happiness and fulfillment. At the time, we were all connected by the belief our happiness and fulfillment didn’t come from men. But that doesn’t mean we are glued into that belief. It doesn’t mean our friendships are only centered on that notion. We are friends, first and foremost, because we have connections with each other. That may have stemmed from our beliefs about love, but it’s deeper than that. And I’m certainly not one to judge you or anyone for having a change of heart, especially if it’s what makes you truly happy,” Kinsley said, and everyone in the group nodded.
Rachel felt teary. Kinsley was right. She’d been a fool to think their friendship was only based on some notion, some belief they’d all ascribed to at one point. This group of women had become something much stronger than a promise they’d made years ago. They’d become like family, building each other up and helping each other chase what life had to offer.
“We’re happy for you, Rachel. We’re so happy. And we’re happy this is out in the open so we can finally meet the stud who stole Rachel Winter’s heart. He’s got to be a good one,” Julie said, and Rachel felt her cheeks turn red.
“He’s the best. He’s everything and then some.”
“Well, I have a serious question,” Kinsley added, and everyone turned to look. “Where’s the ring?”
“Yes, we need to see the ring!” Julie added.
Rachel smiled, pulling out her bag, digging for the diamond, and sliding it back onto her finger. She bashfully put her hand into the center of the table for all to say.
There were several minutes of exclamations as they all ogled the diamond.
“Well, this guy has my vote. He’s got amazing taste,” Julie said.
“Clearly. Look at the star he put the ring on,” Kinsley added.
“We’ve got to meet this guy. I can’t wait to get to know him.”
“Well, he’s a special education teacher, but he’s also got dreams of being on Broadway,” Rachel announced, beaming.
“Sounds like a perfect fit.”
“To finding love in spite of a hesitant heart, and to Rachel and Zander. May they be an example for all of us that sometimes love finds us, no matter what promises we make,” Kinsley said, raising her glass in a toast.
Everyone joined in, and Rachel felt the weight of her secret lift. She felt like she could finally be herself, her true self, and let her friends join in the happiness with her.
“I have another question, actually,” Georgie added.
“What?” Rachel asked, almost afraid to hear it. Georgie was her best friend and didn’t feel the need to sugarcoat her questions as much as the
others did with Rachel.
“Are we going to have some crazy musical theater wedding to go to? I know how you drama types are. You’ve got a flair for, well, drama. So if you tell me it’s going to be like a Sweeney Todd theme or something, I might just cry. But I need to know these things so I can work on my costume. We non-theater types don’t exactly have a closet full of costumes.”
Rachel grinned, pretending to rub her chin. “Sweeney Todd, huh? I like the sound of that. Maybe that will be perfect, indeed.”
“Well, if Rachel’s involved, I know it will be fun, wild, and a whole lot of sparkle,” Julie noted, and the others nodded in agreement.
“And a whole lot of pink,” Georgie added.
“There’s time to figure out the details,” Rachel said. “We’re in no rush.”
“Honey, you have a ring on your finger in what, less than a season? Sorry if we don’t quite believe you’re going to take your time getting to the aisle.”
Rachel grinned, knowing there was really nothing she could say because it was all true.
Life had taken a turn at the blink of an eye. The thought didn’t scare, Rachel, though. In fact, nothing seemed to scare her anymore. She was, for the first time, not thinking about planning out her future or worried about where it would go. Instead, the thought of walking into the future with Zander holding her hand made her smile, made her excited, made her think about so many possibilities.
Life made no promises, but Rachel Winters did.
Rachel Winters could say no to a lot of things—but it turned out she couldn’t say no to the man who grabbed her heart. And something told her that down the road, she’d be really thankful for that.
For now, she finished chatting wedding colors and the proposal story with the best group of friends Rachel could ask for.
The No Brides Club may have to change its name, perhaps, but it wouldn’t change the fact the women in it had each other’s backs, no matter what new promises came up.
Sneak Peek
Read the first chapter of NO TIME FOR TEMPTATIONS, book 4 of the No Brides Club…
Georgie Price pushed the door to her apartment open with one shoulder as she balanced her takeout coffee in one hand and pulled her suitcase along with the other. It was so good to be home. She was exhausted. All she wanted to do was peel off her clothes, have a long bath, and eat some home-cooked food for a change.
Except straightaway she knew something wasn’t right. Over the sound of Tapioca, her West Highland White Terrier, barking and running up to meet her, she could hear a distinct dripping sound. She let go of the suitcase handle and swooped down to lift up the dog.
“Hey, precious, did you miss me?” She kissed Tapioca’s head, and the dog licked her face in response. “And why, oh why, are you damp? There is no way Mrs. Knickerson left you with a wet coat.”
The dog sitter was nothing if not meticulous. Something was definitely not right. Stepping out of the foyer and heading down the hall, Georgie followed the sound that got louder the closer she got to the kitchen. “Is that a faucet dripping, Tappy?”
To her dismay when she walked into the kitchen, it was obvious that it was not a tap but something worse. Water was leaking through the ceiling from the apartment above. It wasn’t a slow drip either, oh no, there was an enormous damp patch on the roof and a large puddle on the floor. This was not a new problem. If she had to guess, she’d say this was trouble that had brewed for at least a couple of days.
Georgie had been out of town for a week working on her TV show American Food, American Life, and she knew Mrs. Knickerson would have dropped the dog inside the front door an hour or so earlier but not made it down the hall, so there was no real way of knowing how long water had been pooling on her ceiling.
Without putting down the dog, or the coffee, Georgie hightailed it down the hall and took the elevator up one floor to see what was happening in the apartment above. In the upstairs corridor, she was greeted by damp carpet and a disheveled-looking airline pilot who was still in his uniform, except he was shoeless and with his pant legs rolled up to his calves. His own suitcase was sitting out in the hallway.
“Hey, neighbor,” she called out as she approached. She vaguely knew Captain Zach Campbell from a Christmas drinks mixer she’d held the previous December. They’d tried and failed to connect since. “Trouble in paradise?”
He looked over at her and sighed. “Seems like a tap was left running in my place.”
“Seems like your apartment may be planning to come through my ceiling just like all the water has.”
“Oh crap!” he said. “I was hoping it was, well, contained.”
Considering she was squelching down the hall toward him, it was very much not contained. If denial was a river in Egypt, they were ankle deep in it right now.
“Nope, sadly not. Did you just get back?” He gave her a nod. She peered past him to see the lake that had formed in his apartment.
“Yes, my sister was here when I left for a week. Looks like she didn’t turn the kitchen tap off properly. It’s off now but . . . I fear it’s too late.”
“You should call Neil the building manager and your insurance company.” He nodded but remained rooted to the spot. So she kept going because this problem was getting worse every minute he wasted. “Zach, I don’t want to be pushy, but may I suggest sooner rather than later?”
He seemed to snap out of it, and within minutes, the hallway was filled with a tribe of people from the building manager to the doormen to the fire department who appeared out of nowhere. All of whom agreed that neither she nor Zach would be able to sleep at home that night, and probably not for a very long time.
“I’m so sorry,” Zach said as he stood beside her, leaning against the wall trying to keep out of the way as people moved around them. He looked every bit as distraught as she felt. Unfortunately for Georgie, she’d learned from hard-won experience that former Hollywood starlets like herself didn’t get to have a public temper tantrum about their home being trashed, even if such a tantrum was justified. If she lost her cool, it would be all over the entertainment news and she’d be fodder for gossips for days. So she held it together as best she could even though she was tossing up whether she’d rather be screaming or crying if she were allowed to react.
“It’s just extra hard for me because we film my cooking show in the apartment, so I’ve lost my home and my place of business. Oh yes, and I literally just finished my renovations.”
She knew he knew this because all the residents were informed when filming took place, but under the circumstances, she could understand he might have forgotten that not-so-minor detail that was about to send her entire life into meltdown.
“Okay, well, now that you’ve reminded me, I feel even worse.” He tilted his head, rubbing the back of his neck.
Tapioca gave a yelp in Georgie’s arms. Her dog had had enough of this hallway too. It was time to go and find somewhere to stay for the night.
“We’ll work it out.” She pulled a card from her pocket, maybe it was old school, but she never went anywhere without one and for that she was grateful. “Call me or have your insurance people call me tomorrow? I need to go find somewhere to stay.”
She slid the card into his palm, and he closed his hand around hers, staring down at her, his very handsome face inches away. “I really am sorry, Georgie. I’ll make it up to you, somehow. We should meet for a drink and talk it through.”
“Accidents happen.” She didn’t say yes to the drink, but she didn’t say no either.
She withdrew her hand and headed for the elevator.
“I’ll call you,” he said toward her back.
She gave him a nod and waited until the door was closed before stamping her feet and letting out the scream she’d been holding in for the last hour. Tapioca yelped right along with her until the doors opened and she stepped out a picture of serenity and headed to her apartment to get her bag.
***
The Carlyle Hotel had three t
hings going for it. It was dog friendly, which meant she and Tapioca could stay together, they had a suite available for her so she could work from the hotel, and it was just a block from the Briarwood Tavern where her friends, all members of the No Brides Club, met on Thursday nights.
She hadn’t planned on going out tonight, but she couldn’t cook in her hotel room and she was certain after the day she’d had she deserved a drink. She was late, but she’d sent a text to the girls begging them to have a cocktail ready and waiting.
The girls were in a corner booth when she arrived. Georgie quickly hugged Melody, Rachel, Kate, Kingsley, and Julie before slipping into the booth and grabbing the only untouched cocktail on the table.
“Hey, stranger,” Rachel said. “We thought you might not make it.”
“Well, truthfully, I was planning to put on my sweatpants, pile my hair on my head, put on a face mask, and test out a new recipe, but my upstairs neighbor flooded his condo and now mine is unsafe.”
“What? When? How?” Julie asked.
“Hang on.” She took a good long sip of her elderflower martini before she filled them in on the details.
“But you just finished your renovations,” Melody said, her voice full of empathy.
“I know.” She allowed herself a pity pout. She deserved one after all.
“And it was so perfect.” Julie patted her arm, no doubt picturing the night they’d all come over and celebrated her renovations being done.
“I know.”
“And you’re only halfway through the season, won’t that be complicated?” Rachel asked, her brow furrowed with concern.
“I know and this year everything that can go wrong has gone wrong. We should change the name from American Life to American Disaster. In fact, I should change my own name to that.”
No Time for Promises (The No Brides Club Book 3) Page 15