Page 122 of A Little Luck
It’s all going to work.
* * *
“I can’t believeHerve is doing this again.” Piper’s hand is in mine, and we’re walking the few blocks from my house to El Rio for another karaoke night.
“He told Alex it was the best business he’d done on a Thursday night in six months.” I thread our fingers, thinking about what else is going to make tonight the best. “He’s making it a first Thursday of the month thing.”
“I guess that’s good?” She squints up at me. “Are you going to sing something?”
“Maybe.”
“You are?” Her eyes go wide. “You should do ‘The Monster Mash’ again. Everybody loved it, and Halloween was just Sunday.”
“We’ll see what happens.”
When we reach the restaurant, Liberty Belle is onstage singing “Before He Cheats” again. We walk slowly through the dim room until shouts reach us from the round table in the back.
“Alex and Cass are back in town?” She looks up at me, and I shrug like I had no idea they were going to be here.
I knew they were going to be here.
Jemima hops up and runs to us, giving me a not-so-subtle wink. “You made it!”
She’s dressed in a flapper-style gold dress with her blonde hair gathered in a messy bun on her head. Her lashes are full black and her lips are deep red, and I’m worried she’s a little too on the nose for her part in the surprise.
“Don’t tell me.” Piper holds up a finger. “You’re going to sing something by Taylor Swift?”
“That’s why you’re the publisher of theGazette.” Jemima boops her nose. “Nothing gets past your cute little nose for news!”
Piper shakes her head, laughing as she scoots into the booth beside Britt. “Can you believe it’s been a month since you were dumping the wedding on me and barfing in the bathroom?”
“Ugh, don’t remind me!” Britt holds up a ginger ale. “I’m staying on the safe side until this little lady is out.”
“Lady!” Cass shrieks. “You’re having a girl, and you didn’t tell us?”
Britt’s blue eyes go comically wide, and her mouth forms the shape of anO. “I wasn’t supposed to say that.”
Aiden starts to chuckle. “I can call off the fire department now—no gender reveal party.”
“I wouldn’t have set anything on fire!” She pushes his arm. “I’m a responsible member of law enforcement.”
“Except when it comes to wedding receptions and babies,” he teases.
“And state fairs.” She cuts naughty eyes at him, and he leans down to kiss her solidly on the mouth.
“Oooo…” Jemima coos. “There’s a story there!”
“Speaking of stories, this is the second time Liberty Belle has sung that song…” Piper tilts her head to the side. “Who cheated?”
“Sounds like a job for an intrepid Gazette reporter.” Britt elbows her friend.
“Howdy, partners!” Deputy Doug struts up, pumping his elbows. “Are we ready for fireworks, or do we want to go down?”
He waggles his eyebrows, and Jemima hops up and runs around to my side.
“Are you ready?” She’s not whispering very quietly, but Piper doesn’t notice. “Looks like everybody’s here.”
I don’t know why a sudden knot is in my throat, but I swallow it down and give her a nod. “Let’s do it.”