Page 6 of Always a Roommate
He gave me a sad look that told me I didn’t know what I was talking about. “We’re all alone, Mr. Kelly. Some of us just have to learn that earlier than others.”
His words stayed with me long after he left.
3
RAE
Growing up, it had just been my dad and me. No siblings. My mom left when I was young, and she was now a distant figure we rarely talked about. It made us closer than most fathers and daughters. We’d bonded through the pain. Yet, I’d still yearned for a large family. For noise and laughter.
When I met Finley and her family welcomed me, it changed my world, but not only mine. The Kellys made it a point to include my dad in their family, to give him a place to belong. And I’d be forever grateful to them for that.
Which was why I’d never miss a big family dinner. Even if it meant cutting my second meeting with my new client short.
Lola Ramirez sat in front of me, her dark hair pulled into a low ponytail. She had on only minimal makeup, not that she needed any at all. The dancer was beautiful in a normal sort of way. She wasn’t made up, hadn’t changed from the small-town girl after making it as a dancer. After falling in love with a rock star.
I checked the time on my phone.
“Have somewhere to be?” Lola’s fiancé asked. Our first meeting on Friday went so well we decided to move full steam ahead. They wanted to get married in just over a month, which freaked me out, but I’d promised them I could do it—probably why they’d hired me.
I turned to face Drew Stone, still unable to believe I sat across from the singer in Gulf City’s beach club. “No, I’m good.”
Lola didn’t look like she believed me. “We’ve been here for a while. If you need to go, we realize we aren’t your only clients.” Her fingers threaded through Drew’s naturally, like she didn’t even realize she’d reached for him.
The tabloids had doubts about this couple, especially after a falling out with their last wedding planner—hence the short time frame. But after spending only a few hours with them, I knew they were the real deal.
I rested my hands in my lap and smiled. “I’m all yours.” Except, not far from here, all the people I loved gathered for dinner.
Drew smiled, and I wanted to melt right there on the spot. The hockey player turned singer-dancer was every girl’s fantasy. He was a local boy who’d made the big time.
“Charcuterie?” Drew’s father, the manager of The Beach Club, set a tray of cheese and meat on the table in front of us. “Rae, you’re going to need your energy to keep up with these two.”
All I could think as I looked at the food was of Mrs. Kelly’s rib roast, and my mouth watered. I’d been so looking forward to that and expected this meeting to be over by now. “Thank you.” I smiled at Mr. Stone before turning my gaze back to Lola. “So, you’ve decided on a light blue and pale yellow?”
Lola grinned. “Yes.” She slid a notebook across the table. “Drew sort of planned the entire thing. We just need you to execute his ideas.”
Drew planned it? I lifted one brow, suppressing my smile as his face reddened.
He cleared his throat. “I only made some suggestions to Lola.”
Lola nudged him. “Sure, if by suggestions you mean telling me exactly what you’d always seen for your wedding.” She laughed. “I don’t really care what it looks like as long as I get to marry him.”
Drew unleashed a charming smile, one unlike the smiles plastered across the tabloids. This one was real.
Coughing, Drew tried to hide his embarrassment. It was pretty adorable. These two were adorable. “Our biggest issue will be security because the guest list will include many big names.”
I’d never planned a wedding quite like this, but I didn’t let that inexperience show. “I’ll handle it.” I jotted down a few notes, stopping when my phone buzzed with a text.
Finley: Mom wants to know where you are.
Sure, just her mom. I shook my head and kept writing when a series of texts came in.
Dad: Honey, are you coming to dinner?
Tanner: Get your butt over here. Someone has to annoy Shane.
Johnny: Mom said to text you, so pretend I’m saying something funny.
That made me laugh. Johnny was definitely the funniest Kelly. I hadn’t realized how long I’d been distracted before Lola said my name.
