Page 9 of Count Your Lucky Stars
“Me?” Margot jabbed her thumb at her chest. “When have youeverknown me to shy away from speaking my mind?”
And that was rich, coming from Darcy, considering how tight-lipped she’d been about her feelings for Elle at the beginning of their relationship.
Darcy turned to Brendon. “See, stubborn.”
Annie snickered and Elle’s lips twitched, like she was trying not to laugh. The effort, while quite clearly in vain, was noted and appreciated.
“Wow,” Margot intoned. “Really feeling the love here, guys.”
Brendon opened his mouth.
“Margot’s right.” Elle met Margot’s eye and smiled. “If she says there’s nothing to tell, there’s nothing to tell, and that’s all there is to it.”
Margot’s shoulders relaxed, the tightness in her chest replaced with warmth. Elle got it. Margot mouthed a quickthanks, and Elle winked.
Three weeks. As the Best Woman, how often would her path cross with Olivia’s, really? Margot had to get through tonight, and then there’d be... what, the rehearsal and the wedding itself? They both had a vested interest in making sure this wedding went off without a hitch. They could set aside their past for one month. One month and Margot could forget all about Olivia Grant. Out of sight, out of mind.
Olivia was probably out in the hall, thinking the same thing.
Speak of the devil.Olivia returned, looking pale-faced andwan, her phone clutched tightly in her right hand. She stopped just inside the room and cleared her throat. “Hi. I’m really sorry, but I’m going to have to bail on dinner. Something came up, and I have to go take care of it.”
Margot frowned at the way Olivia’s voice quivered. She opened her mouth to ask if Olivia was okay, but stopped before she could voice the question. It wasn’t her business.
Brendon didn’t have the same reservations. “Is everything all right?”
Olivia started to nod before the move morphed slowly into a shake, her head swerving. “I just got off the phone with my landlady. Apparently there was a—a problem with the plumbing in the unit directly above mine that caused the bathroom to flood. My ceiling is... The damage was pretty extensive, I guess, and they’re going to have to bring in fans so mold won’t set in, and after, they’ll have to replace the joists and the... I guess the drywall or plaster or...” Olivia shut her eyes. “I’m not even really sure. It was a lot to take in.”
“Jesus,” Margot muttered. That sounded like a nightmare.
“I’m imagining you’ll have to find somewhere else to stay,” Darcy said, face pinched with concern.
Olivia nodded. “I guess the integrity of the ceiling is questionable. It’s leaking and...” She laughed, frazzled. “It’s a mess.”
Annie pressed her fingers to her lips. “Oh, shit.”
Brendon raked his fingers through his hair. “Did they say how long the repairs are going to take?”
“No. My lease is month-to-month.” Olivia’s bottom lip started to tremble, and she quickly pursed her mouth, a dozenlittle dimples forming in her chin. “I have a feeling I won’t be moving back in any time soon.”
A sharp twinge of sympathy shot through Margot’s chest.
“I’m sorry,” Olivia blurted, batting at the air. “Geez, you don’t want to hear about this. This is—this isnotyour problem. I’m, um, I’m just going to go—”
“Do you have somewhere you can stay?” Brendon’s eyes flitted to Margot, then back to Olivia. “A friend’s place, maybe?”
What.
No.
Shit.
Olivia’s eyes went glossy, welling with tears. “I’ll figure something out.”
Margot’s stomach dropped.
Fuck.
Brendon turned, his brows rising pointedly, managing to communicate plenty without him having to open his mouth to say a thing.I’ll figure something outwasn’t an answer. Or, it was, just not the one Margot had been hoping to hear.
