Page 125 of Runaway Bride's Guide to Love

“You know what I mean. A relationship just to be in the headlines. Think about it. The man is a video game nerd who hit big. A hot nerd, but still, a gaming geek for all intents and purposes. And the women he’s been seen with probably can’t spell console. Except Sabrina. She can do no wrong.”

“Your point?”

“My point is, all the models he’s been with are up-and-comers. Even Sabrina, when they were photographed, she was just getting out of a horrible relationship. All the women have needed him to get their name out there. And maybe he’s trying to seem like he’s not a video game nerd. Which fine if he is. He’s a hottie with his glasses. But at the end of the day, I think this is all for publicity.”

“I think you spend too much time on the internet reading about celebrity gossip.”

Leave it to Mama Maeve to be a tea party pooper.

“Fine, let’s talk about something else,” I say. “What about your mystery client? Whatever happened with that?”

Maeve lets out a groan as she exits the highway. “Canceled again. I swear, I don’t care how big the commission is, if they cancel one more time…”

“Oh man. How many times is this now?”

“Four,” Maeve says as she turns toward my house.My house.I don’t think that will ever get old.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “Can you get out of it?”

“Yes. No contracts have been signed. No deposits paid. But I’m tired of holding times for them just for some rich asshole to keep canceling on me.”

“I don’t blame you. And you still don’t know who it is?”

She shakes her head as she pulls into the driveway. “Not a clue.”

Maeve turns off the car, which surprises me. “What are you doing?”

“I need to use the bathroom.”

“Oh, okay then.” I grab my bags out of her backseat as I start walking toward the garage. Maeve though walks toward our front door.

“Where are you going?” I ask. “Come in this way.”

She shakes her head. “Can you let me in over here? Closer to the bathroom.”

Damn, I didn’t realize her bladder was that small. “Fine.”

I walk across the driveway and up the sidewalk to a waiting Maeve on the front porch. I go to put in my key, knowing we usually keep it locked, when the door easily pushes open.

“What the heck?”

I turn to Maeve who has a coy smile on her face. “Happy Birthday, Stella.”

I carefully step into my house, which is scarily quiet. Where’s Winnie? I’m used to her jumping on me the second I’m home. My heart starts racing as I walk down the hallway and turn toward the living room, where I find every person I love in one place.

“Surprise!”

Noise makers echo off the walls as confetti and balloons start raining around me. I look up and yes, somehow there was a net on the ceiling. How in the world…

“Oh my…” I trail off as I’m completely surprised and overwhelmed. I look around and my heart is bursting. Andi and her boyfriend Max. My parents. Ainsley, who I think might be crying. Maeve, who walks over to a waiting Jayce. Even Quinn is here, waving from the back as she blows into a noisemaker. Simon, Charlie, and Lainey. Mom and Dad. Maddie and Jack.

And of course, Emmett, who is smiling ear to ear right now.

I start walking over to say hello to everyone, when I feel someone run into my leg.

“Happy Birthday, Tella!”

“Thank you, Jack!” I say as I bend down to give him a hug.

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