Page 21 of Mess With Me
She forced herself to focus on her friends, who she knew would help her stay strong in her resolve to make the most of singlehood, and sipped her cafe mocha, her regular indulgence at book club. She’d missed her favorite drink this past month. Ever since former book club member and movie star, Claire Jordan, arrived back in town to film the last movie in the Fierce trilogy,Fierce Loving, they’d all been meeting in a private lounge in Claire’s hotel in Manhattan on Saturday nights. This was a necessity for Claire’s personal safety and privacy. She was wildly popular with men and women alike as well as the paparazzi. Claire couldn’t make it to book club this week, so they were back at their old meeting spot in the café. After the meeting, they’d head across the street to Garner’s Sports Bar & Grill for drinks. It should be interesting to see how Josh, the bartender and manager of Garner’s, reacted to seeing Hailey, his ultimate frenemy, again. Would the pair pick up right where they left off, or would the month-long separation cool the angst between them? Either way, they were bound to be entertaining—both of them experts at the stealth underhanded move. Ally’s personal favorite? Hailey’s rumor that Josh was impotent, which she squashed at his insistence by implying the problem was really a tiny banana. Josh had then spread the news that they used to date and Hailey believed he was the one that got away. The zingers they got in! Sometimes it was like watching one of those old black-and-white screwball romantic comedies. Ally had watched a few at Hailey’s recommendation.
Hailey finished her dramatic reading, took her seat, and asked, “What do you think?”
Sabrina sighed dreamily. “I do love a good second-chance romance. It’s like fate brings them together. They’re just meant to be.” She was a relationship counselor, so naturally an advocate of reunited lovers. She had the most compassionate nature, her brown eyes seemed soulful, and her round apple cheeks and long dirty-blond hair gave her a girl-next-door approachability. Damn. She should’ve checked in with Sabrina about Dean before getting herself so worked up over the reunion. What a waste of Ally’s valuable time.
“Fate,” Missy spat. “Please. No such thing. You really think there’s some magical force bringing people together?”
“It seems that way sometimes,” Sabrina said diplomatically. “For some people.”
The women got into a heated debate over fate and the possibility of soul mates. There were a surprisingly high number of votes for fate. In fact, only Missy and Lexi were staunch skeptics. Ally used to be in the lovely fantasy of fate camp. Now she rejected the romantic notion. She made her own fate, her own destiny.
The conversation veered to chatty, everyone updating each other on all the latest. Ally kept quiet, her thoughts purposefully veering away from her friends’ weddings, engagements, pregnancy, all things that were not part of her life, and focused on how good she felt with her new fitness regimen. And how good she was becoming at taking care of herself, seeking her own happiness with fulfilling experiences.
She jolted as Carrie, her former roomie with bright blond hair that fell in soft layers just past her jaw, called from across the circle, “We haven’t heard from you, Ally. How’d it go with Dean at the reunion?” She smiled encouragingly. The reunion was less than a week ago and Ally had valiantly tried to push the disastrous outcome from her mind in favor of focusing on the good that had come from it. Carrie knew all about Ally’s foolish drive to reconnect with her lost love.
“Not well,” Ally replied tightly.
“I’m sorry,” Carrie said softly. “Didn’t mean to bring up a painful topic.”
Ally lifted her chin. “It didn’t work out with Dean. Our time is over. But you know what? I’m just fine with that. I discovered—” she shook her head ruefully “—a little late in the game, but I finally discovered that I am enough. I make my own happiness and I depend on no man for that. I was sold a bill of goods that a prince would show up and transform my life into happy-ever-after. I’ve dropped that fantasy. I’m on a mission to make my life the happiest it can be on my own.”
She startled when the women broke out in applause, even the coupled women. And then she beamed because her sisters were clearly on her side.
“Hear, hear,” Hailey said, raising a fist in the air. “Let’s head over to Garner’s and toast to that.”
The women gathered their purses and headed out the door. Several women gave her arm a squeeze and told her she had the right idea. Even dopey-in-love Carrie said, “I’m so happy you’re focusing on you. I worried how much you’d invested in Dean. This is the right path for you. I can tell by the enthusiasm in your voice. I predict great things!”
“Thanks,” Ally said, giving Carrie’s arm a squeeze. She hadn’t realized Carrie worried over Ally’s investment in Dean. She supposed, Carrie not knowing Dean, she’d just hoped for the best.
The women arrived at the crowded bar full of couples and plenty of guys drinking beer and watching whatever sport that was on the TVs hanging above the dark cherrywood bar. She squinted. Baseball? Who cared? She no longer had to pretend to be interested in sports because that was one of those ways she’d twisted herself just to hang with a guy. Now she focused on her interests.
A tall man in a blue Henley and jeans turned from the bar and crossed to them. “Ladies,” he said, “long time no see.” It looked like Josh Campbell, which was weird because he was usually behind the bar. His dark brown hair was cut shorter, his deep brown eyes warm, charming smile as usual.
But then Hailey beamed, which she would never do with Josh. “Jake! Great to see you!” She gave him a brief hug.
That explained it. Jake and Josh were identical twins and Ally couldn’t tell them apart. It might’ve been Josh with a haircut. She looked past some tall people and finally spotted Josh behind the bar, pouring a glass of water with lemon that he promptly put in front of pregnant Charlotte. He took extra special care of her because they were family now. Charlotte had married Josh’s younger brother Ty.
Jake greeted each of them warmly. “Claire wishes she could’ve met with you this week. Her schedule shifted to nights and she needs to sleep as much as possible days. The camera is very unforgiving.” Jake was Claire’s husband.
The women all murmured instant forgiveness and asked Jake to say hi to Claire for them.
Jake returned to his seat at the bar and Josh appeared in front of him, grumbling something. Josh looked up and locked eyes with Hailey.
Hailey’s lips parted, her gaze fixed on Josh.
Interesting. Maybe they missed each other?
Hailey approached the bar and Ally followed, hoping for a front-row view.
“Hi, Josh,” Hailey said softly.
“Hey,” Ally called cheerfully.
Josh glanced at Ally, jerked his chin, and returned his gaze to Hailey. “Princess, finally gracing us with your royal presence.”
Hailey actually blushed. Normally she took offense to the princess remarks. “We’ve been meeting in the city with Claire.”
“Yeah, Jake told me. Top-secret location with security. Didn’t mean you couldn’t stop by. You work just down the road.”
