Page 86 of The Accidental Dating Experiment

I take it. “I fell in love with Juliet, and I need to tell her before I lose her.”

He slices a hand through the air, pointing to the exit. “Go get her.”

A short laugh bursts from me. “Well, that’s my goal.”

He brooks no argument. “No. Do it now. Get her now.”

“But it’s your party,” I insist.

His voice goes deeper, all papa bear. “But it’s your life. And life is short. I should know that as well as anyone.”

But the doors are opening, and guests are streaming in. Which gives me an idea. “What if,” I begin.

I tell him and agreement flashes instantly in his eyes, then delightful deviousness. “And since it’s my party, I’m going to change the schedule right now.”

33

EXTRADATE

Juliet

With my simple sapphire blue dress, a French twist and classy evening makeup, I walk into the clubhouse. I look damn good. I need this look tonight to cover up the ache inside me.

“You’ve got this,” Elodie says, squeezing my arm as we walk inside, her retro red polka dress swishing against her knees.

“We’re going to be right there if it gets hard,” Rachel reassures, looking equally gorgeous in a pretty fuchsia sheath dress.

“We’ve got you. Always,” Fable chimes in, stunning in a black silk number.

Hazel’s here too, but she had to take a call and said she’d join us soon.

My throat tightens, but that’s been happening all day. “It’s much harder to be the one having the breakup than it is to be the planner,” I say to my sister and my friend.

“I know,” Rachel says, since she’s been there and done that. I hosted her breakup party when she moved back to San Francisco once upon a time.

People need more care and guidance for heartbreak than we give them. “Maybe I’ll look into hosting retreats for the heartbroken once mine’s put back together,” I say, and the thought gives me new hope.

“Look at you. Always thinking of the future,” Rachel says, cheery and bright.

“You can’t stop being a futuristic optimist,” Elodie says as her man Gage catches up to her and plants a kiss on her cheek.

“You telling everyone what to do?” He teases in his gruff tone.

“What? Me? Never.”

“Yes. You. Always,” he says. “Always making trouble.”

She laughs, then shoos him away. “Go make yourself scarce. It’s girl time.”

“Say less,” he says, knowing the sanctity of those words, then he smiles at me and heads off.

I smile back, grateful for the all-around support even though tonight I don’t feel so optimistic, but soon I will. Thanks to my friends. “C’mon,” Fable says, offering an arm. “Let’s see our friends Veuve and Clicquot.”

“My besties,” I say.

“And they never let you down,” she adds.

We head straight for the bar, grabbing champagne to toast to my new future.