Page 67 of Y'allywood Billionaire

Eva and West join us, and I can’t help but wonder why these two show up at events together when they’re not dating. I remind myself to give Eva a hard time about that when we’re not in public.

“Guess what?” Eva says. “My sister is going to be onBridesmaid to Bride.”

Bridesmaid to Brideis a marriage proposal reality TV show we got involved in when we were trying to launch Sophie’s doggie designer clothing business. “Your sister?”

“Paige, my twin. We don’t talk much.”

“That’s right!” I can’t believe I forgot about Eva’s twin. And I can’t believe she’s going to be on a reality TV show.

“Along with me,” West adds. “I’m going to be one of her suitors.”

Holy shit!I guess since West can’t have Eva, he’s going for her twin?“Oh, wow.” I shake my head. That sounds like serious drama. “Well, congrats, West!”

“Thanks.”

I guess I won’t be teasing them about showing up at events together after all. Yikes.

Once the party settles into a groove and Maddox and I are no longer the center of attention, Skye propels me to thestairwell. Once we’re alone, she whispers, “Sorry. I had to move this up last-minute while you two were in Scotland. Jemma is suspicious.”

“Ugh, Jemma! She’s trying to crack this story wide open.” It hits me that she’s not here tonight. God, it’s so peaceful.

Skye rolls her neck. “She started asking too many questions—the main one being if you and Maddox were really engaged, why hadn’t you had an engagement party? So I made it happen.”

“Of course you did. Thank you so much, Skye.” I pull her into a hug. “I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through all this without you.”

She swats my back. “Now don’t get all sappy on me. I’ve got a party to host.”

“Right.”

Once I’ve rejoined the crowd, I see someone jumping to sit on the counter and grabbing a nearby glass of bubbly. It’s Kathryn—I guess she made it after all. She yells, “Attention, everyone!”

Kathryn holds up her glass. She’s listing slightly when she says, “I want to toast my son, Maddox, and his fiancée.” Her words are slurred, and she has lipstick on her chin.

Uh, oh. She’s plastered. I look for Maddox, finding him behind me with his red face twisted into a scowl.

Kathryn plunges on. “I am thrilled for them, but mostly, I’m just damn proud of my son, who takes after me. He got my charisma, my stage presence, and my smooth-talking. I taught him well. Didn’t I?”

There’s a smattering of awkward applause, and Maddox has his hand over his reddening face. He rushes over to her. “Mom, get down from there.”

His attempt to cut her off doesn’t work. She stammers, “When I got pregnant with him and he ruined my body, I told his father, ‘This boy better amount to something.’ Little did I know he’d becomealmostas famous as me.“ She lets out a drunkengiggle. “Am I right? I just wish he’d be more grateful for all the gifts I gave him.” She points at him. “Stupid, ungrateful boy.”

“That’s enough.” Billy walks up to her and grabs her by the arm. “It’s time you head out. I’ll call you an Uber.”

She lifts her glass higher in the air, and Champagne splashes out. “Oh, and here comes Mr. Billy Road trying to tell me what to do. We haven’t been married for thirty years—I don’t have to listen to you.”

Skye comes over and whispers something in Kathryn’s ear. The two women giggle. Skye puts her arm around Kathryn as she helps her off the bar, then to the stairwell door.

Billy shakes his head, letting out a sigh of relief. “Sorry about that, everyone. Please continue the party.”

Maddox’s face is approaching purple, and his jaw is so tense it’s twitching. I put my hand on his shoulder and say, “Maddox.”

“Not now, Riley.” He stalks off.

After the party, Smith requests Maddox and I meet him in his office. Seriously…what now?

But it’s Smith, so anything is possible. Maddox and Ireallyneed to talk, but I guess it’s not happening yet.

Smith sits at his desk and says, “Great job, you two.” He’s actually smiling.

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