Page 107 of Getting Lucky

Blue hadn’t pressed. She’d just said she understood.

Looking at her friend now, across the front seat, she knew Blue understood her dilemma too. After Maisie had finished her sob story, sobs included, Blue had told her they were going to the party together, no Dan, because Maisie would regret it forever if she didn’t fight for what she wanted. She’d said it like a person who knew from experience.

Maybe she was just stalling for time, but Maisie found herself asking, “Why’d you join the Bad Luck Club, Blue? What happened to you?”

Blue looked at her for a long moment, considering, then heaved a deep sigh. “We don’t have time to get into it right now, but trust me when I say it wasn’t just bad luck. I spent my whole life letting my father make decisions for me, and then I married a man who did the same thing.” She winced. “Two men.”

Maisie’s mouth fell open. “You’re a polygamist?”

Blue laughed at that, a tinkling, infectious laugh that almost had Maisie laughing with her. Except she sensed a hint of bitterness behind it.

“No,” Blue said at last, “but some people would say I’m something worse. It’s a rare woman who’s divorced twice by the time she hits thirty.” She looked down at her hands, as if searching for the ring she probably used to wear. Make that rings. “I should have told you and Addy, but I was embarrassed. I’m trying to get past that, though.”

It took Maisie a second to find words. Not that she judged Blue. She didn’t. This just wasn’t something she’d anticipated. “I’m sorry you didn’t feel you could tell us. I know I can sometimes come off as judgmental…that’s something I’m working on too.”

“It wasn’t that,” Blue said, looking up and meeting her eyes. “I wasn’t worried about you two judging me. This was about me judging myself.”

Maisie grinned at her. “Well, maybe you, me, and Addy can get drinks sometime soon, after this travesty of an engagement party, and we can be judgmental of your exes instead.”

Blue gave her a soft smile. “You just want gossip.”

“I’m dying for it.”

“We’ll see. In the meantime, stop stalling. We’re already twenty minutes late.”

Twenty minutes. A lot could happen in twenty minutes. Had Lee confronted Prescott already? What about Victoria? Would she show up in one of her wedding dresses and insist one of the Buchanan men make a solid commitment?

River had texted her again a little while back, after arriving at the party. He hadn’t pressed her for details or asked why she wasn’t there yet. He’d just asked if she was coming.

She’d replied in the affirmative, although she hadn’t made the decision for him—she’d made it for herself.

And then her phone had died on her. There’d been no word from Adalia before it winked out. Presumably she was busy with Georgie and Iris, but it was still a little surprising. Were they at the party? There was no way of knowing without showing up herself.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, she opened the door. “Let’s do this thing.”

“There you are,” Blue said, getting out too. “I’ve been waiting for your fiery redhead side to take over.”

She’d been waiting too.

Chapter Thirty-Four

When Jack still hadn’t heard from his sisters at 5:55, he started to get worried, but Dottie waved off his concerns.

“They’ll be here soon.” She gave him one of her knowing looks. “I sense that all is as it should be with them.”

“They’re not answering any texts or calls,” he said. “Shouldn’t they have left the spa by now? Maybe I should go by and make sure everything’s okay.” It had bothered him a little that Iris had gone off for the day without checking in with him, but he’d told himself to calm down. She was almost eighteen, and next year she’d be in college. Besides, he was happy that she wanted to hang out with his other sisters, who were, after all, mature, responsible adults. Well, Addy wasmostof the time. But now the party was about to start, and he still hadn’t heard from any of them.

He sent a quick text to Finn, asking if he’d talked to them. He didn’t answer, but he walked through the door about a minute later with River in tow.

“Seemed easier to answer you in person,” Finn said.

Both of the men were dressed in gray suits, although Jack noticed that River’s looked more fitted than the one he’d worn to the will reading back in June. Georgie’s influence, no doubt. He couldn’t help smiling a little at that. In many ways, large and small, his relationship with Georgie had made him into a better man.

A lot like Maisie’s influence was making Jack a better man. More grounded and happier. The urge to carve out a place for himself had driven him to Asheville, but when he was with Maisie, he didn’t feel like he needed to carve or gouge or fight. He felt like he fit. He felt like he could finally just be.

Now that his anger and resentment had eased, all that was left was a sharp ache in his chest, along with the fear that he’d just ruined the best thing that had ever happened to him. A lump filled his throat. River gave him an apologetic look and was opening his mouth to speak when Georgie, Adalia, and Iris rushed into the room. All three had on dresses and heels, but it was their elaborate updos that caught his attention.

“Oh, my dears,” Dottie gasped with tears in her eyes as she clasped her hands together. “You look beautiful.”

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