Page 12 of Finding Her Leading Man

Instead of Becky answering, Lexi laughed. “Oh no, ladies, she’s wavering.”

“I see it.” Eliza nodded and bumped her sister, Juliana, with her hip. “She thinks she has too much drama for this crew to handle.”

Juliana, her honey-colored hair pulled up into a high, messy bun, barked out a laugh. “I wish we could have introduced our father to youbeforehe married Ms. Iris. Talk about some drama.”

“Why did he have drama?” Samantha asked. Ms. Iris and Mr. Hugh made the sweetest couple. He seemed courteous and polite and adored Ms. Iris.

“Let’s just say that we all have our past that we have to work through.” Juliana nodded at Becky. “Past issues. Past relationships. Whatever you think you’re hiding, it won’t scare us.”

She looked at all faces surrounding her. “You all know what happened, don’t you? It doesn’t take much more than a Google search to learn about my past. Or most of it. That’s a little different than having some hidden drama. My failure at a relationship was broadcasted out to the entire world.”

She received two simultaneous, “yes,” answers from Juliana and Eliza. Lexi shrugged and said, “Of course.”

Becky snickered. “Failure? You think you’re responsible for your dip shit ex? God, you need this girls’ night. Let me know when we can get to the man-bashing portion of the segment. I’mreallygood at that part.”

Hudson, a man she’d met twice so far, walked up and wrapped his arms around Becky. “Please don’t include me in your bashing.” He leaned down, nuzzling Becky’s neck and whispered something that made the fearsome Becky laugh like a little girl.

The woman that looked as though she’d stand toe-to-toe with any world leader just giggled.

Samantha glanced at Addie before looking down at her feet. “I’ll go tonight because I gave my word, but I’m not in the mood to get into the gory details of Jasper and the cheating. It’s still too new.” She’d had enough tears for one day, and she was out of antacids. And inside, deep inside, Samantha wasn’t ready to release the anger that was building up like steam in a boiler. One day, she knew it’d explode, but for now, clinging to her pain was the easiest route to take.

Becky pulled back from Hudson for a moment, that eerie glint in her eyes. “Man-bashing it is.”

* * *

Your girl is drunk.

Trevor stopped playing the guitar when he spotted Addie’s text. He didn’t know what concerned him more. Samantha being intoxicated or the warm feelings of his sister’s use of “your girl.” Strange since his body typically rejected any hint at something committed. Something with permanence. Because he immediately associated the thought of a committed relationship with guilt.

Is that your fault?

He tapped his fingers against the strings of the guitar, waiting while the little bubbles popped up, indicating she typed back.

Come get her.

Trevor sat forward and set his guitar to the side. He grabbed his keys from the nightstand.

From where?

He wanted to see her. He’d thought that Addie would help him out, give Samantha the impression that he wasn’t a crazy guy. Obviously, Addie included margaritas in her discussion.

Addie texted him back that they were at her house. He tugged on a T-shirt and left the bed and breakfast.

The ride through town confirmed that they must have held girls’ night at Addie’s house since Cameron’s truck sat parked at the Sheriff’s station.

He kept his driving the speed limit as a courtesy to his future brother-in-law, although his adrenaline pushed him to get to her quicker. He’d watched her earlier at the meeting for the wedding, looking adorably out of place.

Why was she so intriguing? He still couldn’t answer the question. Didn’t want to think about it. Despite all his planning in life, for himself, for Grayson, he’d go with his gut on this one. Something about Samantha made him want to push her. Maybe he didn’t want her to let Jasper win.

He pulled up to Cameron and Addie’s house, parking beside Becky’s blue car. Samantha sat on the front porch step.

“Dang, did they kick you out?” He grinned, unable to resist smiling to cover up the onslaught of attraction.

“No.” She waved behind her, leaning a little to the side and almost toppling over before catching herself. “Eliza and Juliana are crying over baby names. Lexi and Becky are discussing her wallpaper. Addie has been on the phone with your mom most of the night about the programs for the wedding.”

“I didn’t think she wanted programs.” Unfortunately, he had his own “wedding folder” that Addie had made him.

“Your mom wants them now.”

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