Page 78 of Better Luck Next Time

“A charity art show? Tell me more,” he said fondly, without further commenting on the wisdom, or lack thereof, of someone in such an uncertain situation fostering a dog.

She told him about working with Finn, keeping her romantic feelings out of it. Lee asked questions, smiling when she told him about the woman with the goats.

“I miss you, Addy.” Her surprise must have shown on her face. “You have ajoie de vivremost people lack, and it’s contagious. Don’t ever let anyone take that from you, okay? Not even Dad.Especiallynot Dad.”

That was probably the nicest thing he’d ever said to her, and instead of coming back with some smart-mouthed retort, she said, “Thank you.”

“I love you. I don’t say it enough, but I’m determined to change that. With both you and Georgie.”

Her jaw dropped, and she was about to ask him if he’d had a recentIt’s a Wonderful Lifeexperience, but then she heard Victoria’s voice in the background.

“Lee! Where are you? I need you to unbutton my jacket so I don’t mess up my nails.”

He made a face. “I’ve got to go so I don’t have to explain why I’m talking to you. Yeah, I know. It’s sad that I would have to explain why I’m talking to you. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Her screen went blank.

Tyrion rested his chin on her lap, looking up at her.

She rubbed his head. “I know it’s been a lot. Jezebel. Finn leaving. My distressing call with my brother. It’s never a dull moment with me. I hope you can get used to it.”

He reached up and licked her chin.

“Yeah, yeah, I love you too. No need to get sloppy about it.”

Dottie texted soon afterward, saying that she’d invited Georgie and River to join them for dinner to celebrate the new addition. Adalia brought Tyrion back inside and settled down on the sofa to read a book, the dog lying on the floor next to her. It was a struggle to focus, her conversation with Lee running through her head on repeat, and when Jezebel started slinking toward them, looking every bit the panther advancing on her prey, she lowered the book onto her chest.

“Don’t do it,” she warned.

But Jezebel wasn’t about to start listening now. She leapt into the air, landing on the dog’s back. Adalia flinched, but Tyrion didn’t react at all as the cat kneaded his fur like he was a blanket, then curled up on top of him. It was a miracle.

When Finn texted her later, she snapped a photo of the cat on top of the dog, knowing he’d appreciate it as much as she did. She told him about the spontaneous dinner party, then stopped midway through typingI miss you.It was too soon for that, right? But she’d promised herself she’d do things differently with Finn, so she told him the truth—she wished he were here.

Her heart filled with happiness when he said he did too.

Dottie showed up with a feast, which did indeed include a separate cake for the animals, followed by Georgie and River, who had brought Hops to meet his new cousin.

Jezebel seemed to have grown bored with the whole new-member-to-the-household situation and hid in the living room, leaving Hops and Tyrion to get acquainted. After the humans and the dogs ate, they all headed out to the back yard. Tyrion seemed comfortable enough that Adalia let him off his leash, even though she worried he’d jump the back fence and run off. But he was too content, romping with Hops, playing fetch with a dog toy Maisie had sent home with him, to pay any attention to the fence. Finally, he got tired and lay at Adalia’s feet.

Adalia had loved every minute of the evening, but her mind kept drifting back to Alan’s behavior and the way Lee had stepped up to help. She was dying to tell Georgie, but she knew it was best to wait. Her sister looked too content, sitting on the bench next to River. They really were in love, and Adalia couldn’t be happier they’d found each other. But seeing them together put a strange ache in her chest.

“Where’s Finn?” River finally asked, and Georgie’s head jerked up. “I figured you would invite him too.”

“In Charlotte,” she said, tossing the toy into the yard and watching both dogs run after it. “Dinner with his parents.”

River cringed.

“Yeah,” she said with a soft laugh. “That’s exactly how he seemed to feel about it.”

Georgie looked away, her lips pressed together firmly, which suggested her feelings about Finn hadn’t changed. But they would. Adalia would help her see the man that she saw—the man who’d sparked such deep feelings in her, such joy, that she was beginning to feel the itch to create again. To pour herself into something. But it wasn’t the shed or even Dottie’s garage that called to her. It was the space behind Blue’s studio—with its high ceilings and all those windows. The sculptures she could create there…

When they all said goodnight, Georgie gave Adalia an extra-long hug before patting Tyrion on the head and saying, “Goodbye, nephew,” to which he replied with an atonal howl that made everyone laugh. They all left, and Adalia was once again alone with Tyrion. (Jezebel was hiding in parts unknown.) She headed up to her room, where she made a bed for Tyrion next to her own.

As she was getting ready to crawl into bed to watch a movie, she heard the ding of a text. She leapt for her phone, her stomach doing excited somersaults when she saw it was from Finn and not Unknown Number. He said he was regretting his trip, and she started to reply with a joke, only to stop and respond in a more serious vein, letting him know she understood. Then she moved them both on to something else. He helped drive away her dark thoughts and frustrations, and she wanted to do the same for him.

They set up a screen share on their laptops and stayed up late into the night, watching the end ofPride and Prejudice. She could have sworn he teared up at the end when Mr. Darcy told Elizabeth that she’d bewitched him body and soul and professed his love, but he vehemently denied it. After the movie, they talked about everything and nothing until both were heavy-lidded with exhaustion.

“You need to get some rest, Finn,” she said softly, deciding to do the selfless thing and call it a night. “You need to be on the top of your game for your meeting. We can’t have you showing up looking like a zombie with half a brain.”

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