Page 82 of Bargain With the Boss

I wasn’t even sure if I was in the wrong time of the month—or maybe the right time.

I snatched the ticket off the shelf and went to the pharmacy and purchased it before I could think about it too hard. I was in a fog while we checked out the rest of our food and fun things. Claire chattered about car games and plucked trash magazines as well as a book of word games in the checkout line.

I distracted myself with getting the cooler set up and in the small backseat of my car.

Claire sat in the passenger and was already making a playlist.

I didn’t need to make a decision right now.

I had time.

I got in the driver side and grabbed my phone out of the cupholder.

Texts from my brother and Xavier stared at me as well as five missed calls.

Claire plucked the phone out of my hand. “What’s your code?”

Stunned, I blurted it out.

Her fingers flew over the screen.

“Wait, what are you telling them?”

“I told Xavier and your brother that you were going out of town for a few days and would see them on Monday.”

A nervous laugh rolled out of me. “Just like that?”

“Yes. That’s exactly what we’re doing. We’re going to go have a great time and you’re going to live like there’s no tomorrow for once in your life, Sydney Keller.”

I turned on the car and Taylor Swift blasted out of the speakers about driving a getaway car.

And that was so on point, I couldn’t stop the laugh. This time it was much freer.

“That sounds like a really good plan.”

The trip to Lake George was a few hours. We sang and we laughed. I’d never played a car game in my life and Claire made up for it. We took the exit for the quaint little town, and she was right.

It definitely was a throwback, but I definitely saw the potential in the hotels and small shops that lined downtown. Claire’s friend was getting married right on the lake in a stone building that was more fairytale than kitschy. It reminded me of Italy with its old world charm and stone.

A valet took my car and our bags, and we took the soft-sided cooler which was pink because it was Claire.

A shriek and a gaggle of women spotted her and stormed over to us.

“Claire!”

“Josie! Carolanne, Bea! Ginny!”

I knew no one and suddenly wondered if this was the second biggest mistake of the last twenty-four hours.

“Guys, this is Sydney.”

A redhead who looked as if she came off the pages ofAnne of Green Gablesstepped forward. “I’m so happy you’re here. Way easier to hang with girls than a stuffy boyfriend that Claire would bring.”

“Hey!” Claire wrinkled her nose. “That’s not fair. I only did it that one time.”

“I’m Josie, the maid of honor. I require all the details of who you are and when you guys met.”

“We met in a clothing shop and I’m pretty sure Claire adopted me.”