Champagne Brunch: The Stiletto Sisters Series Ainsley Claire (primary phonics books .TXT) 📖

Suddenly I hear “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette playing on a karaoke machine, and I know Elena has arrived.

By the time I turn around, she’s belting out the song. She has an incredible voice, and we’re all mesmerized. We burst into applause when she finishes and approaches the table.

“I have a whole playlist,” she informs us. “Adele, Justin Timberlake, Gotye, and Sinead O’Connor—it’s the perfect break-up mix. Who’s next?”

All eyes turn to me. “You will pay me not to sing,” I promise. I look around the table at my friends, and I’m so happy to have them.

Another round of drinks arrives. “These are on the house,” Tommy says.

“If only you weren’t married to the most amazing woman,” Ryder laments with a smile.

“Let me see that gift you got from Caroline,” Toni says.

I hand over the box as Caroline repeats her sales pitch.

“I need to get one of these. I’m getting tendonitis,” Toni laments.

When we’re done laughing, I stand. “I’d like to tell you all how much it means that you’re here. Thank you.”

“Always,” Caroline says.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Toni asks.

I shake my head. “Not yet.”

“Fuck this guy,” Caroline exclaims. “We’re going to have fun in Maui this weekend.”

Chapter 21

Mia

After a whirlwind day of expert-guided shopping yesterday, I feel much more ready for my weekend in Hawaii. Which is a good thing, because Peter arrives to pick me up at five a.m. this morning. I’ll most likely be the first to arrive at the airport, but I find it too stressful to have people waiting on me.

It’s bittersweet going by myself to the airport. I still wish Axel had changed his mind. As I packed yesterday, I jumped each time my cell phone pinged. But none of the messages was from him. I remind myself that I have great friends. I’ll get to play some poker, where I always shine, and Corrine and Jackson’s wedding will be fun.

As Peter works his way through the crowded streets, I realize I might not be as early to the airport as I thought. The traffic even this early on a Thursday morning is stunning—bumper to bumper. I shake my head in disgust. “Where do this many people have to go so early?” I ask.

“It gets worse every minute until it evens out around midnight, and then it starts all over again,” Peter tells me.

When we get to the airport, he parks quickly and walks into the terminal with me. I’m surprised to spot Nate’s fiancée, Lilly, and Jim’s wife, Kate, huddled at a table in the lounge.

“Good morning,” I say. “You’re up early.”

They break out in toothy smiles. I fill a paper cup with free coffee from the carafe and join them.

“Nate’s not slept,” Lilly cautions. “I should warn you. He’s going to bend your ear.”

I blow on the coffee before taking a sip. “What happened?”

“He met with Tatyana Turgeneva yesterday.”

I hold my breath. “And?”

“He was so upset after it, he couldn’t even tell me.”

My eyes pop wide. “Viviana confessed to him, and it was caught on a wire. What could her lawyer have said that got him so upset?”

“I think they went after Cecelia,” Kate says.

“She went after his dead wife? That wouldn’t win her any points in court.”

Kate shakes her head. “No, but it is a hot button for him, and her job is to push the buttons.”

“I don’t know.” Lilly sighs. “I think it’s more than that.”

“She wasn’t prepared for me to be so assertive,” I tell them. “She probably was better prepared for Nate.”

Lilly nods. “He promised me that once we set foot on the ground in Hawaii, he’ll put it all behind him.”

I see Caroline and Mason walking in, and Caroline is clearly half asleep. She’s the friend to call if you have insomnia. She’s always up late, but she doesn’t do all-nighters and usually likes to sleep between three and eight.

I stand and pour her a cup of coffee. “Here’s a refill when you’re done with the one you’re drinking.”

“You’re a supreme goddess.” She sits, closes her eyes, and smells the coffee. “I don’t know how I ever married a morning person.”

Jim steps in from outside. “Okay, ladies. Everyone is here and we’re ready for you.”

I walk out to the plane with him. “How’s Nate doing?”

“I don’t think pissed comes close to covering it,” he says quietly.

“Should I talk to him?”

“You can try. Viv did some underhanded things and scorched earth. It’s ugly.”

I close my eyes for a moment. “She’s such a bitch.”

Jim stops at the base of the stairs. “You’re a lot kinder than I am.”

I walk up into the plane with Kate, Lilly, and Caroline before Jim follows her in.

I find a seat. I’m prepared to sit alone during the flight, so I’m surprised when Nate plops down next to me. “How are you doing?” I ask him.

“I almost reached across the table and killed her lawyer yesterday,” he growls.

“Marci must have been apoplectic.”

His jaw clenches. “She was, but she hid it well.”

“What did Tatyana do?”

“She went into my history in the Marine Corps and made me out to have broken the rules and killed mercilessly. She then attacked Cecelia and the fake memes Viv had sent to Katrina. She attacked Lilly and how we got involved. I expected that shit. It’s a way to goad me, but I saw it for what it was. But I lost it when she went after Katrina.”

My head whips up. “What? She’s sixteen,” I screech.

He nods. “I can’t even say her name without a lot of expletives with it, but she left it that she wanted to depose Katrina tomorrow. Marci is going to fight it,