Page 2 of Lucky in Love
“Of course. Good thinking. How’s interest? Are people booking?”
She smiled. “We’re booked through the end of March. And if we can pack ’em in during the off-season, I’m betting there’ll be a waitlist for spring and summer.”
“Alex, that’s fantastic!” Pops exclaimed. “Late October through the New Year is always busy, but we’ve never fully booked the off-season. I’m real proud of you, hon.”
They finished lunch, and she drove Pops home.
“Thanks again for making this happen,” Alex said.
“I wouldn’t sell them to anyone else.” He unbuckled his seat belt and opened the car door. “Don’t be a stranger. Love ya.”
“Love you too.”
Alex watched until he was safely inside. At seventy, he got along pretty well. But as the only family she had nearby, she still worried about him.
A burst of pride flashed through her as she drove under the arch of the Whispering Pines welcome sign. She’d done it a million times, but never as the owner.
A couple of hours later, she was back at The Rusty Nail. This time for a celebratory dinner with her friends.
When Alex arrived, Juliet, Faith, and Tess were already seated at a table in the back. The other two members of their friend group—and championship basketball team—had moved away. Maddie, about eight years ago, to become an actress. And Holly, two years ago, to marry a New York City police officer.
“Okay,” Faith said as soon as Alex sat. “I know we’re here to celebrate you buying the cabins, and we will. But first, we want the four-one-one on what went down in NYC. Specifically, this dude. Details.” Faith had married earlier that year and was still riding high on everyone-should-be-in-love vibes.
The waitress brought a round of drinks as Alex gave a play-by-play of her whirlwind courtship with Drake.
“And then he turned his hat backward.” Alex waggled her eyebrows.
“Here we go!” Tess slapped both hands on the table and leaned in, ready for the skinny on the good stuff.
“Oooh. You love that,” Faith said. “It’s a sign.”
“Idolove that.” Alex nodded. “Plus, he’s handsome, sophisticated, and funny.”
“So, is he your boyfriend?” Tess asked. “You gonna give a long-distance relationship a go?”
“Yes.” Alex smiled. “And yes. He’s already looking to come visit in a few weeks.”
“Of course you met a guy,” Juliet said. “First, your grandpa finally sells you the campground, and now this. You are so lucky.”
Mutters of agreement floated around the table, and Alex cringed. Sure, she won more than her fair share of raffles and bingo tournaments, and maybe that did make her abnormally lucky. But she didn’t like to acknowledge it. Thought it might jinx her.
“And the cherry on top?” Alex said.
“There’s more?” Juliet said.
“You won the lottery?” Tess guessed.
“I wish,” Alex said. “No, I finally hit my goal weight.”
“You’re already so thin,” Faith said.
“She runs so much, how could she not be?” Juliet asked.
“Yeah,” Tess added. “Our teeny, tiny friend.” She patted Alex’s head in a slow, exaggerated movement.
“If I didn’t run, I couldn’t eat,” Alex said, swatting Tess’s hand away. “Unlike you three, I don’t have the luxury of being eight feet tall and eating anything I want.” At five-four, Alex was by far the shortest of her group.
“Well, congrats on that too then,” Faith said.
