Page 9 of The Comeback

I shouldn’t be relieved that Gabriella wants me to plan a dinner, with the governor as a guest, on the fly like this. Especially since it’s veering into territory I should be wary of. But she’s not setting me up on a date with Jett, which I’ve been expecting since she arrived this morning. I’ll see him again sooner than I want. Gabriella absolutely left his name out of everything she could. Getting me to plan this wedding for her was hard enough, and she would’ve known that having Jett around would’ve tipped the scales for me, and not in her favor. She’s playing off that Jett and I broke up a long time ago, but she knows what she’s done. She was there the nights I broke down because another day had gone by with him ignoring me. She was there the nights I was on the verge of tears for entire shifts, doubting my choice to make sure his dreams came true.

“Okay… ,” I say, looking down at the calendars. Then I narrow my eyes and grab my tablet. Gabriella’s assistant handles all her social media, but they have a content calendar that Gabriella gave me access to. With the wedding coming, they’re playing up any romantic anniversaries or whatever between Gabriella and Colby, so if there’s an occasion we can use, it’ll be there.

“Aha!” I jab my finger into next weekend. “Anniversary of your first date with Colby. I’d say that calls for a big, fancy dinner.” Gabriella’s a lot more down-to-earth than this, but getting herself more well known is the first step to getting her to Washington. Colby is 100 percent on board with Gabriella using their wedding as an event to put her in the spotlight, and we’re taking advantage of everything. I flip to another page in my planner—this week’s priority list—and add the dinner to it. “I’ll make this my number one thing this week.”

“You’re the best.” Gabriella grins at me. Before I can sit down and get to work with her, my phone rings. I’d ignore it, but it’s my boss, Kristen.

I show Gabriella the screen. “Do you mind if I take this really quick?”

She shakes her head. “No problem.”

I answer and step away. “Hey, Kristen. What’s up?”

“Hi there. How’s Texas?” There’s a forced friendliness to her tone, but I ignore it. Kristen is all about items being checked off a list, and as someone who works most of the time with people who have to be handled with care, she doesn’t try as hard on small talk with people she knows well.

“Just fine. How’s the Aiken event coming?”

“That’s what I called about, actually,” she says. I almost snicker at the relief in her voice that she can get right to the point. “You remember that Regency gala idea you pitched for that cancer fundraiser a few years ago?”

“Mm-hmm.” I’d really wanted to do it, but in the end we’d decided it didn’t quite fit the tone of the event. I was getting some big clients looking my way, and Kristen had been impressed with the idea, even so.

“I want to pitch it to the Aikenses. There’s going to be some big names at their anniversary party, and I think this could be the thing to make everyone feel comfortable around each other.”

“Go for it.” It’s kind of Kristen to run this by me, perhaps flattering that she’s going this far not to step on toes. Costume parties aren’t that rare, and I wouldn’t have blamed her for taking this and running with it.

“Thanks. One more thing, Ava.”

I tilt my head at the slight raise in her tone. “Yeah?”

“Rutledge Tech Group called me. We’re on the short list to do their annual fundraiser.”

I suck in a sharp breath of surprise. Rutledge is a massive firm, and their fundraiser is attended by celebrities from around the country. Last year they raised millions for inner-city schools. This is actually what Kristen called about. The Aikens event was a lead-in—but why she felt she had to build up to this with me has me guessing.

There’s already a warmth building in my chest, a want. Maybe even a need. Back before fundraiser planning almost ruined me, Rutledge was the event I dreamed about planning. They’re a massive machine for change, and to be part of that was at the top of my list for things to do in my career. Kristen’s been trying to get their account since I started working for her.

“Kristen, that’s amazing!” I hold my breath, not sure what I’m waiting for. I’ll say no if she asks me to be part of the team. I have to. There’s a reason I’m only doing weddings.

Yeah. I’d totally have to say no.

“They’re seeing some things about the Diaz-Duncan wedding online, some criticism of you,” she says.

My heart sinks. “I’ve seen some too.” As soon as my name is brought up as the planner behind a pro-football star’s wedding, the trolls can’t help but bring up the charity I brought down in a single, unfortunate fundraising event. I ignore the disappointment that blooms that Kristen isn’t asking me to be on the team. I tell myself I don’t want it anymore anyway. Rutledge would bring far more scrutiny than Gabriella’s wedding will. “Don’t worry. Everything’s going great here, and I’m going to make sure it continues that way.”

“I know you will.” The worry relaxes out of her voice. “Keep me in the loop, will you?”

“Of course.”

“Thanks, Ava.” She hangs up, and I pull the phone from my ear and take a deep breath.

“What was that?” Gabriella asks as I come back into the kitchen.

“Rutledge has Kristen Framer Events on the short list for their annual fundraiser?—”

Gabriella yelps in excitement, making me jump. “And she wants you to plan it, right?”

You gotta love your best friend’s belief in you. I shake my head. “No, she wants to make sure I don’t screw yours up so we stay on the list.”

Gabriella’s face falls into a scowl. She scoffs. “My wedding is going to be so awesome, Rutledge will come straight to you.”

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