Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
We both stood. Reaching her hand across her desk, Tammy said, “Thank you, Hollie. You really are the party-planning queen.”
Letting out a small laugh, I replied, “I try!”
“Enjoy your lunch with Lucas.”
“Thank you!”
I quickly made my way to the lobby and smiled when I saw Lucas sitting in a chair scrolling on his phone. When he looked up, my breath caught. I wasn’t sure if I would ever get used to that look on his face when he saw me. My heart hammered a bit more in my chest as I approached him.
“Thanks for waiting,” I said.
He stood and kissed me softly on the lips. “Everything good with the Christmas party?”
Nodding, I slipped my arm through his as we made our way out of the building.
“Everything is great. She loves everything and didn’t have any changes. The next appointment is the one I’m kind of stressing about.”
Lucas laughed. “With Mom and Janet? Don’t be stressed. Hollie, you’re one of the most talented people I’ve ever met, and you’re freaking amazing at your job.”
I bumped into him lightly. “You have to say that—you’re my boyfriend. Anyway, your mom will be glad to see you. Did you tell her you were coming along?”
“Nah,” he said with a shake of his head. “Thought I would surprise her. Are you guys meeting somewhere?”
“Yes. We’re meeting at the Village Tavern.”
Smiling, Lucas opened my car door. “Oh, man, I freaking love their wings.”
Before I slipped into the driver’s seat, I reached up and kissed him. “See you in a few minutes. Be careful driving.”
“You too, babe.”
I made it to the restaurant before Lucas and was seated at the table with Rose and her future daughter-in-law Janet when Lucas walked up. Rose’s eyes lit up when she saw her son walking toward us.
“Lucas,” she said as she stood and kissed him on the cheek. “I was so happy when Hollie said you would be joining us.”
“Any chance to spend some time with my two girls,” Lucas said as he glanced over to Janet. “Sorry, Janet, I don’t think Greg would like me referring you to my girl.”
Laughing, Janet waved Lucas off.
“I ordered you a water,” I said with a soft smile.
The waitress brought the drinks to the table and then asked if we were ready to order. Rose and I both got the lobster roll while Lucas got wings with fries, and Janet ordered a salad.
“I’ll never fit into my wedding dress if I keep eating like I have been.”
“You look beautiful, Janet,” I stated as I did a double-take toward the front door. Kristin and Shawn walked in…together. Shawn placed his hand on Kristin’s lower back as they followed the hostess.
“Do you see that?” I asked with a bit too much excitement in my voice. “They’re not fighting.”
“That we know of,” Lucas deadpanned.
“Look! He had his hand on her back!”
Rose and Janet both looked confused. “And that’s a good thing, I take it?” Janet asked.
“They are so into each other, but neither will admit it,” I said, then gasped. “Oh, my God! What if they are secretly seeing one another?”
Lucas laughed. “Why would they do it in secret?”
“Yes, why?” Rose asked.
With a shrug, I replied, “I don’t know. It just seemed like more of a fun idea.”
“Wait,” Janet said, “I’m confused. Do they like each other or not?”
I tore my gaze away from our two best friends. “They act like they can’t stand each other. I mean, they bicker back and forth. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them be civil to each other.”
Taking a sip of her Coke, Rose mumbled, “Boy, does that sound familiar.”
I shot her a cheeky grin while Lucas smiled.
“Oh, it looks like they aren’t getting along,” Janet stated as Lucas and I both snapped our heads to look back over there.
I huffed. “Ugh. If they aren’t going to get along, why would they have lunch together?”
“Do they work together?” Rose asked.
Lucas cleared his throat. “No. Kristin is a first-grade teacher, and Shawn is a financial advisor.”
“So why do you think they’re together?” Janet asked.
I noticed out of the corner of my eye Lucas giving his mother a pleading look.
“Hollie, I showed Janet the drawings you left for your idea for the Christmas-themed bridal shower.”
“Yes!” Janet said, excited. “I love them so much, Holly! The square plates with the bow around them to make them look like presents is the cutest thing ever. I love the idea of doing another holiday-themed event since our engagement was based around Halloween! I was wondering if we could add some Christmas music to play in the background?”
I nodded, but my eyes kept drifting over to Shawn and Kristin, who were very much arguing. Lucas pulled out his phone, and it was then that Rose attempted to pull me into another conversation about the bridal shower.
“I can make that change, no problem,” I said as I jotted down some notes in the handy-dandy notebook she carried everywhere with her.