Page 80 of Home to Me

It was a welcome light distraction to have the fun of being able to say in a completely monotone voice, “Sam, you do realize that I can see you in the rearview mirror sticking your tongue out at me, correct?”

The flaming red that shot up Sam's cheeks was an indication that, no, she didn't know that—but Lauren was impressed by the way that she still responded in a sassy tone, “Yep. That's why I did it.”

A few moments later, Amanda said dreamily, “Man, you guys... Think about where you were and what you were doing a year ago. Would you ever have imagined this is where you would be today?”

“You mean speeding down the highway, trying to chase down the man Lauren loves so that she can apologize for basically calling him nothing more than dick on a stick less than twenty-four hours ago? Nope.” Karina confirmed.

“Not this exact day,” Amanda chided. “I mean today as in...now, our lives. You guys moving back to Hope Falls, all of us in blissfully happy, settled relationships?”

“Don't jinx it,” Lauren warned.

“Okay, mere hours from all of us being that way,” Amanda amended.

“I think it was Parker,” Sam said quietly, reaching up and putting her hand on Amanda's shoulder. “I think he's been watching over us from Heaven and bringing us happiness and fulfillment because he loves us.”

Amanda teared up, as she did most every time she talked about her beloved dad. “He's looking out for us, just like he did when he was alive,” she confirmed her agreement.

Karina smiled. “He's our guardian angel.”

Amanda smiled back. “I love that idea.”

Lauren took a shaky breath, “Here's hoping he's looking down on us today.”

“Of course he will be,” Karina said confidently. “And this is all going to work out. You want to know how I know that?”

“Very much so,” said Lauren desperately.

“Because we're here with you, babe,” Karina concluded, “and we're the Fabulous Four...”

All of them took up their mantra, shouting the last part together.

“Nothing we can't accomplish!”

24

By the time the four women walked into the elegant lobby of the Fairmont Hotel, however, Lauren's confidence started to somewhat flag. She really hadn't thought this through, and rushing headlong into something without having meticulously planned for every eventuality was not her modus operandi. Not even close.

Looking around at her surroundings, she saw why. Not only did the building fairly scream moneyed sophistication, but she also saw that everyone going in and out of the ballroom where the bachelor auction was being held was dressed in formal attire.

She closed her eyes. Of course it was a black tie event! What was she thinking?

She wanted to turn and walk right back out the door, hand the valet her ticket, and drive straight back to the safety of Hope Falls. Hell, Sam could stop for all the snacks she wanted! However, it was not in her DNA to retreat, particularly after having come this far, so she steeled herself and turned to the girls.

“Okay,” she said, “we're already so far out of my comfort zone that I'm going to do one more thing that is highly out of character for me: I'm gonna ask for help. So...what do you guys think? What's next? What's the plan?”

Sam and Amanda looked blank, but Karina smiled broadly.

“I got this,” she said confidently and strode up to the concierge's station, the other three girls trailing her like ducklings. Karina then turned on the charisma and star power energy was radiating from her at full force.

The concierge looked up and did an immediate double take. It was clear from his expression that he recognized Karina, but the stricken look on his face was quite different than the fumbling or even thrilled reactions Lauren had seen people have to Karina in the past. This guy looked like someone had just told him that his dog was dead.

“Miss Black,” he said solemnly, “I feel entirely remiss in my duties. I had no idea you were staying with us this weekend.”

Karina smiled her star wattage smile, the effect like a beam of pure, golden sunlight radiating from her face.

“I wasn't, James” she said cheerfully, glancing at his name tag, and then snapped her Amex Black card down on the desk between them. “I am now, and I'm going to need some things.”

The man's face lit up like the sun coming out from behind the clouds.

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