Page 18 of Better Luck Next Time

Fiona tilted her head, as if asking what was so hysterical about her name.

“Sorry,” Adalia said. “Just thinking of an inside joke.”

She’d totally have to lord this over Finn the next time she saw him.

By the time Adalia got them set up with the bottles and full glasses of Beau Brown and Hair of Hops, Jack had come out with the release forms. Before he had a chance to refuse, Adalia recruited him to hold the reflective screens while she snapped photos with her phone. She made a grouping of the images she liked and let Fiona pick her favorites, which Adalia then posted to Instagram. She tagged the customers and included their quotes about why they’d come to Buchanan that day and what they were drinking.

Georgie walked into the tasting room and did a double take when she saw Jack holding a reflective screen.

“Jack was helping me with some photos,” Adalia said. “For social media.”

“Oh,” Georgie said, all wide-eyed like she was caught off guard. “Actually, I’m happy I caught both of you together. I was hoping we could have dinner together tonight—if you don’t already have plans, that is.”

Jack looked uncertain.

Adalia wasn’t sure she wanted to be in close proximity to her sister after her blowup this morning, but then the Buchanan way was to shove negative emotions into the corner and ignore them. Adalia would rather have a day or two to let it simmer before moving straight to the ignoring phase, but if Jack was there, it would ease the tension. It would also help the sisters get to know him better. Besides, the whole hiding from emotions thing didn’t really work for her, anyway. Clearly. She looped her arm through Jack’s. “We’d love to. Got any place in mind? Because if not, I do.”

Georgie blinked, looking between Adalia, who still had her arm looped through Jack’s, and Jack, who hadn’t attempted to remove it. “I didn’t. Whatever you suggest is awesome.”

“Great,” Adalia said, a huge smile spreading across her face. “No takebacks.”

Several hours later, Adalia couldn’t help but be amused by the fear on her sister’s face. Jack looked a little nervous too, but it was the straightlaced, prim and proper Georgie who had Adalia nearly bursting with glee.

“You know I hate karaoke,” Georgie hissed across the table. “And you lied when you said everyone who comes in has to sing. The waitress just confirmed it.”

“Come on, Georgie. It’ll be fun. Besides, you loved to post yourself singing One Direction songs on Facebook back in the day. This will be a lot less embarrassing.”

Georgie’s eyes flew wide as she turned to Jack. “Ineverdid that. And One Direction came outlongafter I was in high school.”

“That’s what made it so embarrassing,” Adalia said.

“I never did that!”

Jack grinned, then shot a glance at Adalia. “Methinks the lady doth protest too much.”

Horror washed over Georgie’s face, and Adalia decided to end her sister’s misery. “Okay, Georgie never posted videos of herself singing One Direction songs, but we do have some home videos of her singing Beach Boys songs for Mom.”

Georgie’s face softened. “I forgot about that.”

“You don’t have to sing by yourself,” Adalia said, “but we’re all singing one together before we go.” She gave her a huge, cheesy grin. “You can’t say no to family bonding.”

Her sister started to protest, then sank back into her seat. “Okay. Fine. But no video. I amnotletting you show this to River.”

Adalia laughed. “Okay.”

“I’ll agree to this on one condition,” Jack said with an uber serious face. “I refuse to sing ‘We Are Family.’ It’s a total cliché.”

Georgie cracked a smile. “I totally agree.”

“Well, that’s unanimous,” Adalia said. “I hate that song.”

“So what do we sing?” Georgie asked.

“Let’s hang out and eat for a bit and maybe it will come to us,” Jack said, picking up a menu.

“Words of wisdom from my wise older brother,” Adalia said in a deep voice.

“Which means you’re still the baby,” Georgie said, picking up her own menu.

---