Page 29 of An Inconvenient Plan
“Fine. I’ll ask him.”
Josh would never share the details. He was much too private for that, and everyone knew Mad had no filter. She worried her lower lip. She knew Josh so well in some ways, and in other ways he was a complete mystery. She never should’ve crossed the line with him. He’d sounded so sincere when he’d said they could stop fighting and make it work. Then nothing. Her throat tightened. She was tired of Josh stomping on her feelings. Now she was stuck with him forever thanks to their parents. Talk about awkward around the holidays. She’d have to see him with whatever girlfriend he brought around, like when he was gaga for Clarissa. Dammit.
“Whatever,” Hailey said. “Thanks for the translation. Are you going to the book club meeting at Claire’s on Sunday night?” The Happy Endings Book Club meeting had been moved to Claire’s place instead of their usual meeting at Something’s Brewing Café. Claire was too famous a movie star to appear in public without causing a stir, so they sometimes met at her home in Connecticut.
“Yeah, I’ll give you a ride.” Mad liked to share rides so they could talk, and she also liked to be in the driver’s seat.
“Thanks.”
Parker slid the patio door open. “Burger time.”
She joined Mad getting out the condiments and chips. Then they settled at the small breakfast bar that divided the kitchen from the living room and dug in. Park sat on a bar stool on the end, then Mad, then Hailey. Rose lay down under the breakfast bar, prepared to pounce on any burger that might fall her way.
Mad told them about her classes and a big group project she was working on, launching a new product. The great thing about Mad and Parker was that Hailey never felt like a third wheel; she just felt like part of the gang. That was how Mad had made her feel right from the beginning with her family too, casually including her like she was actually part of the family. Of course, that made her worry about her flaky mom ruining the good thing Hailey had going with the Campbell clan. Everyone would turn on her because her mom hurt their dad. And that made her think of Josh, the one part of the Campbells she couldn’t seem to make peace with. Did Josh have any intentions toward her? Did Phillip?
Had Josh already forgotten about their passionate kiss?
Men and their stupid games. Fuck them all. After this she’d go home to the best kind of man—the fictional one in her latest steamy read. Book boyfriend for the win.
She glanced over as Mad laughed and Parker smiled back, love in his eyes. Hailey’s heart squeezed painfully hard. Was love ever going to happen for her?
10
Josh played the worst basketball game of his life with the guys on Saturday afternoon. His limbs were like lead, his focus shit. He’d intended to get in touch with Hailey on Friday—once he knew she was off work—for dinner on Sunday night. He was needed at work on Friday and Saturday nights, the busiest time for Garner’s, so it had to be Sunday. He’d spent most of Thursday thinking up the best date ideas that would show his serious intentions, and settled on dinner at his place. Then he spent most of Friday thinking up the best menu. He’d planned on making her dinner, slipping the money he owed her into her purse when she wasn’t looking, and giving her the gift that he’d special ordered for her. They’d kiss, for sure, but he was determined to take it slow. He wanted her to know this was for real, not just him acting on lust like most men probably did with her. And then the whole thing came to a crashing halt when Mad called to tell him the stupid prince had offered to buy Ludbury House for Hailey. Talk about a big gesture. Obviously the guy was into her. Not only that, Hailey had agreed to be the prince’s date at a wedding on Villroy Island. What the hell was she doing accepting dates from another guy after they’d shared that intense kiss?
What if she went to Villroy and never came back?
The prince offered glamour and glitz, the fairy-tale kind of life that he knew Hailey dreamed about. Hadn’t she said she fantasized about the prince whenever she read one of her romantic stories?
He stalked off the basketball court and grabbed his water bottle.
Jake, his twin, appeared at his side, grabbed his own water bottle, and drank. Josh knew from a lifetime of twin connection that Jake knew he was playing like shit because he was upset. He probably also knew it was because of Hailey. Most things rolled off his back, but Hailey’s pink claws were into him good.
“Hey,” Jake said.
Josh grunted and drank more water. He didn’t want to talk about it.
Jake wiped his mouth on his T-shirt sleeve. “You free this afternoon? I got something back at the house I want to show you.”
He went for a neutral expression, lowering his lashes, his poker face that worked with everyone but Jake. Still he had to try, his mood too shitty to inflict on anyone. “What is it?”
Jake hip-checked him. “Come over and find out.”
He eyed him. Jake grinned.
Josh stated the obvious as a warning. “I’m in a shitty mood.”
“This’ll cheer you up.” Jake exhaled sharply. “It’s a present, okay? Too big to give to you here. Would you just come over?”
A present? A big one? It wasn’t their birthday. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t curious. And it sounded a helluva lot better than having a heart-to-heart talk with Jake about woman problems. Ever since Jake had married Claire, he acted like he was an expert on relationships.
Josh inclined his head. “Sure, thanks. Let me shower and I’ll meet you there.”
“Later,” Jake said and headed for his BMW.
Josh headed for his Miata convertible, his mind turning over why he was getting a present and what it could be. The new focus helped the dark cloud lift, his mind clearing. He never should’ve touched Hailey in the first place. He’d known it was wrong, and for some stupid reason he’d thought it would just work itself out. His fingers gripped the steering wheel tight. He had his dream bar, family, friends that were like brothers to him, and…lots of good stuff going on.
Jake hadamazingstuff going on. Josh pulled through the security gate of Jake and Claire’s horse farm that was more of an estate. Claire was wealthy from her work as a movie star and her film production company, and Jake was wealthy from his tech company Dat Cloud. Josh could’ve gotten in on the ground floor of Dat Cloud, but he’d taken a different path. He had no regrets. Just an occasional twinge of what might’ve been. He passed a couple of historic houses on the property before pulling up the circular drive of the main house. Jake and Claire had moved in a few months ago in January, so he’d been here before, but he still hadn’t gotten used to it. The place screamed money at the top of its lungs.
