Page 22 of Reality With You (Arden Beach #1)

“Not to get sappy so early in the day, but you all inspire me ,” Avery said, pulling Lennon’s focus back to the group.

“I mean, look at this table. I’m so lucky to be surrounded by such incredible, successful women.

We’re all going after our dreams. Tana, your beauty and skincare line is amazing.

I’m so proud every time I see the well-deserved love it’s getting,” she said to the tall, Amazonian beauty who could have walked here straight from a runway.

Tana’s striking bone structure was emphasized by the long, onyx braid flowing down her back.

“And Candace, I’m so excited to meet your new little one.

I’m in awe of how you make being a wife, a mother of three, and running your own boutiques look so effortless.

I hope I can be half as good at juggling it all one day. ”

“I can give you some tips. I’m sure that day’s not too far off,” Candace said warmly with a wink.

Lennon realized why her big, wide-set eyes and pixie cut looked familiar. Her boutique hosted a pop-up shop recently near Opus 21 that had attracted a line around the block. That day, everyone in Manhattan seemed to carry around shopping bags with her doll-like face on them.

“Chad is going to put a little quarterback or fashionista in there fast ,” Tana remarked, snapping her fingers.

Avery laughed, shaking her head. “And Kelsey,” she said, turning toward her maid of honor.

“Your huge heart and all the philanthropic work you’ve already done at such a young age have inspired me so, so much.

I can’t wait to see your movie when it comes out next year.

I’m going to miss you when you’re a huge actress and too busy hanging out with A-listers to spend time with me anymore. ”

“Are you going to have time for me when you’re busy running your huge lifestyle brand?” Kelsey arched an eyebrow as her champagne flute dangled from French-tipped fingers.

Avery’s lips curved into a smile. “That’s the dream,” she said with a sigh.

“Well, I’d say you’re already on your way.” Candace rested her chin on delicate hands. “You’ve got the career, the husband, the TV show. Next stop, babies and an empire.”

“Get that bun in the oven and cash in the bank, baby!” Tana wiggled her shoulders, large gold hoops swaying from her ears. Applause and sounds of agreement rang across the table.

As Lennon listened to Avery list everyone’s accomplishments, the air thickened around her, pressing until she felt impossibly small. She wished she had achievements to celebrate. Instead, shame and disappointment nipped at her. She reached for the glass of water.

“Oh, and of course, Lennon—” Avery turned to her.

Lennon wondered if it was a gracious way of covering that momentarily she’d forgotten about her.

“I’m so inspired by your creativity. I remember you singing in the school talent shows and now you’re following your dreams. You’re totally going to be selling out venues someday. ”

Lennon smiled, tight-lipped. “Thanks, Avery.”

“Also, now that you’re officially back in town, I wanted to ask …” Avery glanced at the others before she reached out, placing a hand on Lennon’s. “Will you be one of my bridesmaids?”

Lennon’s head whipped to Avery, her glass clinking loudly against the ceramic bread plate as she narrowly missed the table while lowering it. Everyone jumped a little.

That was a question she hadn’t expected.

“What? Seriously?”

“Yes!” Avery laughed.

“Wow. That’s … wow,” Lennon repeated, a laugh stumbling from her throat. “Sorry, I’m a little surprised. Aren’t you knee-deep in planning already at this point? The wedding’s in September, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, but that’s a few months away. There are a lot of things you can be a part of. We can make up for lost time.”

Something twinged low in Lennon’s belly at the suddenness of it all, but closer to the surface, her chest ached for sisterhood and connection. “Yeah. Of course. I’d love to.”

Avery’s dimples deepened with her smile. “Also … will you sing something for us at the reception?”

Lennon’s lips parted. Still reeling from the last question, she’d barely found her bearings before that second shockwave. “I’d be honored.”

Avery pulled Lennon into an embrace. “It’s going to be great.”

“So, Lennon,” Tana said as Lennon settled back in her chair, “what kind of music do you do?”

“Alt-pop and rock, mostly,” Lennon answered. The sea breeze had finally cooled her clammy skin, her hair no longer sticking to her neck and shoulders.

“How many albums have you made?” Candace asked.

A prick of grief stung her heart. “Um, none yet. I had a record deal, but it didn’t pan out.”

“Uh-oh,” Tana said around her straw. “What happened?”

As she opened her mouth to answer, fate stepped in and did her a solid. The waiter and his assistant returned to the table with trays of food. The question got lost in the shuffle as they marveled at how good everything looked and smelled.

Lennon’s appetite had abated a little, but the incredible smell of her eggs Benedict aroused it again. She drizzled some syrup over it and took a bite. It melted on her tongue. At least the food was delicious. And free.

“So, why’d they dump you?” Kelsey asked, piercing a small piece of salmon with her fork before delicately placing it in her mouth.

The unceremonious way in which she’d asked the question caught Lennon off guard. Her throat constricted around the untimely piece of egg she’d just swallowed. “Excuse me?” she pushed out with a tiny cough.

“The record label,” Kelsey clarified, the sun glinting off her diamond necklace. “Why didn’t they want to work with you anymore?”

“We parted over creative differences,” Lennon said evenly, taking a sip of water.

“What does that mean? They didn’t like the music you were making?”

Lennon studied Kelsey, something grating against her instincts. “They didn’t get the music I wanted to make, and I didn’t like the music they wanted me to make. We just weren’t a good fit. It’s disappointing, but it happens.”

“Mm. I’ve heard how unpredictable the music industry can be,” Avery said with a frown and a sympathetic nod.

“Then, why did they sign you in the first place? Didn’t they have you audition or listen to your demos or whatever before you signed a contract?

” Kelsey pulled a confused face, glancing around the table.

“Seems kind of weird you’d both not know what you were getting into so no one wasted their time. ”

The others chewed small bites of their food as their eyes bounced between Lennon and Kelsey.

“Things changed once we started recording,” Lennon explained. “We were no longer on the same page. It’s really not that complicated.”

“That had to be so disappointing when they let you go,” Kelsey said, sounding sympathetic, but it felt hollow. “You must’ve waited a long time to get one, too. Aren’t you almost thirty?”

Lennon smiled tightly. “I’m twenty-five.”

Kelsey’s eyes expanded momentarily. “Oh, wow. I applaud your commitment.” She speared a Brussels sprout.

“How old are you?” Lennon asked.

“Twenty-two. So, what are you doing for work, then? Or do you not have to work?”

Lennon cut into her eggs, slicing off another piece despite the rock forming in her stomach. “I’m between jobs now, but I was working in New York as a waitress while recording.”

“I’ve heard it’s hard for aging female artists. It’s so sexist.” Kelsey rolled her eyes. The other women all nodded, mumbling sounds of agreement. “It must be stressful, especially when it’s probably putting you in the position of choosing between your career and starting a family soon.”

Lennon couldn’t help the humorless laugh that slipped out of her. Everyone turned to her with expressions of confusion.

Kelsey canted her head. “What’s so funny?”

“It’s just … you’re making it sound like I already have one foot in the grave and assuming I can only be a mother or a musician, not both, if starting a family is even something I want. I mean, how is it any different from Candace running a boutique with three kids?”

“She’s not living on a tour bus and going to sleep in a different city every night,” Kelsey pointed out, her brows scrunching together as though it should be obvious. “You were married young, right? I figured having a family must be important to you.”

Lennon blinked, stunned by Kelsey’s audacity. “That’s a lot to assume about someone you don’t know. How did you even know I was married?”

“Is settling down and starting a family not important to you?” Kelsey asked, ignoring the follow-up question.

“Kelsey doesn’t mean any harm. She’s just a really straightforward person,” Avery cut in. “It can be a little jarring at first, but she means well.” She tossed Kelsey a “tone it down” look.

“I’m trying to get to know you. I don’t like wasting time on bullshit. It’s so pointless,” Kelsey remarked casually, waving her fork.

Lennon bit her tongue, holding back the part of her that wanted to throw down her napkin and fight. She was technically at work, and she’d be spending a lot of time with these women. On television, no less. She needed to keep her cool. “My career is my main focus right now,” she asserted calmly.

“Then, why come back to Arden Beach instead of trying get another record deal in New York or in LA?” Kelsey tossed out the question as if she already knew the answer, not even looking up from her plate. “Aren’t there more opportunities in those cities?”

A gust of salty air washed across the patio, blowing up the scalloped edges of the umbrellas to flap against the canvas. The silence at the table was loud. They all waited for her to answer. Even the cameras seemed to lean in a little closer.

Lennon considered throwing back a sassy remark. Why are you so curious, Kelsey?

But that probably wouldn’t earn her any favors—with Avery’s friends or with anyone watching later. She heard Erin’s voice in her head. This was a chance for people to get to know her. To let her walls down a little.

To stop hiding.

“I never really gave Arden Beach a chance after high school.” Because I was running away from my heartache, Lennon held back. “When the opportunity came up, I realized it’d be nice to return to my roots. And it’s nice seeing old friends. New York got lonely after a while.”

The corner of Kelsey’s pout gently ticked upward. Her blue eyes narrowed slightly as if analyzing Lennon. “Your ex-husband lives in Arden Beach, too, doesn’t he? Dylan Strickland.”

Lennon’s stomach twisted. Hearing his name on Kelsey’s tongue rubbed her the wrong way. “How’d you know about Dylan?”

“Avery told me.”

Lennon passed a questioning look to Avery, whose doe-like eyes expanded slightly under the possible accusation she’d been gossiping. “I mentioned it in passing when I told her I’d run into you in New York,” Avery explained. “He knows Chad, my fiancé. I was saying what a small world it is.”

Tana stopped a forkful of kale an inch from her mouth as her attention shot to Lennon. “Wait, hold up. Dylan Strickland is your ex? As in, pitcher for the Arden Beach Tidebreakers?”

Here we go.

“We were married for a little while when we were teenagers,” Lennon explained.

The bridesmaids exchanged looks as if some very juicy gossip had been shared, their expressions alight with interest. Lennon shifted uncomfortably in her chair, picking up her knife to slice off another piece of her food.

“Didn’t he almost die in some big accident?” Tana questioned.

“Oh, my God,” Candace exclaimed, nearly choking on her food. She touched the small, gold cross resting on her collarbone. “What?”

“He was on a boat that crashed. Everyone on it was wasted.” Tana nodded slowly as she spoke, eyebrows lifted. “One guy got arrested and kicked off the Tidebreakers. Dylan was suspended. Huge scandal.”

“Was anyone hurt?”

“I heard he was in the hospital for a while and may never play again,” Tana answered Candace.

“He will,” Lennon said, driving her knife through the English muffin. “He’s doing a lot better now.”

“So, you two are in touch, then?” Candace asked, the question sounding innocent enough. Her round eyes betrayed a deeper intrigue.

“We reconnected recently when I moved back.”

Tana leaned forward. “Do you think you’ll ever get back together?”

Even though she’d been waiting for that question, Lennon’s stomach squeezed. “We’re friends. His sister’s my best friend, so we’ll always be in each other’s lives.”

Kelsey’s lips curved into an empty smile. “Wow, how nice that you happen to be in town to support him during this difficult time.”

Lennon locked eyes with the blonde as her knife finally hit the ceramic, severing the piece of eggs Benedict. The way Kelsey watched her felt like a challenge. Any hope she’d had that these women would become her friends vanished with it.

It became clear that they may have been Avery’s, but they certainly weren’t Lennon’s.

“What lucky, lucky timing,” Kelsey mused over her champagne flute.