Emmie belts out a laugh. “Are you kidding? Jasper told Leo he’s rooting for it.”
I can tell by the way she’s snickering into her drink she’s already too sauced to walk on her own.
Mackenzie slings an arm around Emmie, and it looks as if they’re right back to being besties again, flushing about ten years of turbulent waters under the bridge with the aid of a few daiquiris.
“That’s right, Bizzy.” Mackenzie sheds a cheesy grin my way. “We’ve all been bonding over our shared appreciation for your personal foibles. We can’t wait to see what you come up with next. I bet you’ll pull out all the stops for your wedding day.”
“You won’t know,” I say. “You’ll be hosting the Cider Cove Beautification unveiling set to start at the same hour as my wedding.”
Macy slaps her hand down over the table. “Is that the same hour? How am I going to choose which one to attend?”
The table breaks out into a riot of laughter.
Mom nods as if commiserating. “It’s like Sophie’s Choice.”
Another round of laughter ensues. Only I’m not chuckling along with the crowd.
Gwyneth’s mouth falls open as she waves someone over and I turn around to see the abomination of desolation headed this way—Camila Ryder, Jasper’s ex-fiancée.
“Perfect,” I mutter. “Just what this night needed.”
“Camila!” Gwyn rises from her seat, waving at the saucy brunette like mad. “Come join us.” She turns to my mother. “This girl is like a daughter to me. And she did have a dress to marry my son in before it all went kaput.”
Mom sputters a laugh. “Maybe she can lend it to Bizzy?”
The table erupts once again as Camila disgraces us with her presence.
Camila’s chestnut hair is full of body and waves. A red dress clings to her curves, and she has an edgy grin on her face that just won’t quit.
“Well, well, if I haven’t stumbled on the mother lode of Cider Cove’s very own Salty Wenches. What brings you ladies out in droves? A meeting with the coven?”
Michaela jumps over. “It’s Bizzy’s bachelorette party. Oh my goodness, Camila Ryder, is that really you?”
The two women lunge over one another with an enthusiastic embrace.
“It’s just like old times,” Camila marvels at the blonde in front of her.
A wenchy waitress comes by and furnishes the table with enough food to feed a palace. Suddenly, the masses are quelled and pleasantly diverting their unwanted attention away from me as they start in on the bevy of appetizers lining the length of the table. Georgie, Juni, and McKenna quickly join in on the feeding frenzy, and I’m about ten seconds away from diving in myself.
Michaela turns my way. “Bizzy, I didn’t know you knew Camila. She and I go way back. Camila used to come in and ask the management at Minty’s for gift cards that the Sheffield School District could use for silent auctions.”
I bet she did. Something tells me Camila used those gift cards for herself.
Michaela nods as if agreeing with my theory.
“In fact, Camila used to come in all the time to buy the most gorgeous dresses you ever saw. Her fiancé loved to spoil her.”
My stomach churns. “Her fiancé?”
Camila shrugs. “Jasper always encouraged me to take his credit card and buy myself something nice the two of us could appreciate in private.”
“Gag me. Did I say that out loud? Good. Because I meant to.” I blink a smile over at Camila and she waves me off.
“Don’t mind her, Michaela,” Camila says. “She’s actually engaged to my former fiancé.”
“What?” Michaela bucks as if this shook her world. She groans to Camila. “Don’t tell me you and Sexy Eyes broke up. The way you were talking, you were well on your way to becoming America’s next power couple.”
A dull laugh bounces through me. “Camila is rife with delusions. Why should that one have been any different?”
Camila makes a face. “Don’t listen to her. It’s true. Jasper loved to spoil me. Unfortunately, things went south for the two of us.”
I nod. “It turns out, Camila liked to spoil Jasper’s best friend with her body.”
Michaela’s eyes grow in size. “Well, I guess that worked out for you, Bizzy. Stop by Minty’s anytime. I’ve already pulled a few more dresses that you might like.”
“Sounds good to me. I tried to reach you this afternoon, but I guess you were busy.” I lean my ear her way in the event she wants to fill me in on her afternoon with Archie.
“Sorry”—she presses her lips tight—“I had an appointment. It was supposed to take place later tonight, but I didn’t want to miss the party, so I bumped it up.”
“Was it with Archie?” I ask. “He was at the inn this afternoon and mentioned he was going to try to hit you up for coffee.” And dessert. And according to all that raunchy white noise going off in his mind, he had Michaela pinned for the sweet treat at hand.
“No, I wasn’t with Archie.” She rolls her eyes at the mention of him. “But he’s been after me for years. I’m not all that interested, though.” I would have been, but any close friend of Caleb’s is off the table.
Camila snorts. “Send him my way.” She winks at Michaela. “I’ve got a void in my dance card I’m looking to fill, no thanks to this turkey.” She grunts over at me. “I’d better get to the quesadillas before they’re all gone.” She takes a seat next to Macy and they start up a conversation like old friends.
Nice to know my sister’s a traitor, too.
“Michaela”—I lean in—“did you know that Zeke was upset with Julian?”
Her big blue eyes enlarge twice their size.
“Yes, actually, I did.” She presses her hand to her chest. “You don’t think he killed him, do you? Gwyn was just telling everyone that you run around pretending you’re a detective right along with her son. I know whatever you put your mind to you’re more than good at. And
