Page 58 of Better Luck Next Time

And then he was left in a house that suddenly felt emptier than it ever had before.

He sucked it up and brought his laptop to the couch—wanting to sit there so he could be closer to the memories of the night, to the feel of her. He added some finishing touches to his proposal for Gretchen, feeling increasingly good about it. He’d look it over tomorrow and then send it along Monday. If she decided to move forward, he’d talk to River and Georgie and some of the other brewery owners to see if they’d be willing to participate in the beer festival. He couldn’t think why they wouldn’t—it really was a win-win for everyone involved, sore feelings or not.

An ad popped up on his computer, and an idea suddenly struck him. The perfect date for him to bring Adalia on. If she’d agree. If he could manage to keep it a surprise.

Care to play hookie on Wednesday?he texted.I have an idea I think you’ll like, but it’ll take an indeterminate amount of time, and I have to be in Charlotte tomorrow night.He’d arranged to talk to the robotics people on Monday morning in Charlotte, so he’d agreed to have Sunday dinner at his parents’ house. No doubt his mom wanted to interrogate him about the woman he’d mentioned to his father.

Although he had zero interest in actually taking a job with the robotics start-up, he was interested enough to have a conversation with the team. What little he’d been able to learn about the company through online research had sparked his imagination. He could have suggested Tuesday for the date, but Gretchen would probably want to talk through the proposal once he finished, and he’d need to get started on follow-up.

Somewhere in there, he needed to make more arrangements for the show. Hopefully with Adalia. They’d need to select more artists, and another meeting with Jack was in order at some point to iron out ideas for the event.

He realized belatedly that it was eleven o’clock, not really an appropriate time to text for anything but a booty call, and he immediately texted back:Sorry it’s late. I didn’t realize it was this late until I sent the message. This is NOT a booty call. I have an idea I think you’ll like, although I’ll say no more.

Still no answer, so he decided that she maybe, probably, was asleep. And would wake to a flooded phone. Oh well, too late to withdraw the messages. So he added agood night,sorry for blowing up your phone,because why not at that point, and set down his phone.

He turned on the TV, intending to watch something to calm his racing thoughts, and sawPride and Prejudicewas still on the screen, paused where they’d stopped it.

His lips tipped up at the memory of Adalia’s excitement when she’d said this was her favorite scene. Which was why he found himself watching the end of the movieby himself. And he was glad he did, because Mr. Darcy’s line about being bewitched, body and soul, sent a wave of recognition through him.

It was exactly how he felt.

Chapter Nineteen

River was staring straight out the windshield when Adalia got into the car.

“I’m nearly thirty years old,” she said, irritated. “You didn’t need to go out on a search and rescue mission for me. I can take care of myself.”

“I told her I found you,” he said, picking up his phone and handing it to Adalia. “But I think this is between the two of you.”

He was right, and even though Adalia didn’t want to talk to her sister at that precise moment, she placed the call anyway.

“Georgie, it’s me,” she said when her sister answered.

“What were you thinking, Addy?” Georgie asked in an accusatory tone. “No one knew where you were!”

It only took a millisecond for Adalia to revert to her teenage self, being mothered by her “perfect” older sister because their mother was gone. “Gee, I didn’t realize I still had a curfew. Am I grounded now?”

River shot her a glance. Adalia was sure he didn’t appreciate her talking to his girlfriend that way, but too bad. Georgie had been her sister long before River had come onto the scene.

“Addy,” Georgie said with a sigh. “I know you’re a grown woman used to living in New York City and answering only to yourself, but with everything else going on…”

“What? You think I’m so upset I’ll do something stupid?”

“Well, no…but something bad could have happenedtoyou.”

“It’s Asheville, Georgie. Not Gotham. I’m perfectly safe.”

“I still worry about you, Addy. As your big sister, it’s my job.”

Releasing a sigh, Adalia ran her hand through her hair, forgetting she’d pulled it back. “Look, I’m sorry, Georgie,” she said in a softer tone. “You’re right. I’m not used to anyone caring where I am and what I’m doing.”

And if that didn’t sound pathetic…

“Well, that’s changed,” Georgie said, her voice breaking. “You have people here who love you and care about you—me, most of all—and I worry.Weworry.”

Adalia suspected River hadn’t shown up because he was worried—more like he wantedGeorgieto stop worrying. Still, she had to admit it was nice having someone care about her. In New York, days might have passed before someone thought to ask if something was up. Well, except at the end when Alan had become more controlling. By then her friends had grown accustomed to her disappearing.

She pushed away the memories of him and, worse, of what she’d been like with him. “I know, and I love you too. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’ll try to do a better job of making sure my phone’s charged. Okay?”

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