Page 20 of The Other Plan

“Exactly. I’ll be fine. I’ll just stay as far away from Carter as I can all day, and it will be over before I know it. Then just a few more days left, and he’ll be out of my life for good.”

Out of my life for good. The fact he was back in it was shocking, and now the thought that he’d exit it again caused my stomach to tighten. What if I never saw him again?

“Want me to come along with you? I can be your buffer.”

“Want to? I would love to have you. But I thought you and Louie had plans today.”

“Do I want to drink wine all day? Uh, yeah. I’m in! Louie will understand. I’ll just bring him home a couple bottles, and all will be forgiven.”

“Deal!”

He lifted his arms and waggled his hips. “Day drinking! Whoot whoot!”

We exchanged smiles before Cameron hurried out of my room toward my office above my attached garage.

My phone dinged, and I looked down to see Jo’s picture.

Jo: How are you? Did you see him yesterday? Sure you don’t want me to kick his lying, cheating ass? I will. I got your back, sis.

Me: Um... kinda learned he didn’t cheat. Long story, but I’m the asshole. I’ll call you tonight and fill you in.

Jo: WTF for real?

Me: Yeah. For real.

Jo: So, does this mean I need to kick your ass then?

Me: LOL... no ass kicking needed. Just answer your damn phone when I call, and I’ll tell you the whole crazy story

Jo: Dying to hear this

I set my phone down and walked to my closet to pick out the perfect outfit for wine tasting... wine tasting with Carter Sullivan.

CHAPTER SEVEN

CARTER

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One by one, we piled back onto the red trolley we’d spent the better part of the day riding around on. Not wanting to make an ass out of myself in front of Jenna, I’d kept my wine tastings to a minimum. The rest of our party hadn’t held back, so I hoped we wouldn’t embarrass ourselves too much at the eighth and final winery stop in Fish Creek.

“I want to sit by Cameron!” Ashley, one of the bridesmaids, cooed as she waved him over to her seat. “Get over here, hot stuff!”

“Coming, gorgeous!” Cameron answered back, leaping up from the spot where he’d sat beside Jenna all day.

“Cameron,” she whispered harshly as he scampered away. “Get back here!”

Instead of obeying his boss, he collapsed into the seat next to Ashley. They each took a long swig from the wine bottle they’d carried out from the last winery.

As I scanned the seats for an opening, I saw the last open spot remaining... the spot next to Jenna. She saw the intent in my eyes and shuffled nervously in her seat, glancing over to Cameron, who was too marinated with wine to notice her silent plea.

With a cocky smile, I walked down the aisle and slid into the seat beside her. “Looks like this is the last seat. Too bad because you were doing a fantastic job avoiding me all day.”

“I wasn’t avoiding you,” she said quickly, but I saw the lie in her eyes.

I chuckled. “You’ve been using your assistant like a human shield all day. Hell, you were so good at it that the Packers coach could learn something from you about evasive maneuvering.”

She glanced up at me and looked like she wanted to argue but gave up and shook her head with a sigh. “Fine. Busted. I was avoiding you all day.”