Page 123

FOUR

LENNOX

“No fucking way,” my best friend Sara says from her spot across from me.

Beside me, Millie tsks and adjusts the blanket that’s covering a sleeping Vivi. “Try using ducking if you need to use that language.”

“Sorry.” Sara cringes, then shakes her head. “But how is she going to plan Aiden’s wedding? This is ridiculous.”

Beside her, Ava, the quietest of the bunch, bites her lip. “I couldn’t do it.”

With a small frown, Hannah nods. “No way could I watch the man of my dreams marry someone else, let alone plan the magical day.”

My girls and I are all brunching it up, like we do every Sunday. With booze, of course. What’s brunch without a Bloody Mary or mimosa?

Breakfast.

And who the hell wants to settle for breakfast?

Especially today. Regardless of the brave face I’ve donned, I wholeheartedly agree with my friends.

This is why I rushed here, even though I originally told them I couldn’t make it since I was meeting with my first official client. I’ve been working for the company for two months and have overseen a few wedding planning sessions, but this is my first solo gig.

The universe is clearly fucking with me. What are the chances that I’d be assigned to plan Aiden Langfield’s wedding?

Sara pushes my drink toward me, brows raised.

With a chuckle, I take a sip, giving in to her silent request.

We’ve known each other since college. Sara works for the Boston Bolts’ PR team. Yes, the same Bolts Aiden plays for, along with his brother Brooks, who’s engaged to Sara. She’s got long blond hair that she’ll likely dye blue when the season starts, because she’s obsessed and supportive.

The rest of the girls are new friends, all introduced to me through Sara.

Millie, while technically the youngest of us all at only twenty-four, is mom to Vivi, the nine-month-old snoozing in her arms. She’s engaged to Aiden’s brother Gavin, who is forty-two. Vivi was a surprise neither of them saw coming, and while they aren’t her biological parents, they rolled with the surprise and have created the most loving little family.

Millie and Gavin also happen to be my neighbors. Their penthouse apartment is next to the smaller unit Sara lived in before she and Brooks got together. When she moved out, I moved in, though she didn’t technically know that at first.

Across from Millie is Hannah, a petite brunette who comes across as quiet to those who don’t know her. In reality, the girl is snarky and holds her own like no other. The quality is necessary, really, since she runs PR for the baseball team the Langfields own, the Boston Revs. I’ve just started to get to know her, and so far, I’m a fan.

Rounding out our little friend crew is Ava, the tall redhead who always wears calming colors and never raises her voice or has a bad thing to say about anyone—unless we bring up Tyler Warren, the left winger for the Bolts, who has bad boy basically tattooed all over him. The man has an uncanny ability to get under this sweet one’s skin.

“Yeah, it’s not ideal.” I down the rest of my mimosa, then hold it up and smile at our server, who is collecting drinks from the bar.

The dark-haired man with an easy smile, striking blue eyes, and muscles far too large to be hidden under that black shirt, shakes his head. “Should I just leave the bottle?”

“Now we’re talking.” Grinning, I scan the table, only to find my friends wearing varying looks of unease. “What? It’s been a long day.” It’s only one, but it seriously feels like I’ve survived three Sundays already.

“Of course it has,” Sara snaps. “The love of your life asked you to plan his wedding.”

My chest gets tight, but I ignore the pain and shoot her a glare. “He’s not the love of my life. Stop being so dramatic. He was my childhood sweetheart. It’s been over for a decade.”

When the waiter returns with the bottle, I slide him my card.

“Don’t you dare,” Sara hisses.

I shoo the hottie away. I’m not ready to close the tab, but if I don’t give it to him now, we’ll fight about the check at the end.

“What did she do?” Ava asks, darting a look at me, then Sara.

My best friend harrumphs. “She gave the server her card.”

Millie rests her hand on top of mine on the table. “You don’t have to do that. Gavin told me brunch is on him.”

Sara rolls her eyes. “He bought it last week. Why can’t we split it like normal people do?”

“It’s my love language. Let me love you,” I whine, bumping her shoulder with mine.

Hannah snorts. “You can love me over at Nordstrom if ya want.”

Clasping my hands in front of me, I beam. “Now that’s my kinda sugar baby. Come to mama.” I hold out my arms and shimmy.

Hannah blows me a kiss.

Millie giggles. “Whatever. I’m getting next week.”

“You don’t have to do that, you know,” Sara says, her expression pensive. “We’ll love you even if we buy our own mimosas.”

And I love her for reminding me. As a Kennedy, money is my most sought-after commodity. My value is directly linked to what I can offer, and while I still have the means, I’d like to spoil the people who have never made me feel that way at all.