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“Half hour’s good.” I smiled as he went into his room, but all I wanted to do was follow him. He was like the sun—when he went away, I felt cold again. I just wanted to stay in his spotlight. He made me feel so good, warm inside, and I only wanted to bask in his attention.
I slumped against the wall as he closed his door.
“He’s dreamy, huh?” Josie fanned herself.
I sighed in response.
“C’mon, let’s get you dressed. If I’m an esteemed guest, you’re the main player. You need to take a shower and brush your teeth. I want you sparkling. A dimple that intense deserves some sparkle.”
Thirty minutes later, Josie had performed emergency-hangover-sparkle therapy on me. With her magic products, she’d transformed me from a hungover, sickly mess to a lucid-looking, bright-eyed human. “You’re amazing.”
She laughed as she finished smoothing her own hair, which hung in glossy waves down her back. “I’m good at my job, and you’re gorgeous, so it makes it easy. C’mon. Let’s go find Romeo.”
“Wait.” I hesitated. “I… I like him, Josie. He’s a nice guy. I know I asked him to come this weekend for a reason, but I don’t even know if I care about that anymore. I mean, I care because my mother drives me insane. But I don’t care as much about that as I think… As I think I might care about him.”
Josie frowned. “I’m not seeing the downside here. What’re you worried about?”
“What if… What if he doesn’t like me back?”
Josie put her hands on her hips. “Why on earth wouldn’t he?”
“Because. Um.” I licked my lips. “I don’t know why, exactly.”
“There’s the operative word—exactly. You don’t know why because there is no why. Of course he likes you! You’ve got everything to offer. You’re smart, you’re beautiful, you’re kind. Any man would be lucky to have you.”
“I always say the same thing to you, but you don’t listen to me.”
“Well, that’s because I’m an idiot with a very vivid set of insecurities.” Josie shrugged. “Don’t be like me. Don’t let your lonely self stand in the way of you starting something. If you like him, don’t talk yourself out of it. You do that, you know.”
“That’s not true. I just like to calculate possible outcomes and consider the associated risks.”
Josie smiled at me, but it was a small, sad smile. “Relationships aren’t business, Maddy. They’re messy, and they’re complicated—they’re organic.”
“I don’t like messy and complicated.”
She arched an eyebrow. “You think you need to tell me that? I remember playing Barbies with you. You broke up with Ken because he wasn’t in the five-year plan. You were eight.”
“I still have a five-year plan, and it doesn’t include—”
“Learn to improvise, then. All I’m saying is, he seems like a nice guy. You like him. Don’t overthink it, okay? For once in your life.”
I nodded. “Okay. I can relax for one day, I guess.” I hope.
An enormous buffet breakfast was served in the barn, complete with a Bloody Mary bar. Dressed in an elegant charcoal jumpsuit, my mother breezed by our table then immediately breezed right back. “Bob, good morning. You’re looking strapping, as usual. Josie, hello there. I see you didn’t call that personal trainer I recommended.”
“Good morning, Mrs. Delaney.” Josie chugged her mimosa.
“And that brings me to you, Madison. A word in private, please?”
I followed her to an empty table, and I made sure to bring my drink. “Yes,
Mother?”
“What was up with your performance last night?” Instead of looking at me, she looked past me, never a good sign. It meant she was seriously pissed.
“I had too much to drink. Actually, I didn’t even drink that much, but I hadn’t eaten anything, and it just went straight to my head.”
“Did you know that your sister was expecting you to say a few words? Or at least mingle some more with the guests? All the other bridesmaids did. Even Claire when she finally tore herself away from the Graysons’ daughter.” My mother’s voice was ice. “I’d assumed, incorrectly, that you being a CEO meant you were responsible and trustworthy. Instead, you behaved in a manner inconsistent with our family’s brand.”
