Page 6 of Happily Never After

“You must be Claire? Luke’s agent?” He shook her hand firmly.

“Yes, that’s me,” she said seriously, smoothing her hair back and transforming into business Claire. The third glass of wine might have been a mistake. Maybe he wouldn’t notice. “You brought the documents?”

Jeremy handed over a thick manila envelope.

“Great, thank you so much. Why don’t you enjoy the party while I have our lawyer look these over?”

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to Luke?” Jeremy raised his eyebrows.

“Soon. It’s kind of a surprise.”

He nodded and moved in the direction she gestured.

She beelined for Kyle, who was hanging slightly back in the living room, but was keeping an eye on Brianna.

“Kyle, I need you to do something for me.”

“Only if you introduce us to your sister.”

“You met her at Christmas, remember? She brought that awful gluten-free fruit cake?”

“Yeah, but that was months and like two of her movies ago. She’s an important person—I’m sure she doesn’t remember.”

Claire threw up her hands. “Fine, but after you do my thing. Take this and go in my office.”

The envelope thwacked into his outstretched hands. Kyle eyed it. “What is it?”

“A contract for Luke. I know it’s not a ton of time to do a thorough inspection, but I just want to make sure they’re not taking advantage of him.”

He grumbled and disappeared down the hallway, envelope in one hand and cup of mac and cheese in the other.

Forty minutes later, after Tito and Luke competed for the cornhole championship trophy that Claire had molded out of beef jerky (Luke won), Kyle reappeared and drew her aside.

“Luke’s going to shit himself.” He handed the envelope over.

They walked into the ballroom. “We’re good?”

“All good. They were surprisingly generous with the terms. They must really want him.”

“All thanks to Brianna,” she said, smiling at her half sister, who was by the bar, exclaiming and pointing at Mindy’s (admittedly adorable) strappy heels.

“Speaking of which…” Kyle prompted.

“All right, get your wife.”

Claire approached her sister moments later with the newlyweds in tow.

“All good?” Brianna asked. Her blue eyes—definitely inherited from her bohemian mother, Tanya—sparkled.

“All good.” It was close enough to the truth. “Bri, you remember my friends?”

“Kyle and Nicole! Of course. How was your wedding day? Tell me everything.” Brianna grabbed Nicole’s arm and led her to a cocktail table.

Claire turned to find Luke, who had just lost a game of “chubby bunny” against Sawyer. “Can you come with me for a second?” she asked.

“Thure,” Luke said through the mouthful of marshmallows. “Do you hath thome water?”

She grabbed a bottle from a passing waiter and handed it to him.

---