Page 18 of Book Club Confidential

Tessa couldn’t help wondering if the other people on Hallie’s mind were her family members and friends. Maybe even herself. She and Bryce were inarguably from two different universes when it came to their life experiences and lineages.

Kate set her sandwich down and narrowed her eyes. “Hallie.”

“It’s fine,” Hallie said, pushing onward. “Bryce and I will make a nice life together, but it seems wholly unfair that I get everything he has just because I marry him. I’m not even sure how to be a Haymaker.”

“Hallie Haymaker,” Tessa said. “Sounds like a video game character.”

“I would kick ass in any fighting game,” Hallie assured. “But this country club reality I’m looking at makes me want to run for the hills, and there’s not a lot I can do about it. I love Bryce, and that’s his life. I’ve known it for as long as I’ve known him. But somehow, I never saw it as my life. I was supposed to own a fabulous new café by now, creating artsy organic recipes for the masses, long before becoming anyone’s wife.”

Kate brushed a napkin across her lips and set it aside. “I think about the things I wish I could change all the time. I’ve wanted to try new things with my social media presence for a while. I’m not the privileged college kid I was when things took off for me, and the persona doesn’t fit anymore. I don’t live on my family’s money these days, and I’m getting older. Playing the role of debutante feels a little ridiculous. And depressing,” she added. “I want to show the world who I am now, but I doubt my audience has any interest in my obsession with books and yard chickens. And I can’t afford to lose followers. I have to pay my bills.”

Hallie made a crazy face. “People love yard chickens. And books. I bet they’d have fun watching you live your best artsy granola life. That’d be far more interesting than the flawless version of yourself that you post online. That version is a woman you look at but can’t relate to or engage with. The real you is authentic, kind, and relatable.”

“Agreed,” Tessa said. “Maybe it’s time to introduce more aspects of yourself to your followers. Ease them over to the cottagecore life with you. Embrace your inner Elizabeth Bennet.”

Kate stared blankly through the nearby balcony door at the rain-soaked world beyond. “I don’t know. I’d lose followers, which will lead to losing sponsors, and strange as it is, living in a very specific way is my actual job.”

“We used to be such baddies,” Hallie said. “We used to be brave. What happened?”

“I’m already thirty-six,” Kate said. “I wanted to be married and staying home with my babies by now, setting trends in parenthood with perfectly lighted photos.”

Hallie groaned. “Three different goals. Three different lives. Three unsatisfied women. What are the odds?”

“I’m actually glad this happened,” Tessa said, seeing the lost promotion from a new perspective. “Can you imagine my workload if I’d been named VP of accounts? I mean, I doubt Peyton will do anything at all, but I’m sure that wouldn’t have been the case for me.” She took another sip of her drink, feeling the rush of adrenaline once more. “That’s a moot point.” She waved a hand aimlessly before her. “I wasn’t promoted. Peyton was, and I’m done jumping through hoops, hoping the effort is noticed.”

Hallie narrowed her eyes on Tessa. “So,” she said, dragging the little word into several syllables. “What exactly are you planning to do?”

“I’m going to start asking myself what I want before making decisions,” she answered. “That’ll be the crux, I think. Instead of just doing things out of habit or to please others. I will serve myself first.”

“W-W-T-D,” Hallie said. “What would Tessa do?”

“I strongly approve,” Kate said. “That sounds incredibly empowering. I think you should go for it.”

“I am,” Tessa said.

She wasn’t speaking hypothetically this time. She wasn’t dreaming anymore. She was taking action.

“Not what would I do,” she said. “What would the main character in my life’s story do.” She swung her harried gaze to Kate, then back to Hallie, before adding her next four words. “Do it with me.”

Hallie made a small unintelligible sound.

Kate wet her lips. “Do it how?”

“I don’t know,” Tessa said. “But I think we should make a thirty-day pact.”

Hallie frowned. “To?”

“To only behave how our favorite heroines would. To be the main characters we truly want to be.”

“I’m getting married,” Hallie said. “My plate is full.”

“But you aren’t happy, and you don’t have to do anything big like quit your job or leave your fiancé. You can just adjust the everyday stuff, unless you want to do the big things. Think about Jo March. She didn’t fit into the ideas society had for her, but she didn’t conform, and you don’t have to either. You have an entire life to live after the wedding. What will you do with it?”

Hallie’s brows rose.

Kate set her hands in her lap.

“I need this,” Tessa said. “And I don’t think I can do it on my own.” She looked from Hallie to Kate. “I’m afraid I’ll fall back on old habits, and I won’t stick to it without you guys. Besides, this feels like something we all need right now, and I want happiness for all of us.”