“Isn’t that the truth?” I check my watch. “I guess you didn’t last long after you crooned your heart out to the crowd of . . . what was it, two people tonight?”

“Packed house, asshole. Packed house.”

“If you say so.”

He narrows his eyes. “And you wonder why I’m leaving.”

“Aww, you’re so sensitive. It’s sweet.” I gesture toward the end of the block. “I take it you’re calling it a night?”

“I am. But Nick and Harper are at Gin Joint, so you can catch up with them. The place is still hopping. No surprise. My sister is a maestro of the nightlife business.” He smiles, and there’s pride in that grin. Malone and Truly are closer than most siblings, maybe from being twins. Now and then, though, it sends a prickle of guilt down my neck because I’m keeping a secret from him. But if he knew what happened between Truly and me one snowy night six months ago, he likely wouldn’t be talking to me right now.

But since it’s never going to happen with his sister again, there’s nothing to worry about. “I’ll go catch up with the crew.”

“And I’ll see you tomorrow night at softball,” he says, then takes off, humming “Give My Regards to Broadway” as he goes. “Give my regards to Broadway. Remember me to Herald Square.”

“Stop, make it stop. It’s like a chainsaw mating with a jackhammer,” I shout.

“I’m sorry, did you say I’m making it rain? I thought so.” He waves dismissively and continues his number down the block.

I head to the bar. Drinks, friends, people to talk to where I can be myself? A spot where I don’t need to pretend I’m buddy-buddy with everyone just to make a buck? Sounds great. But the part I like best?

Sparring with Malone’s sister.

I mean, with Truly.

My good friend Truly.

That’s all she is. Not my best mate’s sister who I screwed one Saturday night when we were out of town.

But before I reach the bar, my phone bleats. It’s Chip, my client for next weekend. I answer right away, gliding into my practiced don’t-ever-let-on-there-are-problems tone. I’ll need it to avoid the thorny issue of whether I’m still bringing along a date as he’d requested.

5

From the pages of Truly’s Drink Recipe Book

Game Plan:

Gin

Blackberry

Home-brewed ginger ale

When business throws you a curveball, what do you do? When someone surprises you and wants something a little different than you expected, do you freak out and say, “OMG! I can’t do that”?

No way.

You woman up.

You figure it out.

You develop a new game plan.

If you don’t have one yet, it’s time for a little gin, a little home-brewed ginger ale, and some fresh-crushed blackberries. Have a sip, savor the effervescence, and delight in the fizz. Let yourself drift off as new plans start to form.

Soon enough, you’ll know what to do to get what you want.

6

“Hey, Chip, how’s it going? Counting down the days till the big I do?”

“Hi, Jay!” I don’t use my real name in the business. Jay is an easy pseudonym, and using it helps to keep my worlds separate. “Just wanted to double, triple, quadruple check everything for next weekend.”

I reel off the details, hoping to avoid mentioning my now dateless state. “My groomsmen are at the ready. Troy will be with me, along with his wife. He’s fantastic and has an uncanny ability to fit into any situation. And then there’s Sully, also with the missus as his plus-one. He’s very focused, very committed to the job, so he’ll be excellent. You’ll have all the groomsmen you need to pair up with the bridal party for photos and walking the aisle.”

“Perfect. That’s everything Ashley wants, and that’s all I want—to make her happy.”

“That’s a great way to start a marriage.” This is perfect. He’s not even thinking about whether he wants me to bring someone.

“And if anyone asks, we met in the running club and you work in advertising,” he says, recapping the backstory we created.

“You’ve got it right. You’ve got everything right.”

“But what’s your favorite cuisine? I should probably know, right? Shoot. What if someone asks? What if someone wants to know your favorite book? What if someone wants to know your sign?”

“Of the zodiac?”

“Yes! I don’t know it.”

“I promise you, Chip, no one expects you to know the astrological sign of a guy friend. Also, anything by Vonnegut and nothing by Ayn Rand, and everything by Nick Offerman. And I like Thai and Japanese.”

“I dig Nick Offerman too. I bet we exchanged dog-eared paperbacks. Wink, wink.”

“With Offerman you really ought to get the audiobook, but sure, paperback works.”

“And your favorite band? What if someone wants to know that? What if they want to know what concerts we’ve been to? Should I say Coldplay?”

“No!” With the fire of a thousand blazing suns, I kill that notion dead. “Never. Coldplay is what they play to torture you behind enemy lines. I’m a Beatles and Rolling Stones man.”

“Oh, cool! I like them too! Almost as much as Coldplay. I’d say maybe we could go to a Stones show someday, but I’ll probably be too busy. I always am. I’m sure it’s the same with you.”

“Absolutely.”

This is what I like about Chip. Despite his puppy-dog persona, he’s not poised to turn into a stage-five clinger after the wedding. He hired me because he’s completely content to spend his time with his woman, his 5K runs, his work, and his dog. Friendships aren’t his focus, so I don’t suspect he’ll be clutching my ankle and trying to follow me out the door when this is over.

“One more thing. Can you do one of those fancy accents? Ashley loves Love Actually, so she’d get a kick out of it. I like to pretend I’m Hugh Grant sometimes. I do the whole ‘Jump’ routine for her, and she digs that. ‘Yeah, Betty, I’m thinking, can we move the Japanese ambassador to four o’clock tomorrow?’”

“I’ll go full Hugh Grant for the groom and bride,” I say, giving him my best posh voice.