Best Laid Plans (The Best Girls 4)

“What do you mean?”

“The party tonight... Maybe you should show up with someone else—a date. Maybe if she sees you with someone else she’ll get jealous. Maybe she’ll realize she has feelings for you after all.”

“Do you really think so?”

“It’s your only hope,” Brad declared.

EMILY ANSWERED HER cell phone. “Hey, Grace.”

“Olivia just told me about Charlie and Josh. What are we going to do? We have to get them together at the party tonight.”

“Actually, I promised Charlie I would help keep Josh from getting her alone. She says his kisses mess with her mind.”

“You’re not really going to do that are you?”

“I had to promise because she was so upset.”

“But you and I both know she needs to be with Josh.”

“Yes, but I can’t go behind her back. I gave my word.”

“Well, luckily I didn’t give my word. I’ll just have to do it myself. I’ll figure out a way to get them alone together.”

“It may be hard. She’s inviting Derek to go with her as extra protection.”

“Okay. Good to know. I’ll have a contingency plan.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’ll think of something.”

ANNE HATED TO BE THE bearer of bad news, especially to Gram. For a tiny woman, she had a huge temper. “I’m only telling you what she told me, Gram. She said they’ve called off the wedding because Josh doesn’t need to get married.”

“Humph! And what does Josh say?”

“I don’t think she’s taking his phone calls.”

“I’ve been saying all along they were rushing into this,” Steven said.

“Hush, Steven,” said Gram. “It took me fifty years to get you married. You have no idea whatsoever about the proper timing of love and marriage.”

“That’s not fair, Gram. I got married as soon as I met the right woman—it’s not my fault it took so long to find her.”

“Yes, but Josh and Charlie have already found each other, and there’s no reason for them to wait,” Gram said.

“Evidently, Charlie’s not convinced,” said Anne. “I really am surprised, though. I know she was in love with him. Maybe she discovered he doesn’t love her.”

“No,” said Steven. “Josh is definitely in love with Charlie—he told me. I think they simply decided to be sensible and not rush things.”

“That’s ridiculous,” said Gram. “You can’t be sensible about these things. It takes all the romance out of it.”

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about it. Especially if they aren’t even talking to each other,” Anne said.

“I wouldn’t say there’s nothing we can do,” said Gram.

“Gram.” Steven’s voice growled a warning. “Don’t start interfering. They’ll work it out themselves if it’s meant to be.”

“I wouldn’t dream of interfering,” said Gram. She mumbled in a barely audible voice, “Why dream when you can have the real thing?”