Page 15 of Taking Chances

I get into the backseat of Matt’s car, noticing Lennox pulling on his helmet and getting on a bike. A groan slips out of me.

“What was that?” Matt asks from the driver’s seat.

Oops. Was that aloud?Of course, he looks hot getting on the motorcycle. He probably has a fictional character checklist and works on checking every single item because there’s no way it’s a coincidence.

“Nothing. I’m just really stuffed.” He nods and I release a relieved breath.

My dad swirlshis thousand-dollar-a-bottle glass of red wine. “Your sister informed me of the fact that Bryce and you broke up,” he says.

The upscale restaurant enclosed in glass walls sits on the seventy-fifth floor of a famous Seattle building. The only sign that it’s Christmas today is the sparkling silver metal installation vaguely resembling a Christmas tree in the middle of a restaurant.

It gives more of a contemporary art museum vibe than a cozy Christmas one, but that’s Bailey Christmas for you. It’s been one cold, fake holiday after the other ever since my mom died.

“Annie?” He snaps me out of my thoughts using the name I hate. Mom used to call me that. I loved it then. Now, it’s like a reminder they think of me as a little girl, not able to make her own decisions.

“Yes. You were informed correctly,” I respond through my teeth.

“That’s a shame. I really admired his business acumen.” His brows scrunch, which is an expression reserved only for me. Jack Bailey rarely shows his emotions, and when he does, it’s usually disappointment.

“Yup. Me, too. In fact, I think his business acumen is the thing I miss the most about him.” I roll my eyes internally, because it’s something that’s definitely not allowed.

“This is what I meant when I said her behavior has been getting out of hand,” my sister bites out, faking a polite smile for anyone that might be looking. “It’s probably the reason he broke up with her.”

Though my mind is not surprised to hear it, my heart breaks in two with the statement. I stand there, dumbfounded as my cup overfills. Shame and anger swirl inside of me, mixing into an explosive combo.

“Yes, sarcasm is certainly not an appealing trait in women.” My father sizes me up with disdain, and I can’t take it anymore.

“You know what? I’ve been listening to you two tell me how I’m not good enough for over twenty years. And I think I’m done with that. Bryce was a jerk.” My father flinches at my outburst. “He broke my heart. And it had nothing to do with me or myunladylike behavior.” I take a giant sip of my wine before continuing. “So, if you have a problem with me, feel free to call him and his new girlfriend for the next family gathering, but you can forget about calling me. Merry Christmas.”

I get up and stomp out of the restaurant, leaving a shocked father, sister, and brother-in-law behind. Maddie is with Kaitlyn’s in-laws, thank God. I’d hate for her to witness this.

A sense of pride mixes with other emotions in my stomach and I finally feel I can take a deep breath. As soon as the oxygen fills my lungs, my eyes start to burn.Hello tears, I haven’t felt you in three whole hours.

I don’t want to go home and be alone right now. And I really don’t want to ruin my friends’ Christmas, so in a last-minute decision, I tell my Uber driver to take me to Factory.

8

LENNOX

This morning was weird. Nice, but weird. I felt like I was interrupting a family moment, though Connor told me multiple times he was glad I was there.

Those Christmas pajamas, though admittedly cute, made me feel like I was way out of my depth. But it was obvious they care about each other. They were thrilled their friends were having a baby, as thrilled as if they were the ones having it.

A picture of Anne in her cutesy onesie, her eyes shimmering with happy tears, pops into my head. Her freckled cheeks were pink and her nose runny, but the happiness she held was pure and so fucking sweet.

The door to the bar swings open, and for a second, I think I’m seeing things. The girl I was just thinking about stands in front of me in a sparkly long cherry gown, her face stained with runny mascara.

Her tear-soaked face scrunches up noticing me.

“Oh, it’s you.” Her shaky voice is laced with disappointment.

“Sorry, were you expecting Santa?” I can’t help but chuckle.

“No, but why do you always have to see me at my worst?” She groans and drops down into the booth next to me. Stealing mybeer, she downs it before motioning to the bartender to bring us two more.

“Want to talk about it?” I raise my eyebrows at her.

“Want to hear about it?”

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