Page 92 of Getting Lucky

Understanding flashed in his eyes, and he pulled her to a stop. “I can tell you know something, and I absolutely donotwant you to tell me. I don’t need any more secrets.”

“Fair play,” she said, raising a hand as her white flag. “Suffice it to say that their romance won’t be long for this world. Dottie saw them breaking up in, like, five cups of tea.”

“Good,” he said decisively. “Because Addy hates her, and she sounds awful. Lee might be a stuffed shirt…well, most of the time”—he waved in the direction of Jack and Lee, who was singing loudly to Billy Joel’s “Movin’ Out”—“but he’s not half bad.”

“A rousing endorsement.”

He shrugged. “You know what I mean.”

“Has River been having fun?”

“Yeah.” He glanced at the bar. “All of the guys from Buchanan and Big Catch showed up. It’s a good crowd.”

Something about the way he said it, and the look of little-boy longing he shot at the guys who used to idolize him, told her that some of the guys in the beer community still held a grudge against him for selling Big Catch Brewing to a corporate overlord.

“Still giving you a hard time?”

Another shrug. “You and River forgave me. That’s what matters. Maybe they’ll get over it too someday.”

He started walking again, and she fell in beside him and gave him a little nudge. “Big talk for the guy who always wants everyone to like him. Being in love suits you.”

He nudged her back, his eyes bright. “How about you?”

“Tsk, tsk. You said no secrets.”

He looked like he was going to say more—of course he did, Finn always wanted to say more—but they’d reached Lurch’s spot at the end of the table. He was talking to Josie while she swung a crystal pendant back and forth listlessly. Either she was bored or she was trying to read some sort of fortune for him. Maybe both.

“She drew the face on in permanent marker. Permanent!” he said, then paused to take a slug of the third beer on his makeshift tasting tray. “And she didn’t tell me she was moving on untilaftershe took pictures.”

Maisie gave a shudder and glanced at Finn, who was steadfastly staring straight ahead.

“She’s not the one for you, Lurch,” Josie said. “The pendant never lies.” She paused dramatically, then added, “She left you for a fireman, didn’t she?”

“How did you know that?” he asked with wide eyes. The goat horns drawn onto his head winged upward.

“Lurch…” Finn interjected, “you’ve told all of us at least five times.”

But Maisie’s mind had skipped back to another time, another fortune. What was it Josie had said to her?You’re in love with someone, but he has no idea. He’s going to marry someone else, and you’re going to die alone.She’d assumed it was about River, but what if it was Jack she was going to lose?

She gave herself a mental shake as she made her way to River. She’d really lost it if she was starting to look to Josie for spiritual guidance.

River turned as she approached him, and his face split into a familiar smile. She’d told Dottie once that one of her favorite things about River was that he had a different smile for every person, and this was hers—a little crooked, one side higher than the other, a flash of teeth. It was impossibly dear to her, just like he was, and she was relieved they’d aired out their dirty laundry without destroying their friendship.

They hugged each other, both of them holding on for longer than they normally would.

“The man of the hour!” she said, pulling back. “Are you having fun?”

He glanced around at the friends gathered around him. “Yeah, this is awesome, but I’m glad you’re here. It felt like something was missing.”

She knew he was saying it to reassure her that they were good, that their friendship was intact, and she appreciated it.

He glanced around the bar. “Speaking of. Where are Jack and Lee?”

“Talking it out,” she said. “I hope. Either that, or they’re in the alleyway having a fistfight that Jack is absolutely guaranteed to win.”

He smirked a little. “Yeah, I can’t imagine Lee getting his fists bloody.” He nodded at Finn. “Did you tell her about what happened at the house earlier?”

“Which part?” Finn asked.

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