Page 1 of Ex's & Oh's (The Lucky Girls 1)

Chapter 1

Jenna

“Ticket please,” the gate attendant asks with a smile, and Stacey and I hand over our tickets.

“This was the best idea,” I say. To the gate attendant, I add, “my best friend is getting married in Hawaii.”

“Congratulations,” the gate attendant says with a smile, and Stacey blushes. She thanks her, and we head into the hallway that leads to the plane.

“You don’t have to tell everyone,” Stacey says.

“But you love it when they know,” I say, and Stacey giggles and nods.

“Yeah, I do. But it’s not supposed to be such a big deal.”

“Of course, it is! You’re marrying the man of your dreams—a famous pro football player, might I add—at the destination fairy tales are made of. Seriously, nothing about this can be more perfect.”

We join the line to get on the plane.

“I think you’re more excited for my wedding than I am,” Stacey says.

I shrug. “It’s not every day your best friend marries Mr. Right. Marc really is the best. I can’t wait for you guys to build the rest of your lives together.”

“You’re a hopeless romantic,” Stacey says. She flips her black hair over her shoulder.

I shake my head to disagree, but she’s right. I am a hopeless romantic. I believe in fate and destiny, in love at first sight and being with the one person that’s your soulmate. I just haven’t been as lucky in love as Stacey has. And that’s okay—I tell myself my own Prince Charming is underway. He’s just stuck somewhere, being a goofy idiot.

We board the plane, find our seats, and stuff our carry-ons into the overhead compartments before sitting down. Stacey glances out of her window. The world is hazy through the drizzle that’s been falling in a steady stream since we woke up hours ago.

“Do you think this rain is going to keep us grounded?” Her icy blue eyes are worried, her brows knitted together. She worries her bottom lip as she looks out of the little window next to her.

“It’s just a drizzle; they would have let us know if we were going to be delayed.”

Stacey nods. “You’re right. I’m just panicking. I keep thinking something’s going to go wrong.” She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.

“Everything is falling into place,” I say.

She covers her face for a moment. “That’s what’s worrying me.”

“If something goes wrong, we’ll fix it,” I say. “The wedding is still a week and a half away. More than enough time to make things right.”

“You’re right.” She lets out a shuddering breath. “I’m so nervous about what my mom’s going to do the next few days. And what she’s going to think and what she’s going to say.”

I put my hand on hers. I can feel how tense she is. She's a nervous wreck, and I don't blame her. Her mother is tough to deal with. “That’s what I’m here for. Trust me; it’s going to be fine. You leave your mom to me and focus on being the prettiest bride in the Northern Hemisphere.”

Stacey nods and offers a nervous smile. The wedding is a big deal—her guest list has five hundred of the most influential business and social people on it, not to mention celebrity sports stars, and it’s been in all the papers. She's Stacey Jackson, the daughter of Harvey Jackson, the business mogul, and she’s marrying Marc Atkins, Quarterback for the California Golden Bears. The whole world is invested in the union, and those who haven’t been invited are watching the tabloids, papers, and news broadcasts closely so they won't miss out on any of the action.

Stacey grew up in the limelight, with money and fame because of who her family is, but she doesn't like being the center of attention. Now, all eyes are on her, and it only adds tension to an already-stressful situation.

I’m not as worried as she is. I’m going to be there, too—the headlines will include me this time. But I’m arranging the wedding, and this is what I do best. I’ve been working as an event manager since I left college, and I’m good at what I do. I thrive under pressure, I make things happen even at the eleventh hour, and I’m determined to pull off this wedding so that my best friend looks as perfect as I know she is.

I also know how to handle her mother. In part, it's because Laura isn't my mother. It helps our dynamic. She can't boss me around too much, and I don't need to impress her.

Even if I weren't arranging the wedding for Stacey, I would have been there for moral support. I'm her maid of honor, and I'm going to be the best damn MOH there ever was.

After the air hostesses tell us everything we need to know about the emergency exits and what to do when anything goes wrong, the captain makes a quick speech and then we’re off. The plane takes off with a rumble and my stomach sinks as we lift into the air. I watch as the city shrinks below us, disappearing into a haze of drizzle and smog.

We climb above LA rain clouds, and the plane breaks into a burst of sunlight. I take a deep breath, and when I glance at Stacey, she looks like she's starting to relax a little, too.

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