Page 59 of Betting on Lizzie

“And mom. And grandma. And cousin,” Adam said. “Hundred bucks says they’re on their way already.”

“Here? Now? To help me?” Ben asked hopefully.

Dirk shook his head. “To grill you.”

“Oh,” Ben said, his hands suddenly sweaty.

“I’ve been where you are,” Jack said, slapping him on the back. “It will be uncomfortable as hell, but worth it in the long run.”

The pep talk and things-to-know about Lizzie seminar from the guys had been nice, but everything they told him, he instinctively already knew. Lizzie might be complex—bold but vulnerable, tough yet empathetic—but that didn’t scare him. He did want to be the man she needed. He was up for the challenge and ready to fight for her.

Sure, there was plenty more to discover about her. Sure, there would be obstacles and issues they disagreed on, but they could tackle those things throughout their life together. He just had to figure out a way to make the “life together” part happen.

“We should put away the chips and dip,” Edward said.

“You mean hide them?” Adam said, ribbing his father-in-law. “Don’t think we weren’t all given strict instructions to keep you away from that stuff.”

“Shut up,” Edward said. “And put those carrot and celery sticks back out.”

“Don’t worry,” Dirk said, putting the chip bag under the bar. “We won’t tell Sophie.”

Within fifteen minutes, the cards had been abandoned, the beer left to go warm, and the room filled with the scent of perfume and cooing babies—the calvary had arrived.

Overwhelmed and outnumbered, Ben sat back and prepared to take his lumps, ready to do whatever it took to win them—and then Lizzie—over.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

It had been a week since Lizzie walked out on Ben at the bar. In that week, she hadn’t heard a peep from him. This was not Lizzie’s first rodeo. In fact, she’d ridden this bronc around the block a few times. Breakups were supposed to be easy. At least until now, they always had been. It stung that Ben apparently didn’t feel the same pull she did.

The days preceding Christmas were always busy ones for the Parker family. They observed long-standing traditions to get together multiple times before the main event. One day to bake cookies. One to watch It’s a Wonderful Life. Christmas Eve dinner. Christmas morning brunch.

Low on holiday cheer, Lizzie used work as an excuse to skip out on most of it, but couldn’t miss Christmas morning. And the bar was closed anyway.

She and Charlie spent the morning at her folks’ house, sipping coffee and opening presents. Later, they feasted on brunch, played board games, watched babies, and nibbled on gingerbread cookies as Bing Crosby crooned about a white Christmas in the background.

“You can do it, baby girl,” Kate said.

“Just roll on over,” Adam said.

Everyone was gathered in the living room, where Kate and Adam coaxed their chubby cherub. Six-month-old Abby was on the verge of rolling over for the first time. When she finally did, the family cheered like she’d won the Boston Marathon. The uproar scared poor little Connor into tears. At only four months old, he had no new tricks to debut.

Nana wore a T-shirt that read, “Dear Santa, I’ve been good all year, most of the time, once in a while, never mind, I’ll buy my own stuff,” and got tipsy off cranberry mimosas. The paintings she’d given everyone had been a hit. No one had a nose—Nana said she hadn’t learned noses yet—and no one was recognizable. They’d turned out more like cartoon caricatures, but she’d put in a lot of effort, and everyone thanked her.

Twice during the day, Lizzie caught two or more of her sisters huddled up and whispering. They clammed up immediately when they saw her. This family had no secrets. What were they afraid of Lizzie overhearing? Something weird was going on. She could feel it.

Also suspicious was that neither Daisy nor Lucy had mentioned Ben. A week ago, that’s all they wanted to talk about. Their silence made Lizzie wary. Then again, perhaps they sensed her reluctance over the topic and were just being polite. She laughed out loud. No, that wasn’t it. Her sisters knew no boundaries.

Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. “What gives?” Lizzie said. “Why is everyone acting so weird? You don’t have to walk on eggshells because I had another breakup.”

“No idea what you’re talking about,” Kate said.

“Me either,” Emma agreed.

“You broke up with someone?” her mother said.

Lizzie’s eyes narrowed. Even her mom was in on it? Fine. Whatever. Ben was the last thing she wanted to talk about anyway. She was glad no one brought him up.

Later that night, Lizzie’s luck ran out. Most of her sisters had bailed. Jack held Connor in a Barcalounger, both snoozing. Nana had gone to bed. Her parents and Bella tinkered around in the kitchen. Lizzie was alone in the living room, scrolling her phone, when Lucy cornered her.

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