Party of Two

by Jasmine Guillory

  “There, signed and dated.” He handed her their agreement, and she slid it into her briefcase. “Now, how would you feel about a slice of rich, decadent, luscious chocolate cake to celebrate?”

  “How many layers?” she asked.

  “Three,” he said.

  She grinned.

  “Perfect.”

  Epilogue

  They went back to Hawaii the next August during Max’s recess. The year had been both hard as hell and better than Olivia could have ever imagined. They’d each had to push themselves—and sometimes each other—to follow their contract, but it got easier and easier each time. His job and hers had both had big ups and big downs, and then big ups again; they’d both traveled far too much; they’d seen each other not at all enough. But almost without fail, they saw each other at least once a week, unless there was some sort of emergency that got in their way—which had happened only three times, twice on Max’s end and once on hers. One time she’d even surprised him and flown into DC for a night just to see him. She’d been to fundraisers and parties and town halls and concerts with him, and had actually found a number of them interesting, even fun—especially that time she’d managed to wangle an invitation for her sister and her husband, too. And she’d never, not for one second, doubted Max’s love for her.

  They went to the same hotel as the first time—Olivia was less skittish about the press these days, but she drew the line at potential paparazzi shots on vacation—and ran down to the beach like fools again when they arrived. They spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing in a cabana, with pineapple drinks, and without their phones.

  Midway through the afternoon, Max looked up from The Economist.

  “What do you think about having dinner on the balcony of our room tonight, instead of down in the restaurant? I’m feeling lazy.”

  She looked up from her novel.

  “That’s an excellent idea. Plus, if we go down to dinner, someone might recognize you, and I want you all to myself.”

  Max picked up her hand and pressed a kiss on her palm.

  “I want you all to myself, too.”

  Before dinner, Olivia showered and changed out of her swimsuit and cover-up, and into her favorite caftan. Aaah, this is why she loved Hawaii.

  When she came out of the bathroom, the food was all set up on their oceanfront balcony.

  “There you are,” Max said as she walked out to join him. “Oh, by the way, since it’s August, I thought we should take the opportunity to revisit this.” He opened the folder sitting on the table, and there was their contract. They each had a copy, but this was the original.

  “Oh.” She supposed she couldn’t argue with that; after all, the whole “we’ll revisit every August” part had been on her list. “Yeah, that makes sense. I hadn’t realized you brought this with you.”

  She was glad Max had thought about this. Though maybe it didn’t have to be their first night in Hawaii?

  “It felt wrong to do it with a copy,” he said. “Let’s get to it: is there anything you want to alter, or edit?”

  She bit her lip and thought about it. She couldn’t think of anything right now, but . . .

  “Don’t I get some time to consider that?”

  Max laughed out loud.

  “I should have expected that, shouldn’t I?” He leaned over and kissed her. “Yes, of course you do. We’ll be here all week, so you have plenty of time. It won’t surprise you that I already know what my edits are.”

  She actually was kind of surprised by that. Did it mean something had been bothering Max for months and he hadn’t wanted to bring it up until August? She hadn’t intended to be quite so dogmatic about that. Maybe that’s what her edit would be, that they’d discuss it every August, or at any other time if either party desired a reconsideration.

  “Okay,” she said. “What are your edits?”

  Max took her hand.

  “I want my last line to say, ‘I will love you, and honor you, and cherish you, in sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live.’ Olivia. Will you marry me?”

  So many tears streamed from her eyes she could barely see him.

  He kissed her hand.

  “And obviously, you get as much time as you need to give me an answer.”

  She swatted his hand away, and immediately grabbed it again.

  “No!” She shook her head. “That’s not—I mean, no, I don’t need time, yes, yes, I’ll marry you!”

  He grabbed her and kissed her so hard she could barely breathe, but she didn’t mind. They smiled at each other as they sat there together on a lounge chair. Olivia was so happy it hurt.

  “I can’t believe you and the fake-out with the contract! I thought you, I don’t know, wanted flannel sheets in the winter or for me to stop waking you up late at night when I stay up too late or wanted me to move to DC or something.”

  Max laughed, and then reached into his pocket.

  “None of those things, but speaking of sleep—thank goodness you’re so hard to wake up in the morning; that way I got to measure your ring finger.”

  He snapped open the box and slid the ring on her finger.

  “Oh thank God, it actually fits,” he said.

  He kissed her again, then disappeared back into their room.

  “Hold on a second.”

  He came back out carrying a bottle of champagne in one hand and a cake box in the other.

  “I was very nervous about getting the ring through security and to Hawaii without you seeing it, but I was almost as nervous about this.”

  Olivia saw the logo on the side of the cake box and smiled.

  “You brought a cake all the way here?”

  He carefully cut the tape on the box and nodded.

  “Yes, which meant I had to pick it up yesterday, and keep it hidden from you the whole time I was packing, and remember to pack it, and . . . well, ‘I’ll bring a cake to Hawaii!’ wasn’t my best decision, I realize that now, but look!”

  He flipped open the cake box to reveal . . . a chocolate cake, with blue smudges on top.

  Max looked crestfallen.

  “It was supposed to say ‘Congratulations, Olivia and Max!’ I guess it melted.”

  Olivia leaned over and kissed him.

  “That’s okay, it’ll still be delicious. And even if it isn’t, I love you even more than I love cake.”

  Max lifted the bottle of champagne in the air.

  “I changed my mind: that whole ordeal with the cake was worth it, just to hear you say that.”

  They smiled at each other, and popped the champagne cork together.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I somehow thought that writing and publishing would get easier after the first book. I was very wrong about that, but the incredible part is even though it gets harder and harder, it also becomes even more joyful and fulfilling. I’m so grateful for everyone who has helped me along this journey.

  Holly Root, sometimes I imagine what it would be like to do this job without you as my agent, and shudder in horror. Thank you for everything you do, from the bottom of my heart. Cindy Hwang, I adore working with you; thank you for believing in me and guiding me. Team Berkley and Penguin Random House, I feel outrageously fortunate every day to have all of you in my corner. Thank you to Jessica Brock, Fareeda Bullert, Angela Kim, Craig Burke, Erin Galloway, Jin Yu, Megha Jain, Angelina Krahn, Vikki Chu, Jaci Updike, and Lauren Monaco for all of your hard work on behalf of me and my books.

  I am full of gratitude toward other writers for their advice and counsel, and their friendship and companionship. Amy Spalding and Akilah Brown, thank you for your encouragement, edits, and enthusiasm. Ruby Lang, thank you for your constant wisdom. Kayla Cagan, thank you for coming up with this title. And eternal thanks to Jami Attenberg, Melissa Baumgart, Robin Benway, Heather Cocks, Alexis Coe, Nico
le Chung, Roxane Gay, Tayari Jones, Lyz Lenz, Caille Millner, Jessica Morgan, Sarah Weinman, and Sara Zarr.

  So many people took time out of their busy lives to talk to me as I researched this book; I appreciate that more than I can say. Thank you to Jane Friedman, Erin Clary Giglia, Betty Huang, Joyce Tong Oelrich, Jessica Palumbo, and Tere Ramos-Dunne for talking to me about starting your own businesses. Thanks to Julia Turshen, who told me so much about her experiences working with Angel Food East, which inspired the meal service work in this book. And many thanks to Sybil Grant for sharing so much of her research about criminal justice reform.

  My friends have been there for me through everything, and I can’t thank all of you enough. Jill Vizas, Janet Goode, Lisa McIntire, Joy Alferness and the whole Alferness family, Jessica Simmons, Julian Davis Mortenson, Nanita Cranford, Jina Kim, Melissa Sladden, Alicia Harris, Dana White, Samantha Powell, Nicole Cliffe, Kate Leos, Sarah Mackey, Maggie Levine, Sara Kate Wilkinson, Margaret H. Willison, Rachel Fershleiser, Maret Orliss, Daniel Lavery, Toby Rugger, Kyle Wong, Lyette Mercier, Ryan Gallagher, Sarah Tiedeman, Sara Simon, Simi Patnaik and Nicole Clouse. I’m so happy I have you all. Thank you especially to everyone who sent me cute pictures and videos of their children and dogs when I especially needed it.

  Thank you so much to my big, sprawling, loud, joyful, argumentative family. I love you, Mom, Dad, and Sasha, I love you, all of my aunts and uncles, and all my many wonderful cousins. I miss you, Granny and Papa, Grandma, Grandpa, and Stan. Thank you for everything.

  Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who have read my books. Thank you for coming to my events and checking books out of the library and telling your friends and family about my books and sending me messages and telling me what my books have meant to you—I treasure all of this so much.

  And finally, a special, heartfelt thank-you to all booksellers and librarians. Thank you for all of your hard work on behalf of books and literacy, and thank you for embracing me from the beginning. I’ve loved bookstores and libraries for my entire life, and didn’t think there was any way I could love them more, but these past few years have accomplished that. You’re all superstars—now more than ever.

  Discussion Questions

  1. Have you ever had a chance encounter with a stranger that led to a close relationship?

  2. Giving back to the community is a large part of this book. Are you active in your community, whether it’s through work or volunteer opportunities?

  3. Max and Olivia are polar opposites: Max is impulsive and idealistic, while Olivia is cautious and thoughtful. When it comes to successful relationships, do you think it’s better when opposites attract or when two people are more similar?

  4. Do you have any pet peeves or deal breakers when it comes to relationships?

  5. Have you ever been in a relationship where differences (e.g., career, racial background, distance, lifestyle, age) affected how you moved forward?

  6. Olivia is shoved into the spotlight because of her relationship with Max. How do you think you’d react to public scrutiny? Do you think you’d be able to endure what Olivia went through?

  7. Max puts Olivia in a tough position during the town hall at the community center. Do you think that’s forgivable, given his reasoning? Or would you also have broken things off with him?

  8. Party of Two has many strong, independent female characters. Who are some women you look up to in your life?

  KEEP READING FOR AN EXCERPT FROM

  ROYAL HOLIDAY

  AVAILABLE NOW FROM BERKLEY!

  Vivian nudged her daughter as they walked out of the customs area at Heathrow Airport.

  “Um, Maddie? Do you think Ms. M. Forest and Ms. V. Forest are us?”

  Vivian gestured at the man in the suit, holding the sign with their names on it.

  Maddie turned in the direction Vivian was looking and grinned at her mother.

  “Let’s do this, Mom.”

  Vivian looked around and laughed to herself before she grinned back at Maddie.

  She still didn’t exactly know how she’d gotten here. It had all started with a call from Maddie a few weeks ago.

  “Hey, Mom, I need an answer fast—do you want to spend Christmas with me in England?”

  Vivian had laughed. What else was there to do when your thirty-four-year-old daughter asked something so ridiculous?

  “Sure, I do. I also want to spend Thanksgiving with you in Hawaii, New Year’s Eve with you in Paris, and Easter with you in Rome.”

  But Maddie didn’t laugh at that.

  “No, really. I’m serious. You remember my old mentor, Amelia Samuels?”

  Vivian looked away from her computer screen.

  “The one who’s now the stylist for the princess?”

  “Duchess, but yes. Well, Amelia was supposed to go to England at Christmas to help prepare the Duchess for all of the royal Christmas festivities—apparently, there are lots of them—but Amelia is pregnant with twins and just had to go on bed rest. Her doctor says she’s under too much stress and can’t work at all.”

  “Oh no, really? Poor Amelia; I didn’t know she was pregnant! Please tell her I’m thinking about her.”

  Vivian had only met Amelia once, that time she’d gone down to visit Maddie when she’d been living in L.A., but she’d really liked her. And Amelia had done a lot for Maddie and her own stylist career.

  “I will, Mom, but let me finish. Since Amelia can’t fly to England for Christmas, she wants me to fill in for her, because both she and the Duchess want someone she trusts.”

  Vivian dropped her pen on the floor.

  “Maddie! Oh my God! Are you serious? My daughter is going to be so famous! You’re going to England to work with a princess? You’ll be all over People magazine! Oh my God, I can’t wait to tell everybody!”

  Maddie laughed.

  “You can’t tell everybody yet, but I know, I’m blown away. But wait, we can be excited in a second—I want you to come with me.”

  Vivian got up and closed her office door.

  “Come with you . . . to England?”

  Maddie started talking faster.

  “It means I’ll be there for Christmas, and I don’t want to be alone with a bunch of strangers at Christmas. I already asked if you could join me, and they said yes. So . . . can you?”

  Vivian looked around at the piles of work on her desk, and in the direction of her boss’s office, with their last conversation about his future—and hers—ringing in her ears.

  “Maddie, I don’t know about this—I have a ton of work at this time of year, and today is especially wild around here. What about Theo, did you already talk to him?”

  Vivian already adored Maddie’s boyfriend, Theo, even though they’d only officially been together for a few months.

  “I told Theo about the offer, yes, and he’s thrilled for me. But if you mean did I invite Theo to come to England with me already, absolutely not. I love Theo, and I can’t wait to spend New Year’s Eve with him, but I’ve never spent a Christmas without my mother, and I don’t intend to start now. So, are you coming?”

  Vivian grinned to herself. She couldn’t deny it warmed her heart to know her daughter still wanted her mom with her for Christmas.

  But to go all the way to England for Christmas? That far away from work, the rest of the family, and everything?

  “I’d love to come, but I can’t make a decision like this right now,” she said to Maddie. “Let me think about it and we can talk about this in a few days.”

  Maddie’s voice got louder.

  “There’s no ‘a few days.’ I have to make this decision now, and I’m going to decide for both of us. You need this. You haven’t gone on a real vacation in years.”

  How had she managed to have a daughter who thought she could boss her around like this?

  “O
h, you have to go. Life is too short not to take incredible opportunities like this! But I don’t think I can—”

  “I’m definitely going, and you’re definitely coming with me. You never take enough time for yourself; you know I always tell you that. You spend all your time working or helping me or helping out with Aunt Jo. I know you don’t want to leave Aunt Jo, but you need a break.”

  “Maddie . . .”

  “Great, it’s settled. Talk to you later!”

  And with that, Maddie had hung up, and two days later they had plane tickets. Vivian hadn’t even known until they were about to board the flight that they were first-class tickets.

  She laughed to herself just thinking about that flight. The last time she’d been on an airplane, she’d felt lucky to be in an aisle seat. She’d had an aisle seat this time, too—a huge, futuristic, podlike seat, with room not only to stretch her legs, but to lie almost flat. With just a wave, she could summon champagne and snacks to her side, and for all she knew, there was some secret button to give her a massage, too. She and Maddie had spent the first two hours of the flight just looking around and giggling with each other.

  Despite how amazing the flight had been, Vivian still wasn’t sure she should be here. She was with Maddie, but what about the rest of her family? Her sisters needed her, especially her sister Jo. And she’d never been away from the Bay Area for Christmas in her life. What was Christmas going to be like without her great-aunt Shirley’s ham, or her cousin Loretta’s greens, or those dinner rolls her cousin Marilyn always said she made but everyone else knew she got at Safeway?

  But then . . . she hated those greens. There was never enough pork in them and way too much vinegar. It might be nice to have a change of pace for Christmas, even though she had serious doubts anyone in England knew how to make a sweet potato pie.

  The very polite man in the suit escorted them to a waiting SUV, and Vivian and Maddie kept making faces at each other as he offered them three different kinds of bottled water and told them how to turn on their heated seats.