Page 19 of Stuck With the Billionaire Grump

“How?”

“What?”

She sighs in exasperation, setting down the bottle with a heavythunk. “How do you know one of Elijah’s friends from Caltech when I don’t?”

“I don’t know him.”

It’s a terrible lie, and Josie sees right through it.

“Seriously, Lu. Don’t think I didn’t notice you two in the corner of the bar. You looked like a couple of feral cats ready to battle it out. I could feel the tension from across the room.”

“There was notension.”

“Oh, yes, I can tell from your tone of voice that you feel totally normal and calm about this guy,” Josie quips sarcastically.

There’s no point in trying to hide the truth from Josie. If she really wants to know, she’ll find a way to get it out of me whether I like it or not. It’s in my best interest to give her just enough details to satisfy her and hopefully avoid discussing the full truth in the process.

“Fine.” I shrug as if it’s no big deal. “We went to divorce camp together.”

For a second, Josie merely looks confused. I don’t blame her. Divorce camp, more formally known as Camp Hannefort, was ages ago. And it’s not like I’ve ever wanted to bring up my summer of therapy in the middle of the woods with other miserable children of divorce.

The memory sparks to life in Josie’s eyes soon enough, though.

“Wait, really? I forgot about that. How do you even remember him? You were, like, fifteen.”

“Sixteen.”“Still.”

“Trust me,” I say with a heavy sigh. “I could never forget him.”

Confusion colors her expression once more. “You make that sound like a bad thing.”

“Itisa bad thing.” I shrug again. “But it’s fine. It’s no big deal. It was a long time ago and he’ll be gone again when this wedding is over, so it’s not like it’s a huge issue that we need to discuss in detail. I’d much rather focus on the tasks at hand, like making sure we have enough ketchup and mustard. People always go crazy with condiments at barbecues.”

Josie gives me a look meant to communicateI don’t really believe you, but I’m willing to let it drop for at least a little while.

“Right,” she replies. “Priorities. Ketchup and mustard.”

“Exactly.”

***

Two hours after Josie’s light interrogation about Theo, the barbecue is in full swing. Uncle Joe’s large backyard is stuffed with wedding guests. The air is perfectly scented with the aroma of summer—charcoal from the grill, sunscreen on skin, and the heady lilac bushes in full bloom. The familiarity of it calms me, even as I dart all over the place to make sure that we stay fully stocked on all the necessities, as well as pause to chat with everyone who tosses a smile my way.

I might not be the bride, but I can’t help feeling like I was born for this. Born for being a hostess. I’ve always known that I loved to socialize, and even when I was a child, I begged to have major responsibilities at any gatherings that us Montgomerys were hosting. Josie was the same way. Which is exactly why we decided to start Montgomery Events when we both finished college.

As late afternoon crawls toward a golden June evening, I help Mrs. Cromwell and Aunt Carol bring out the dessert options: strawberry shortcake and Gigi Lee’s famous snickerdoodles. Even with the barbecuing part of the event done, the party shows no sign of stopping.

“There’s gotta be, like, at least a hundred people here,” Mabel says to me as she shoulders her way out the back door, expertly balancing a massive platter of her mother’s baked goods. I’m right behind her, armed with six tubs of whipped cream.

“I know!” I laugh. “And to think there are twice this many people attending the actual wedding.”

“It’s the event of the decade!”

I really hope so. I’m not after glory, but if the Josieandelijah wedding goes down in Mermaid Shores’ history as one of the most beloved events to take place here, I can die happy.

I check that the bride and groom are still enjoying the limelight without having to lift a finger, then follow after Mabelto deposit the dessert supplies at the massive buffet table that my dad helped set up along the tree-shaded edge of the yard.

“Hey! Need my help with anything?”

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