Page 106 of Bad Luck Club

Villain. Was his father really a villain? The word was like something out of a Disney movie, yet Prescott Buchanan ticked all the boxes. After their mother died, their father should have pulled them together to share their grief and find comfort in one another. Instead, he’d ripped them apart. He’d made Georgie feel like every idea she had was ridiculous. He’d berated Addy for her artistic talent. Even Jack had suffered from his disinterest and disdain.

But Lee was taking a stand. He refused to let his father’s influence color his life any longer, in any way.

“I don’t hate you now,” he said, squeezing her hand.

“Of course you don’t,” she said. “You never did. I only frightened you, is all.” Then she added, “Just like Blue frightens you.”

Blue.

His heart squeezed, the pain returning and stealing his breath.

“You don’t hate her either.”

His face flushed, his embarrassment feeling like a boulder on his back. “She had no right.”

“To do what?” she asked softly. “To come save you? That’s what people do when they realize someone they love is in trouble. They go save them. Just like you did for Blue when you took her to Greenville.”

Love? Blue didn’t love him. Dottie had no idea what she was talking about.

“I didn’t save her,” he scoffed. “I sat in on a business meeting and helped negotiate a deal.”

“I’m not talking about her business, dear. I’m talking about her heart.”

He shook his head, refusing to discuss this. He couldn’t think about Greenville. It had all felt so beautiful. So perfect. He’d never felt that connected with anyone before, and then she’d turned on him.

The cab slowed down, pulling up to the restaurant where everyone had gone for dinner, but he was still a mess. He couldn’t face his sisters or brother yet. Thankfully, he still had a half hour until the opening. He could walk around a few blocks and try to pull himself together, or at least let the swelling around his eyelids go down.

“I need to take a walk,” he said. “Tell Addy I’ll meet you all at the gallery.”

She nodded, squeezing his hand again, then started to let go.

He held on, even though the cab driver was giving him a dirty look for not settling up yet. “Dottie, I’m sorry.”

“There’s absolutely no reason for you to apologize to me,” she said. “I’m honored you trusted me enough to share your burden. But give Blue some grace. She loves you. Her heart is breaking too.” Giving him a final squeeze, she released him and got out, leaving him alone again.

He paid the driver, who eyed him warily, not that Lee was surprised after his breakdown. Then he headed down the street, away from the restaurant. Before he turned away, he got a glimpse of his family inside. They’d been smiling and laughing until Dottie walked up, but they’d turned serious as she told them…what? He wasn’t sure what she would tell them. All he knew was that he wasn’t ready to face them yet, despite how much his heart yearned to be in the warm restaurant with them.

He tugged his coat tighter and braced himself as he walked into the wind. A light snow had begun to fall, the flakes melting on his heated cheeks, and all he could think about was that he wanted Blue here with him, holding his hand as they walked together, watching the snow start to blanket the city.

But Bluewasn’there. He regretted telling her to get her things out of their room, especially so harshly, but he wasn’t in any shape to see her, not now, and he doubted he would be at any point tonight. He needed to talk to her. He needed to hear her side of the story. It was only fair, but his heart was raw and bloody. He wasn’t up to the task tonight.

He ducked into a coffee shop and got a coffee and a sandwich, standing at a counter against the window as he ate, watching people walk past on their way home from work, dodging each other and tourists with intensity. That used to be him only a few months ago, yet it felt like a lifetime.

He needed to face the fact that he was stuck in Asheville, and although he still felt ashamed of the steep drop-off in his career, he found himself strangely okay with it. At least he wouldn’t miss Brewfest. He wasn’t sure he wanted to sell his siblings’ beer forever, but he was okay with doing it for now. He needed his family more than he’d realized, and maybe they needed him too. So he’d stay in Asheville for now and make the best of it. Maybe he’d even win over Maisie. It felt like he and River had made progress, though, and he had an idea for healing their relationship all the way, but he still had a long way to go with Maisie. He was eager to ask Jack and Adalia for their opinions.

Maisie would side with Blue. What would Adalia think? He couldn’t dwell on that now. He checked his phone and saw a text from her.

You still coming?

It was just a text, but he heard her anxiety loud and clear. She expected him to bail on her, just like he’d done time and again. But not this time. Not anymore.

He tossed his wrapper and coffee cup and headed to the gallery, getting there as the doors opened, swept up in the small crowd that had gathered outside.

Addy’s excited squeals warmed his heart as she greeted people she knew and introduced herself to people she didn’t. He stood back, catching her eye, and her face lit up with happiness.

His heart filled with pride.

“You okay?” Georgie asked as she joined him, leaving River and the others by Finn’s heart sculpture. Finn seemed to be guarding it, informing anyone who came close that it wasn’t for sale.