Page 21 of Lucky in Love
“So,” Juliet said. “What are y’all doin’ tomorrow?”
“I was planning a hike to the falls,” Alex said. “The leaves are ripening up just right for some awesome pictures. You guys wanna come?” She’d meant for it to be a couple’s thing, but all of a sudden, a support system felt welcome.
“Sorry.” “Can’t.” “Gotta work.” All three turned her down.
“Brody doesn’t look very happy.” Faith had been keeping one eye on the conversation and one on Nick and Brody. “I hope his proposal went okay.”
“That is definitely not a man celebrating an engagement,” Tess said.
They watched as Nick slapped Brody on the back and returned to the table.
“She said no?” Faith guessed.
“She was basically in bed with his boss,” Nick said.
“Oof,” Alex said. “Brutal twist.”
“Oh. It gets worse.” Nick leaned in. “He also got fired. Don’t say anything though.”
They all nodded. Faith was the only one Alex could see trying to console a stranger. But she’d do it when no one was around.Sure, Alex felt bad for him, but not enough to insert herself into his business.
She sneaked a glance at the bar. Brody had thrown down some cash, grabbed his jacket, and was heading to the exit. The bartender’s eyes bugged in delight as he counted the money. He looked both ways before shoving some of it into his pocket and putting the rest in the register. Must have been some tip.
Dinner went all right. Their close-knit group wasn’t used to outsiders, but her friends did their best to include Drake. Who reciprocated by drinking too much and dropping subtle, snide comments about small towns.
Apparently, three was his Goldilocks amount of beer. Stone sober, he was stiff, awkward, and grumpy. Three beers made him congenial, witty, and quite pleasant. Five, and he morphed into a bit of an asshole.
And, as she found out later that night—mid-make-out sesh—eight was when he passed out cold. So much for their romantic reunion.
The next day, he slept in while she went for a run. They cleaned up and had a late, leisurely breakfast. He seemed fine—chatty and excited for the hike. Maybe yesterday’s moodiness had been a fluke.
She threw a couple of apples, trail mix sleeves, and water bottles into a small backpack.
“How long are we going for?” he asked, watching her load the pack.
“Just the afternoon,” she said. “Always good to be prepared though. And we can’t go without this.” She held up an aerosol can.
“What’s that?”
“Bear spray. I have a horn too.”
“There are bears?” His eyes widened.
“Sometimes. Itisthe woods.”
He appeared to be on the verge of saying something, but clamped his mouth shut.
She drove to the trailhead and parked. “It’s so weird no one’s here,” she said. “Normally, this time of year, everyone and their dog come to see the fall foliage.”
He looked up as if just now noticing the majestic trees, trying in vain to impress him. “They are pretty,” he said. They got out. “I can’t believe how quiet it is here. It’s like a whole other world than where I come from.”
“Think you’ll ever leave the city?” Alex asked.
“No way.” He shook his head violently. “I could never.”
His underlying message, which she received loud and clear, was that if this relationship had any chance at all, she would have to uproot to New York.
She gave it a fleeting thought. Her best friend had done just that and seemed happy. Holly had been a ranger at this very park and moved to downtown Manhattan for a man.
