Page 23 of The Vineyard Bride

Lola cast her a dark look.Why are you being so competitive?She wanted to scream.

“All right.Let’s do this,” Audrey began, reaching for a large cowboy hat which had been positioned upside down on an empty chair.She passed the cowboy hat to Christine, explaining, “Take a paper, read the question, and answer it as best as you can.If you can’t answer it, you drink.If you can, everyone else drinks.”

“Here we go,” Christine began nervously, unfolding a piece of paper.“What was Lola’s first boyfriend’s name?”

“Oh...”Susan snapped her hand over her mouth.

Valerie and Jenny exchanged glances knowingly.Lola remembered telling both of them about her past loves from middle school and high school and the fact that nothing had ever “stuck” for her.

“Gosh.That’s tricky.I spent most of your early dating years locked in my bedroom,” Christine said with a funny smile.

“We know it!”Valerie called out.

“Shh,” Jenny hissed.

“Gosh, I’m sorry, Lola.I don’t know,” Christine finally said with a sigh.

“It was Robbie!”Valerie cried, her eyes flashing toward Lola.“Right, Lola?Robbie?The guy you made out with outside the middle school during third period?”

“I got in so much trouble,” Lola affirmed.“But the teachers didn’t want to tell Dad what happened.Wes Sheridan wasn’t to be bothered during those years.It’s why I got away with a lot.”

Lola shrugged sheepishly and beckoned for Christine to drink.Christine laughed and passed the cowboy hat around.“I guess we’ll learn a whole lot about our Lola tonight.”

Charlotte took the hat next, drew a card, and read: “What is Lola’s favorite cocktail?”Charlotte puffed out her cheeks in thought before finally saying, “Aperol Spritz?”

“Easy one,” Valerie affirmed, sipping her glass.“She’s marrying an Italian, after all.”

“It’s true.I’m borderline obsessed,” Lola said, still on-edge about the strange glint in Valerie’s eyes.

The next questions hit on aspects of Lola’s journalism career, Audrey’s father, Lola’s hobbies, and Lola’s favorite movies and books.Lola was overwhelmed with the list of questions, along with the number of answers her friends and family actually came up with.

“You guys know me a whole lot better than I thought,” Lola joked.

A little while later, Susan grabbed a piece of paper from the cowboy hat and read out: “Where did Lola always say she dreamed of moving to one day?”All the color drained from her cheeks.“Gosh, I’m not sure I know that one.I hate that I don’t know it, Lola.”

Lola shook her head, smiling.“Don’t worry about it.Things have changed since I got to the Vineyard.”

“You’re telling me,” Valerie interjected.

Lola arched her brow toward Valerie.“What is that supposed to mean?”

Valerie gesticulated toward the cowboy hat.“I mean, Lola, come on.You never shut up about moving to California.It was always the next thing on your lips.You had that ‘move to California’ fund in your piggy bank.You sang that ‘California Girls’ song by Katy Perry like, nonstop.”

“Terrible song,” Lola tried to joke.“I’m sorry about that.”

“That’s not the point, Lola.”Valerie seethed, now, as though Lola not caring about California anymore was a personal affront to Valerie.“You gave up, Lola.You gave up on yourself and your dreams.You let yourself settle for this life on Martha’s Vineyard.And I hate to say it, but I can see how unhappy you are.”

Everyone was quiet after that.Only the speakers made noise, playing “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys, which didn’t exactly fit the newly sour mood.

“Valerie.Come on,” Lola interjected.“It’s just a stupid game.”

“No.I’ve had about enough of this,” Susan countered, using her “lawyer” voice.“Valerie, I’ve never met you before.I don’t know anything more about you than what you’ve revealed to me today.All I can say is this.You stormed into our party and acted like a brat the entire time.I don’t know why you’re so unhappy with your life that you have to ruin Lola’s bachelorette party, but I’m telling you now, you’d better quit it.”

Valerie’s lips parted with surprise.She looked like a young woman who’d just been grounded from going out.Lola dropped her eyes to the ground, her cheeks burning with shame.

For years, Valerie and Jenny were my only friends.

Now, it’s like they don’t fit into my life at all.

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