Page 71 of Resisting Fate (Hope Falls: Brewed Awakenings 3)

She knew that look. Whenever Viv got that look, bad things happened.

“No what?” her sister asked.

“Whatever you’re planning on doing. No.” Audrey knew that her sister was fiercely protective of her, but she was a big girl. She could take care of herself. She did not want Vivien making a scene or saying something to Josh that embarrassed her.

“I’m not planning on doing anything.”

Audrey narrowed her eyes at her sister.

“I’m not!” Viv raised her voice for the first time.

“Shh,” Audrey shushed her just as the door opened.

“Hey, is everything okay?” Tessa asked carrying what looked like a towel that had cleaned up wine, clearly surprised to see the two of them huddled in the corner.

“Yep. Everything is peachy-fucking-keen.” Viv gave Tessa a thumbs up.

Audrey just wanted to sneak out the back door, go to her car, drive home, curl up on the couch and cry, but she knew if she did that people would talk. This was Hope Falls, by morning everyone would know that Audrey and Viv had been hiding in the laundry room and then Audrey left book club without even a glass of wine.

So instead of doing what she wanted to do, she put on a brave face and allowed Viv to thread her arm through hers and walk her into a room filled with women who had their happily-ever-afters. Instead of being jealous, Audrey decided to look around the room and take hope. If the Hope Falls effect had worked on all of them, maybe, just maybe it would work on her too.

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