Page 68 of Wicked Flirt
Lexi considered bolting on the private conversation, but it was fascinating in a car-crash kind of way.
“I can’t even…” Hailey took a deep breath and held up her palm. “Let’s please not talk about Mr. Campbell that way.”
Brandy pouted. “Sorry. I don’t have close friends like you do to share with. Just the ladies from the shop and they’re so catty.”
Hailey hugged her mom. “I’m so glad you’ve found happiness.”
Brandy beamed. “Will you plan our wedding?”
Hailey pulled back, her expression tight. “Of course.”
“I want you to be my maid of honor.”
Hailey pasted on her beauty-queen smile.Uh-oh. Stress level rising!“I would love that.”
Her mom smiled and walked away.
“You okay?” Lexi asked gently. It must suck for Hailey—the love-obsessed wedding planner—to have all of her friendsandher mom planning weddings when she wasn’t even dating anyone.
“Sure, sure,” Hailey said, patting her purse like she was looking for Rose. She suddenly seemed to remember that Rose was with a dog sitter, dropped her hand, and turned to Lexi. “Can I get you some champagne?” Ever the polite host.
“Sure. We’ll both get some.”
They walked over to the bar, and Josh greeted them with a polite but decidedly cool, “What can I get you ladies?”
They ordered two champagnes. Josh served them up a few moments later and rested his elbows on the bar across from Hailey. “I’m best man. Looks like I’ll be your wedding escort again.”
Hailey’s lower lip wobbled. Lexi froze. She’d only ever seen Hailey cry once after ending a long relationship. Normally nothing fazed her.
“Don’t cry,” Josh said urgently.
Hailey burst into tears.
“Oh, Hailey,” Lexi said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “It’s okay. It’s an emotional time.”
Josh appeared at Lexi’s side and took over, leading Hailey away. He parked Hailey in a back booth of the restaurant, her back to their group. Her shoulders moved up and down with her sobs. Josh dropped to his haunches, speaking quietly to her.
Lexi had a quick conference with her friends over intervening. Josh was handing Hailey napkins from the dispenser now. She shook a napkin, talking to him and crying at the same time.
Finally, they all turned to relationship counselor Sabrina for her expert opinion.
“Let Josh do his thing,” Sabrina said. “She’s the last single woman in our group; even her mom beat her to it. Given how much she loves love—”
“She calls herself the Love Junkie,” Mad put in.
Sabrina went on. “This is a difficult adjustment. She just needs some time to process.”
Hailey was shaking her head at something Josh was saying, her voice rising, but not enough to make out her words.
“Should we go over there now?” Lexi asked.
Marcus appeared at her side. “Rescue is his specialty. He’ll come through.”
“Yeah, let it play out,” Mad said. “She’ll walk away if he’s not being helpful. Honestly Josh always comes through in difficult times. There’s no better person you want on your side.” Josh was Mad’s big brother, so she would know.
They all watched as Josh guided Hailey toward the kitchen in the back of the restaurant, a hand on the small of her back. Hailey let her hair hang in her face, hiding her tears, her shoulders hunched. Maybe Josh was leading her to a more private space, or maybe they’d leave through the back exit.
Mad stared after them. “She can’t leave. She’s the host of her mom’s party.”
