Page 39 of Getting Lucky

Of course, she suspected that wasn’t the reason Blue hadn’t invited them. There was something from her past she didn’t want them to know about.

“I figured you’d think it was stupid.”

“Was it?”

“No, it was nice,” Blue said warmly. “It feels good to talk to other people in the same situation.”

“Did you meet a guy there?” Adalia asked.

“No, nothing like that. I mean, yes, there are guys in the group, but people don’t go there looking for dates. We’re discouraged from dating other members.”

“So what did you do?” Maisie pressed. “Exchange stories?”

“I can’t really talk about it,” Blue said hesitantly. “That’s another one of the rules.”

It sounded like the founder had probably watchedFight Clubtoo much, but there was something earnest about Blue’s tone, and she didn’t want to upset her by saying so. Or pressing her.

Adalia coughed into her fist. “Sounds like a cult.”

“If it takes joining a cult to turn my luck around, I’ll be the first to sign up,” Blue said.

Which was puzzling really. Other than the bad dates, which, whatever, Blue had it pretty good from what she could tell. She was a beautiful, talented artist, in possession of a giant rabbit (thanks to Maisie) and good friends. What made her so unlucky?

Something had clearly gone down in her past, and while Maisie’s usual habit would be to poke at it, she found herself thinking about how Jack would approach the situation.

He’d leave Blue alone, wait until she was ready to talk.

So Maisie cut off Adalia, who obviously intended to ask more questions, and said, “So I haven’t told you guys this, but all of this wedding stuff is going to be a bit tough for me. I used to have feelings for…”

Chapter Fourteen

Jack left the restaurant and started walking, grateful for the cool night air. Although his situation hadn’t changed, it was getting harder to stay away from Maisie. Which was unfortunate given he’d apparently be spending Christmas with her. No, doubly unfortunate given he wasexcitedabout it. After he’d walked a bit, stewing, he pulled out his phone and texted Georgie.

Addy and I were just talking, and we have an idea for your engagement party. Do you have time to talk about it tonight?

Truthfully, it had been Maisie’s idea, but he sensed Georgie would more likely approve of it if he made it out to be a sibling collaboration.

She called him a few seconds later. “I thought Addy had a girls’ night out?”

“Long story,” he said with a short laugh, “but I got invited, and we got to talking about your engagement party.”

“Must have been a sad girls’ night out if you were talking about our engagement partyandit’s already over.”

He laughed again. “They’re still hanging out, but I decided to take off. Anyway, like I said, Addy and I had an idea. Would you and River be up for talking about it?”

“We’re both here, so yeah, come on by.”

“I need the address.”

She paused. “Jack… Oh…I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” he said, refusing to admit that it bothered him. River and Georgie had been to the Buchanan house plenty of times, but he’d never been to their loft. While he’d gotten to know Adalia fairly well, he and Georgie were still a small step above colleagues. Hence his blurted-out offer to plan the party. He’d done it to save her from the madness of a full-on Dottie party, but he’d also figured it would be a chance for them to spend time together. “Just text me the address and I’ll head over.”

“Okay.”

He ordered an Uber to take him to Georgie and River’s address and found himself at their front door less than fifteen minutes later.

Georgie opened the door seconds after he knocked, and it surprised him to see her in yoga pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt. She looked so much more approachable this way. At the brewery she was always so put together, even though she had obviously dressed down her business attire to try to fit the laid-back Asheville vibe. And she typically dressed up for family parties and gatherings too.

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