Page 88 of Better Luck Next Time

“How did he screw up?” Blue asked, glancing between both women.

“He lined up a big buyer and signed on the dotted line before he said anything to River,” Maisie said. “In his screwed-up way, he thought he was doing River and the other employees a favor. He’d negotiated for them all to get better benefit packages and raises, but he miscalculated. Finn’s all about the bottom line, and River’s all about relationships.”

“What do you mean by that?” Adalia asked, trying to keep her question light.

Maisie looked her in the eye. “Finn’s an entrepreneur. He’s not interested in the day-to-day work of running a business. That’s why I was kind of surprised that River was so blindsided. Sure, Finn handled it all like an idiot, but it was a long time coming. Finn had gotten bored and was only hanging on because of their friendship. That’s Finn’s deal—he makes something out of nothing and then moves on to do it all over again. Before Big Catch, he did the same thing with a little software company in Charlotte.”

Adalia tried to hide her dismay. Was that what was happening between the two of them now? Did he see her brokenness as a project?

“But to answer your question, Blue,” Maisie said, thankfully turning her attention away from Adalia. She’d been looking at her with eyes that saw way too much. “The brewing world in Asheville is super tight. When Finn sold out, half the town hated him. River included. Finn holed up and avoided just about everyone and everything for a few months. But now he seems to be emerging and trying to find a new place for himself.”

“Like with the art show,” Blue said, giving Adalia a warm smile.

“Yeah,” Adalia said, forcing a smile of her own. There was no doubt he’d been inspired to create the charity art show because of her. Would he move on once he thought she was whole?

Would she stop beinginteresting?

“Obviously, Finn screwed up,” Maisie repeated, “but he’s a solid guy. I mean, he could probably sell ice to a polar bear, but he’s got a really good heart.” She gave Adalia a pointed look. “If you break his heart, I’m gonna have to hurt you.”

Adalia forced a laugh, but it sounded tinny. “What about you, Blue?” she asked, knowing better than to ask Maisie. “Got anyone special in your life?”

Blue smiled, but it was no more genuine than Adalia’s laugh. “Nope. No one. I might go online again, but I’ve been taking a sabbatical from love and devoting my energy to my art.”

“Now, I hear a story there,” Maisie said, leaning closer. “Do tell.”

Blue laughed, but something shuttered in her eyes. “Not much to tell. I just happen to be unlucky in love.”

“You sound like you’ve been hanging around Dottie,” Adalia teased. “Just don’t let her convince you to go see her tarot card reader.”

“Lola?” she asked with a grin. “Too late.”

“She keeps trying to get me to go too, but I’ve learned my lesson when it comes to Dottie’s mumbo jumbo,” Maisie said. “She convinced me to let Josie read my palm at the Buchanan Brewery holiday party last year.” She turned to Blue. “Josie is as eccentric as they come and used to be one of their employees.Anyway, let’s just say it was abigmistake.”

“Does that mean you don’t have any of her crystals?” Adalia asked.

Maisie gave her the side-eye. “Well, let’s not gettoocrazy. Every girl can use a good self-defense weapon.”

She reached into her purse and pulled out a large pink crystal.

Adalia laughed and pulled out a matching pink crystal from her own purse.

“Huh,” Blue said. “Pink crystals have great loving energy. I wonder if that’s why she chose them for you.”

Maisie huffed. “Well, mine certainly hasn’t brought me any luck in love.”

“And mine hasn’t broughtFinnany luck,” Adalia said, partly because it was funny, and also because she wanted to turn the conversation away from Maisie and her secret. “I hit him with it the first time we met.”

They all laughed as Adalia told them about her less-than-promising first encounter with Finn. Then the women exchanged Dottie stories, Adalia relishing all of them. She loved Dottie, and it warmed her heart to know so many other people did too.

“I really should be getting home,” Adalia said as she pulled some cash out of her purse to cover her portion of the bill. “I’m a dog mom now. And while Tyrion’s with a sitter, I’ve got those new mom nerves.”

Maisie laughed. “Please tell me you didn’t hire a babysitter. Youcanleave dogs alone, you know.”

“I didn’t gothatfar,” Adalia said, “but I did give my brother explicit instructions to call or text if he had any problems.” She held up her phone. “So far no texts, but I don’t want to push my luck.”

“I had a good feeling about you,” Maisie said, only her teasing tone was gone.

“Back at ya,” Adalia said.

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