Page 38 of Best Laid Plans

Aurora had grown up like me—wondering where the next meal would come from. Stella and Luna came from old Savannah money. But despite our circumstances, all four of us didn't have much in the name of a close family. Stella only recently started to build a relationship with her half-brother. Her father and stepmother were a lost cause. Luna was tight with her brother Lev, but not their parents.

"Please tell me he didn't fuck you and bail?" Luna gritted.

"Not quite."

Stella slid an arm around me, and kissed my cheek.

"It was a long time ago. We've both grown up since," I told them. "What I feel, like I said, is garden-variety nostalgia."

"You sure?" Stella emptied the bottle of champagne by refilling our glasses. "Honestly, seeing y'all today, I wouldn't think you knew each other outside of work. I'd say he's a difficult client, but we've had worse."

"Haven't we all." Aurora raised her glass. "Remember Mr. Delacroix from Augusta?"

Everyone groaned. He'd been an especially unpleasant man, who paid us very well to restore his childhood home in gothic style.

Luna looked at me pointedly. "You reacted to Larue when you saw him that first time, but I must admit, not since. You're either really over him, or you're handling it like a pro."

"It shocked me to see him. But now that I've gotten used to the idea, it doesn't bother me much. He's just an ex now." I lied like a pro to my friends.

"Speaking of exes," Stella groaned.

"What?" I asked.

"Y'all's exes are friends?" Aurora grimaced.

I scanned the rooftop and saw Anson walk toward us with Dominic Calder, Luna's purported ex, though we had no details on that history.

"Ye gods, since he moved back from New York, I see him everywhere," Luna muttered.

She was a few years older than me and was still single. She didn't date much either, which surprised me until I met Dom. He'd grown up with Luna and Lev—and every time he and Luna were together, they generated enough sparks to light up Savannah. It was obvious that they had some unresolved issues to get through.

"Stella Bella." Dom leaned and brushed his lips against Stella's cheek. "Ladies."

"You show up like a bad penny everywhere I go, Dominic Calder," Luna said sarcastically.

"Moonbeam." Dom affectionately kissed Luna's forehead. She hissed.

Dom laughed softly. "Y'all know Anson. He tells me that Nova, here, did a kick-ass job today with a proposal for him."

After some small talk, the two men settled around the table with us. Dom sat next to Luna as he always did, to her chagrin, and I dare say, secret pleasure.

Anson maneuvered his way to sit next to me. Luna looked at me, silently asking me if I was okay, and I shrugged, indicating I was.

Bullshit!

I could smell him, and it made me feel like young Nova again, the one who believed in fairytales.

"Stella, Larue Homes has done some work with your husband's company." Anson raised his bottle of beer.

"Noah mentioned you," Stella said. "Now, you'll have a chance to work with Carter Construction again, because Savannah Lace partners with them."

"Do you like working with your husband?" he asked.

Stella laughed.

"We don't allow them to work together." Aurora grinned. "We keep them far apart. They're either fighting or…."

"Fuckin'," Luna filled in.

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