Page 110 of Happily Ever After

Blaise laughed. “It’s okay, I don’t care. You’re all like family to me.”

“And,” Paige said for Gigi’s sake. “What’s discussed at book club, stays at book club.”

“I understand,” Gigi said.

Blaise’s exhaled. “One hundred and twenty-five thousand.”

The room exploded.

Paige laughed out loud. Cece shrieked once and then covered her mouth. Maude stared like she’d been handed a math problem that violated the laws of physics. Althea shoved one fist into the air. Essie blinked and said, “Mercy,” under her breath like a prayer.

Gigi’s eyes widened. “Blaise. Oh, my goodness. Congratulations.”

Blaise nodded, cheeks flushed. “Thank you.”

Paige felt genuine awe. Not just for the money, though that was staggering, but for what it represented. For Blaise, it meant freedom. “I’m so thrilled for you.”

“Thanks,” Blaise said. “I’m happy. I’m grateful. And I also feel like I might throw up.”

She exhaled a long breath. “It’s life-changing.”

Essie leaned forward. “It’s deserved.”

Blaise’s eyes flicked down for a moment, then back up. “Thank you all. Especially you, Cece. You really helped me.”

Cece shrugged. “And you launched my podcast. I think we’re even.”

Smiling, Paige turned to Maude. “How about you, Maude?”

Maude made a face. “I’m supposed to follow that?”

They all laughed and she sighed dramatically, then smiled. “Fine. My week has been busy just like everyone else’s. But I actually had a nice afternoon today.”

Paige’s eyebrows rose. “Oh?”

Maude nodded. “I went to the beach with Ollie, Nolan, and Milo.” She glanced at Gigi. “Long story short, Ollie was my high school boyfriend, the love of my life, and we reconnected here at the Colony. Nolan is his son and Milo is his golden retriever. It was such a good day.”

Paige watched Maude’s face as she spoke. There was a softness there, something more tender than usual.

“And,” Maude continued. “Nolan is really warming up.”

“That’s good,” Essie said, sincere.

Maude nodded. “I had him over last night for pizza and we talked about Nightforge. We really connected.” She laughed. “He was impressed, apparently. Which is ridiculous, because I’m fifty-five, not dead.”

Althea snorted into her tea.

Maude’s smile lingered. “Ollie told me Nolan won’t stop talking about me.”

Paige’s heart warmed. “That’s a huge win.”

“It felt like one,” Maude admitted. Then she glanced down, like she was deciding whether to share the next part. When she looked back up, her expression was steady. “And Ollie said something new to me today at the beach.”

Cece leaned in slightly. “What?”

Maude’s voice went quieter, careful. “He said I’d make a great stepmom.”

The room went still in a different way, like they were all holding their breath.