by Nina Crespo
Cori couldn’t contain a chuckle as she sat on the bed checking the clasp of her earring. It was weird wearing clip-ons instead of ones for her pierced ears, but they were the sapphire and pearl earrings her mother had worn on her wedding day. They helped ensure the important wedding tradition her mom was worried about—the earrings covered the “old” and “blue,” and Aunt Isabel had loaned her a pearl necklace, taking care of the “borrowed.” And her wedding dress and her satin stiletto pumps appliqued with faux diamond and sapphire jewels fit as the “new” part.
Careful not to spill her flute of champagne on the asymmetrical high-low skirt of her sleeveless white satin gown, Cori sipped from her full glass and watched Alexa and Nat’s friendly debate.
It was a toast to her wedding day, but they were taking over. It had been that way ever since they’d uncovered her secret engagement.
She and Grey had decided to tie the knot a few weeks after the day he’d proposed. He had a tour to finish, and she was anxious to get started on her project of ethical and sustainable product sponsorship or what she’d dubbed as “the project.”
Not wanting to burden anyone with extensive planning, they’d made arrangements for a surprise, no fuss, city hall ceremony, with a small group of friends and their parents in attendance, then lunch at a nice restaurant. But somehow, Alexa and Nat had snooped out the plan and told her parents. That had led to the four of them, along with her aunts and uncles and Dana and Ben, staging an intervention at her townhouse. In the end, compromises were made. She and Grey had agreed to wait a few months and hold the ceremony at her parents’ house, as well as turn over the planning of the reception to Alexa and Nat.
Cori drank more champagne, still waiting for them to make up their minds on the toast.
Funny how their butting into her and Grey’s plans had not only caused her to have a wedding, but it had also pre-launched “the project.” And it had brought her closer to Grey’s mom, Olivia.
Olivia had been a tad standoffish after the engagement was announced. Her showing up weeks later with two of her friends at the bridal shower Alexa and Nat had thrown for Cori had been unexpected.
The topic of “the project” had come up during the flow of conversation. One of Olivia’s friends was the CEO of a women’s fashion and boutique chain. The other friend was heavily invested in a massage therapy and wellness franchise. The two women apparently liked to one-up each other, and by the end of the party, they had both separately pulled Cori aside, wanting their names first on the list for her to contact about sponsorship opportunities once “the project” was organized.
From the pleased expression she’d briefly glimpsed on Olivia’s face at the shower, she’d anticipated what would happen once her friends found out about it.
Grey’s father, Elliot, had also promised to give her his support with product placement in Latham Reeves’s properties. He and Grey were also trying to build a better relationship.
Gratefulness swelled in Cori. So much had fallen into place. All that was left was for her to marry her soul mate. She knew, with every fiber of her being, that she and Grey were meant to be together.
And she also knew, without a doubt, that Alexa and Nat had found their meant-to-be’s, too, that night at Club Escapade, even though they might not have realized it yet. Soon, Alexa would be engaged to Rafe, and in time, Nat would be ready to take another shot at walking down the aisle, this time with Rome.
“Aww, look at her.” Alexa went to Cori and embraced her. “She’s got that sweet, glowy look on her face again.”
“I can’t help it.” Cori hugged her back. “I’m truly happy. I’ve smiled so much, my cheeks ache.”
“That’s the way it should be.” Nat joined them in a three-way hug.
Suddenly, it hit Cori. “I know exactly what we should toast to.”
“What?” Alexa raised her glass, and so did Nat.
Cori looked at both of them, her sister-friends, besties in crime, and at one time, her partners in heartache. They’d conquered the worst, found strength they hadn’t realized they’d possessed, and discovered something that they’d all doubted existed.
Cori smiled at Alexa and Nat, and joy swelled inside of her, for her friends, their happiness, and her future with Grey. It couldn’t get any better. She raised her glass. “Here’s to true love. The kind that lasts forever.”
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Acknowledgments
To my real-life hero and best friend, thank you for all the good you bring into my life. A shout-out to Cathy Yardley, #BatSignal, and my Saturday at the Pool sisters. You are fabulous! A big thank you to Brenda Chin. Your patience, encouragement, and the time you invested in me is appreciated beyond words. It has been a pleasure to work with you on The Breakup Bash series. To the readers of this book and fans of the series, I hope this story brings you joy and a happy escape with Cori and Grey as you turn the pages. And as always, my gratitude to Life, Breath, and Inspiration for providing the light and leading the way.
About the Author
Nina Crespo lives in Florida where she indulges in her favorite passions—the beach, kick boxing, a good glass of wine, date night with her own real-life hero and dancing. Her lifelong addiction to romance began in her teens while on a “borrowing spree” in her older sister’s bedroom where she discovered her first romance novel. Curiosity about people and places, including what’s beyond the stars, fuels her writer’s imagination. This wellspring of inspiration allows Nina to create sensual contemporary stories and steamy paranormal tales, which she hopes will feed your own addiction for love, romance, and happily ever after.
Discover the Breakup Bash series…
The First Rule of Hook-Ups
Rules of a Rebound
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