Page 81 of Champagne Fizz

No apology to Olivia.

“Right.” Connor shakes his head. It seems silence is how he’s spent his life trying to communicate with his family. “I’ll text you the wedding date and information. You. Not dad. It’s up to you to figure out what kind of lie you’re going to tell our father to justify why you’re in Hawaii without him. That’s on you. Got it?”

“Yes, Connor. I understand,” Mom says simply.

“Good.”

“Oh—one more thing,” Mom says quickly, trying to get a word in before Connor hangs up. “Olivia?”

Olivia’s neck and hands tense.

“Yes, I’m here, Mrs. Voss,” she says tentatively.

“I’m going to assume you love him,” Mom says with a cutting tone. “Because if you don’t, trust me, you’ll be sorry.”

Olivia’s eyes flare, snapping up to Connor. Was that a threat?

“Classy, mom,” Connor scolds. “I’ll text you the information. Don’t call me unless you have to. Anddo notcall Ned.”

Connor hangs up before his mother can say anything else to insult Olivia.

“Well, that went … poorly,” I mumble, looking between the two of them.

“If you want more than that from my mother,” Connor shakes his head, “you’re going to be disappointed.”

“Charmed.”

“I can’t guarantee she’ll come.” Connor picks up the last shot on the table and downs it. “But at least you’ll know you tried.”

“Are you going to drink like this at the wedding,” I ask, motioning to all the empty glasses. “Is Ned?”

“I definitely am,” Connor replies, standing up. “The good news is I can hold my liquor. Ned on the other hand …” He points to Olivia. “She’s the only one who can keep him from going off the deep end.”

Olivia has gone pale, and all the calm and comfort I’m supposed to provide the bride before the wedding has gone out the window. She’s the poster child for anxiety.

“Did Ned’s mom really just threaten me?” Olivia asks quietly.

No no no! This isnotwhat my bride should be worrying about.

“You know what,” I interject, gathering all the empty shot glasses into a stack. “I’ve got this under control. Connor, please give me your mother’s phone number and information. I’ll send her the wedding information and act as liaison. I’m an outside professional, and if she wants to act like a royal witch—fine! She can send all that poison and negativity my way. I’ll deal with whatever she needs, and none of you will have to think about her, much less deal with her, until she’s congratulating you at the reception party.”

“That’s actually not a bad idea,” Connor says, texting me his mother’s info.

I reach across the table and take Olivia’s hand. “Your wedding day is going to be perfect for you. I promise. That’s a Hart guarantee.”

Olivia smiles at me weakly, and I hope everything I said was convincing. Cause somehow, I’ve got to figure out how to tame Mrs. Voss and keep my bride smiling.

22

KENDALL

The stars peek out of the indigo sky as I lie in the patio chair on my apartment balcony trying to figure out what I’m going to do about Ned’s mother. I can’t afford a personal assistant to babysit her at the wedding, so I’m going to have to keep tabs on her myself. That means one more impossible thing to juggle on the wedding day.

Take charge! Be responsible.

Sue Blade’s voice echoes in my head, and sometimes I wonder if I can really hack it. Wedding design I’m great at, but personal relations—angry parents, witchy caterers—those are not my strong suit. Especially when I texted Mrs. Voss the wedding information this afternoon and she didn’t respond!

She ghosted me.

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