Page 38 of Square Deal

She went from independent older sister and college student to single parent.

“What can I do to help?” I asked gently.

She sighed and took a long drink. “Nothing. I just needed someone to vent to.”

“You’ve got this, babe,” I said, reaching across my desk and squeezing her hand. “What time do you get off today?”

“I have to leave early. Parent-teacher conference at Logan’s school, where—yet again—I have to explain this fucked up situation and try to make sense of why he’s failing math.”

I tapped my pen against my computer keys. “After that?”

Kristin shrugged. “The usual. Dinner. Bath. Bedtime. Repeat.”

Poor girl. Kristin wasn’t even old enough to rent a car without paying the young driver fees, and here she was, managing four kids and a backbreaking job. “Call me after the parent-teacher conference. I’ll find someone to watch the kids, and we’re gonna have girls' night.”

“I can’t. I have too much to get done and?—”

I threw my bride-taming glare her way, and Kristin immediately shut up.

“Yes, ma’am,” she said, quickly self-correcting.

I reached into my mini-fridge and pulled out the extra lunch I packed for her. “That’s better,” I said as I handed it over. “See you at seven. Look hot.”

I buried myself in booking new clients for the upcoming wedding season and, before I knew it, it was drinking time.

Thank God.

I sent out a text, rallying the troops and handing out marching orders before grabbing my bag and heading out.

I would’ve liked to have been sipping on cocktails with hunky Tucker from the coffee shop, butsomeonesaw to it that I wasn’t going to be getting laid unless it was with his golden dick.

Screw him. But not literally. Because if I wasn’t getting any, then neither was he.

Hannah Jane

I’ll think about it, but I expect exclusivity and test results.

Isaac

Clean as a whistle, Princess, but I’ll get a physical and send you the results. But exclusivity goes both ways. Think you can keep from banging townies until you see me again?

Hannah Jane

You make it sound like I’m going to say yes.

Isaac

I can be rather convincing.

I probably should have put a little more thought into Isaac’s cryptic text, but I was too busy primping to care.

Girls’ night usually called for all of us to meet at the houseboatto get ready together. But considering the houseboat burned down, nearly killing Erica, plan A went out the window.

Maddie was still on her honeymoon, no doubt wreaking havoc in Europe, so we were down our party girl. Bridget was working, but she was good at multitasking. Besides—it was a weeknight in the off-season. It would just be the poker club and a few regulars warming up with some liquor.

Steve and Erica had just come home from the hospital with their brand-new baby girl, Aly, and Steve was already flexing his overbearing muscles.

When Erica texted me this morning asking for someone to come remove Steve from the premises so she could have a moment of peace without him hovering over her, I knew it was fate.

---