CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Blue
The plane lands and I turn my phone on to see fifteen new texts from Garrick. I delete them and block him.
I’m two steps from the entrance to the airport, bag in hand, when I hear two of my favorite people shouting my name.
I barely have time to spin around and look for them before I’m engulfed in a warm hug.
“How’s your heart, darling?” Marcus asks.
“It hurts.”
“He’s an asshole,” Francis says. “We’re going to make him pay for hurting you.”
“By putting on the best festival that town has ever seen.” Marcus pulls out of the hug and wraps an arm around me as we walk out of the terminal toward the parking garage.
Las Vegas, even in December, is hot. And it feels hotter after Yuletide. It’s a slap in the face I expected to enjoy, but it pushes down on me. The sun’s too bright, the air’s too dry, the terminal is too noisy.
When I got on the plane, I expected to be so happy to be back I could be okay with the possibility of losing my job as mayor and having to move back to Vegas, but this place doesn’t feel like home anymore.
It’ll be fine. I just need to get to the strip and settle in. Vegas is the most vibrant city I’ve ever lived in or visited. It’ll suck me back in like it always has before.
“And making sure everyone knows he had nothing to do with it,” I say. It probably won’t matter. The town hates me. But I’ve never backed out of a job I’ve promised to do, and I’m not about to start now.
“We’ll go back to our place, get gussied up, and head out,” Francis says.
That sounds like exactly what I need, but I’m a grown-up now and I need to be responsible. “I have to be back in the office on Monday. I need to spend every minute I’m here persuading the right people to help me out with this festival.”
Francis looks at me like I’m silly. “We can’t do that at home. We’re going to go out and find the right performers for your festival, baby doll.”
“Oh, okay. That makes sense.”
When we get to their truck, I’m shocked to see Peach and Cherry standing next to it.
“Um, guys, what are my sister and my cousin doing here?” Especially since Cherry’s supposed to be babysitting Lilith. That temperamental beast has actually dug her tiny claws into my heart. I don’t want her being left alone with a grumpy Xavier who barely tolerates her.
“They’re spending the weekend with us,” Marcus says, all innocence. “We called them right after you called us and they came a day early.”
“But I’m not going to have time to hang out. This is a working visit.”
“We know,” Marcus says. “Which is why you’re going to apologize to them for meddling and ask them for help.”
I stop in my tracks, about twenty feet from my sister and my cousin. “I can’t ask them for help. This is Cherry’s busiest season and Peach has a wedding to plan.” I’m not supposed to ask them for help. I’m supposed to help them.
Marcus spins me to face him. “If you want to mend your relationship with your sister, you need to show her you don’t see her as the helpless girl she used to be. You have to let her help you.”
I do not like this. I glance over at my sister, who’s smiling like she’s happy to see me. My stomach sinks. I want to run away and I’m not sure why. “She’s not supposed to help me.”
Francis moves over to stand next to Marcus and stares me down. “You’re afraid the only thing you have to offer your sister is help. You think if you can’t help her, she won’t see any reason to keep you around.”
Holy shit. It feels like he just stuffed a rock down my throat. Why is it so tight and why are my hands shaking?
“Because your mother sent you away when you got in her way, you think everyone’s going to send you away unless you prove your usefulness,” Marcus says.
Oh, shit. Here come the tears. “What the hell? You guys are supposed to be strippers, not therapists.”
Francis shrugs. “We’re multi-talented.”
Marcus pulls me into his arms as I sob. Now that he’s spoken the words, there’s no denying the truth of them. They feel too real and too right.
Moments later, more arms wrap around me. “What’s wrong?” Peach asks. “Did Garrick pull another stupid prank?”
I need to get a grip. Swallowing hard, I pull away from their warm hug. I swipe at my eyes, drying my tears as best I can, and I face my sister. “Peach, I really need your help. Will you help me plan the Yuletide Holiday festival?”
I hate the feeling of asking for help. It makes me feel like a little kid asking my mother to love me enough not to send me away. To love me enough to see me as something other than an annoyance. I want to take the words back as soon as they leave my mouth.
But Peach smiles and seems to get a little taller. “We’d love to help you. In fact, Cherry and I have already been doing some research, and we have some ideas for you.”
I relax. That wasn’t so bad. Peach didn’t run screaming or push me away. I’ll have to do something for her to make up for my neediness now, but that shouldn’t be a problem.
Marcus claps and cheers. “All right. Let’s get to work.”
“Just one more thing.” I turn to Cherry, ready to demand answers.
She holds up her hands. “Relax, Lilith is with Alice. She’s going to take your fur baby into the office with her. They’re very pet friendly at The Yuletide Times headquarters.”
I hug Cherry in relief. Damn it, I’m more attached to that cat than I’d ever thought possible. “Thank you.”
She pats my back. “Of course. Xavier tries, but Lilith enjoys tormenting him and he swears she gets her fur in his candy concoctions on purpose.”
I shrug as I pull away. “Xavier’s just too much fun to torment.”
Cherry’s smile turns wicked. “Oh, believe me, I know.”
After we stop by Marcus and Francis’ place, a small two bedroom in the arts district of Vegas, we spend the afternoon and most of the night pounding the pavement, listening to musical artists of all kinds, shaking hands and meeting people.
No one with a family is thrilled about committing to a job over Christmas, but we meet plenty of people without families who are excited about the opportunity. And some of them even have the dates clear.
When we get back to Marcus and Francis’ apartment just after midnight, I’m feeling like I might actually be able to pull off this festival. It might even be the best one the town has ever seen.
Marcus and Francis have to work tonight, so it’s just Peach, Cherry, and me. We get into our comfiest PJs, turn on reality TV, and settle in on the couch.
It feels so good to be spending time with them again, and they have some truly excellent ideas for the festival.
I snuggle up to Peach. “I’ve been a terrible sister.”
“You are the best sister.” Peach wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me in tight.
“No. I didn’t see that you’ve grown up. I was just like Garrick’s family, still thinking I knew what was best for you and not really seeing you for the amazing person you’ve become.”
“Stop.” Peach swipes at her eyes. “You’re going to make me cry.”
“You’re pretty amazing yourself,” Cherry says. She has a bowl of popcorn on her lap and is squeezing chocolate syrup into it. “Being able to admit when you’re wrong is a skill too few people have.”
“She’s right,” Peach says. “You’ve always been an amazing sister, but it really means the world to me that you think I can handle life on my own.”
“You can’t handle life. You’re kicking life’s ass. I’m sorry I didn’t see it before. I’m not always going to get it right, but I promise to try to do better.”
Peach hugs me. “Thank you.”
“Does that mean I can see your wedding plans?”
“Nope.” She pulls out of the hug with a smile. “But only because you have enough on your plate. You’ll get to be surprised, along with the rest of the guests.”
I don’t want to be surprised. I want to be a part of it all. But she’s not wrong about me being busy enough already.
“What’s the story with Garrick?” Cherry asks. “I thought you hated him. How do you know anything about his family?”
I forgot they don’t know the whole story. I told Francis and Marcus most of it, but I haven’t had a chance to tell my sister and cousin. I pop my feet in my fuzzy cupcake socks onto the coffee table and pretend I’m watching the challenge happening on the reality show. “I guess I’ve heard stuff around town.”
“Not possible,” Cherry says. “Xavier told me Garrick’s family is one of the big mysteries in Yuletide. Apparently, he never visits them and they’ve never come to town. Xavier figured Garrick’s an orphan, but you obviously know something.”
I sigh and sit up. There’s no way Cherry’s just going to let this go. “I did him a tiny favor to convince him to help me plan the festival.”
Cherry and Peach gesture at me to go on.
“It’s no big deal. I pretended to be his girlfriend for a visit home to his family.”
“Who are they?” Cherry pops onto her knees on the couch and leans toward me, her eyes lighting. She’s such a gossip hound. “Where do they live?”
“And why do you look so sad about it?” Peach asks. “Was he mean to you?”
Cherry studies my face and gasps. “You fell for him.” Her expression falls. “But he broke your heart.”
Sometimes I really hate having family who know me so well I don’t even have to speak for them to figure out what’s going on with me. “I’m sworn to secrecy about his family, and I’d rather not talk about Garrick ever again.” It hurts just to say his name.
“Tell us,” Cherry says. “We need to know whether we’re going to help you bury a body or just knock some sense into him.”
“Neither. It’s not that big a deal.” But I tell them everything, anyway. They’re my family, my best friends, and I need some perspective.
“I think maybe I might love him,” I say, after I’ve told them. “I miss him so much, and we didn’t even spend that much time together. I never thought I’d say this, but I can actually see how a relationship, how love, might be worth putting up with someone else’s annoying little habits.”
I don’t tell them we forgot to use a condom or that I lied to him about my period starting. And I definitely don’t tell them I’m almost certain I’m pregnant.
“Does your heart hurt?” Peach asks.
“Do you feel like there’s something really important missing and then you remember how he hurt you and you go through the pain all over again?” Cherry asks.
“Yes.” I press a hand to my chest to ease the ache there. It doesn’t work.
“Then you definitely love him,” Peach says. “But he clearly doesn’t deserve it.”
“He’s being an idiot,” Cherry says. “But men get weird around financial success. Remember how awful Xavier was when he was so determined to take his candy store nationwide?”
“Anyone who puts his business and what he wants before me is going to bail on me, eventually. Everyone does.”
“Oh,” Cherry says. “I was afraid your anti-relationship stance might have to do with all the men who’ve walked out on your mother.”
“And Mom sending her away to boarding school,” Peach says. “You were never quite the same after that, Blue.”
It hurts to hear her say I changed, but she’s not wrong. “Everyone leaves, because everyone is basically selfish. I’m glad Garrick showed his true colors before we got serious.” But I did want to get serious with him, which is something I never thought would happen to me.
Maybe he has a magic penis that bewitched me into thinking a relationship would be a good idea.
“Do you believe that’s what’ll happen with me?” Peach’s tone is light, her expression open like she doesn’t believe I’ll say anything other than what I do say.
“Of course not. You two have the real thing.” I try to put as much feeling into the words as I can manage, but they come out sounding robotic. I’m such a terrible liar.
Peach’s eyes go wide and she leans away from me. “Oh, my goodness. You do think Nick and I aren’t going to last. You really don’t believe anyone can make it work, do you?”
I look down at my knees. “It’s not because I think any less of you.”
“Oh, no.” Peach sounds absolutely distraught, and I look up to see her mouthing something at Cherry, her eyes glassy.
“What?” I ask. “What are you two silently communicating?”
“That you’re more screwed up than we realized,” Cherry says.
“Cherry,” Peach says in a scolding tone.
“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings,” I say to Peach. “I hope you and Nick last, but I don’t really believe it can work for anyone.” Garrick’s parents are the rare exception and they’re probably only staying married for financial reasons.
Except, I remember the way Nora and Howard looked at each other and I know that’s not true.
“You didn’t hurt my feelings,” Peach says. “I know Nick and I are going to last, because we love each other and we’re willing to work to make our marriage amazing. My heart is broken for you that you don’t believe in true love or lasting marriage.”
“You basically believe everyone’s an asshole who will walk away when things get hard,” Cherry says.
Peach gasps. “Which is why you always wanted to help me. You think I’ll only stick around if you’re useful.”
“That’s not—” I start.
“Peach, you’re a genius,” Cherry says. “That’s exactly what it is. Blue’s problem is a combination of low self worth and an inability to believe in lasting love.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” I drop my head into my hands. I can’t take everyone psycho-analyzing me. “I have a lot of issues, but I do not have low self-worth.”
“I think we need an intervention,” Peach says.
Cherry nods. “That is exactly what we need.”
I pick my head up and glare at them. “Nope. I don’t need an intervention. I’m good. I just need to get over Garrick, and I’ll be back to normal. Just give me twenty-four hours.” Even I don’t believe that.
“What should we start with?” Peach asks, tapping her chin.
“Definitely Pride and Prejudice,” Cherry says.
“A book club intervention?” I ask.
“Nope.” Peach grins. “A movie intervention. It might not be real life, but Cherry and I can tell you it’s pretty darn close for us.”
“You’re both still in the honeymoon stage.” When they give me pointed looks, I hold up my hands. “No offense.”
“We don’t have any other way to convince you,” Cherry says. “If you can’t see how happy Peach and I are, then nothing we tell you will change your mind.”
Peach looks up from scrolling on her phone. “I found something that might work. A list of the longest married couples in history.”
Cherry claps. “I love true life love stories. Great idea.”
I sit through a list of real-life couples, then I’m forced to watch three romantic movies before Peach and Cherry finally pass out around six in the morning.
All the movies do is make me miss Garrick even more, and I have to admit my resolve is starting to crack. Maybe true love and happily ever afters do exist. Maybe Peach and Cherry are the lucky ones and they’ll never be betrayed. Maybe it’ll all work out for them, but it’s too late for me. There’s no coming back from what Garrick did.