“No, but—” Lexi clamped her mouth shut. She didn’t want to say that she valued the tradition, the fact it was a thing, their thing. A bit like watching the fireworks together on Guy Fawkes Night or seeing in the new year—something they’d always done. If it needed saying, it wasn’t true. It wasn’t “their thing” if only she believed it to be so.
“It’s common, like taking your shirt off in public or having a tattoo,” Patrick said.
Jake bristled. Jake had a tattoo on his shoulder. They all knew as much. It had been the center of discussion when they first went on holiday to Lexi’s mum and dad’s place in Spain years ago, and in fact the tattoo had been center of discussion every holiday since.
The silence throbbed.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. It’s just a few quid, if it makes you happy,” said Carla. She reached for her handbag, scrabbled about in her purse. “Here’s our fiver. We’re in.” She hated it when her husband became pigheaded, caused a scene. Patrick rolled his eyes. “All right, Patrick,” said Carla, her voice steely. “We’re happy to carry on with the lottery, aren’t we?”
“If it makes you happy,” he said, and then downed his whiskey.
Fred quickly followed suit. His jacket was hung on the back of his chair. He dug out his wallet, threw in a tenner, picked up Carla’s fiver as change. “Us too, Lexi. It’s just a bit of fun, isn’t it? No need for us to fall out about it.”
Jennifer smiled, her eyes on Jake. “You never know your luck, our numbers might come up next week, and then all our lives will change forever.”
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Dear Reader,
Prepare yourself for gratitude overload. I am always pretty profuse with my thank-yous, but on the publication of my twentieth novel I have an especially huge amount to be grateful for.
Thank you, Jonny Geller, for years of continual support, advice and true friendship. How lucky that we found each other, way back when. Mark Twain said, “Success is a journey, not a destination. It requires constant effort, vigilance and reevaluation.” That’s certainly been our journey. I’m glad we have walked every step of the road together.
I never know where to start with my thanks to my publishers, Kate Mills and Lisa Milton, who are two of the most incredible women I’ve ever had the joy to work with. You are quite simply brilliant, oozing resolve, enthusiasm, ingenuity and business acumen. I’m so incredibly fortunate to have you. I have such enormous respect for you both.
Thank you to Charlie Redmayne for being an interested, encouraging and inspiring CEO. You captain a great ship!
I’ve always believed that if a book is lucky enough to be successful, then that’s because there’s an enormous number of people doing their jobs incredibly well. I’m so delighted to be working with such fantastic teams in the UK and across the globe. I am thoroughly appreciative of the talent and commitment of every single person involved in this book’s existence. Thank you so much for all your support and dedication—Anna Derkacz, Georgina Green, Fliss Porter, Sophie Calder, Izzy Smith, Joanna Rose, Claire Brett, Darren Shoffren, Becky Heeley, Agnes Rigou, Aisling Smyth, Emily Yolland, Kate Oakley and Anna Sikorska.
I want to send another massive thank-you across the seas to the amazing James Kellow, Loriana Sacilotto, Margaret Marbury, Leo McDonald, Carina Nunstedt, Celine Hamilton, Pauline Riccius, Anna Hoffmann, Eugene Ashton, Olinka Nell and Rahul Dixit. There are many others who I have yet to meet, but I know I’m so lucky that incredible professionals worldwide are giving my books their love and attention. It’s so ridiculously exciting. Thank you.
Thank you to all my readers, bloggers, reviewers, retailers, librarians and fellow authors who have supported me throughout my career. I couldn’t have done this without you.
Thank you to my mum, dad, sister, nieces and nephew who are continually supportive of everything I do, who love me and my books whether the sales are good, bad or indifferent!
Thank you, Jimmy and Conrad. No woman could ever hope for more support from a husband or son. I really did win the family lottery.
Finally, I’d like to warmly thank Guy Rudolph and Andy Carter for giving their time and expertise explaining what happens when a person wins the lottery. It was so kind of you!
ISBN-13: 9780369700957
Just My Luck
Copyright © 2021 by Adele Parks
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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