No such luck.
“I can’t believe Eddy missed his flight,” Violet groaned, smashing her thumbs into her phone as she texted. “He knew how much I wanted him to come to the barbecue today so that we could sneak away and live out my fantasy of having sex in my old bedroom. When are we going to get this chance again? We’re both too busy!”
“Violet, please,” Lily said, sighing.
Beside her, Nick laughed in surprise. They were waiting for Iris to pick them up from the train station in Willow Ridge. During the entire ride from New York, Violet had told them the whole story about Meela Baybee, Eddy’s newest client. Violet had met Meela months ago when she’d been the opening act for one of Karamel Kitty’s shows. Meela had a decent singing voice and a drive for success, but she’d desperately needed a better look, so Violet had swooped in and changed her image. Meela, who used to wear tacky neon body-con dresses, now had a large and devoted following full of Gen Zers who praised her skintight snakeskin biker shorts and the playful pastel nipple pasties she wore under mesh sleeveless tops during each performance. And it had all been Violet’s idea. It had also been Violet’s idea to connect Meela with Eddy, since Meela’s previous manager had been her cousin, who booked her only at venues that were so small, crowds inevitably broke out into fights because there wasn’t enough space to dance. In the weeks since, all of Eddy’s attention had been focused on launching Meela. That meant things like wedding planning, their parents’ annual July 15th birthday barbecue, and joining Violet to live out her sexual fantasies, fell to the wayside when Meela needed him to attend a haircare line partnership meeting.
“He said he would try to fly in later tonight,” Lily pointed out, noticing that Violet was growing increasingly upset. It was unlike her to be so agitated over a man. “He might still make it.”
“I hope so. He kept disappearing in the middle of conversations at our engagement party to take calls and handle a situation with one of his clients. This is another chance for our family to get to know him. We’re getting married in less than a month.”
Violet let out a sigh and leaned on the extended handle of her large suitcase, which was filled with clothes for the annual barbecue fashion show. Violet was wearing a sleeveless white silk tank and white wide-legged pants. Her hair was blown out, and somehow there wasn’t a strand out of place in the July heat. Lily felt like a camp counselor beside her glamourous sister. She was wearing a simple orange sundress. In this weather, she hadn’t dared do more with her curls than smooth them back into a topknot.
“Maybe he’s trying to surprise you,” Nick offered helpfully. He wore a short-sleeve white button-up. It was the most dressed up Lily had ever seen him. He was holding a tin of cupcakes because he’d refused to show up to her parents’ house empty-handed. Apparently, he’d borrowed the recipe from Henry. Lily tried not to read too deeply into this thoughtful act.
“Maybe,” Violet said, still frowning. She eyed Nick’s cupcakes. “Can I have one of those? I’m hangry.”
Nick could barely get out, “Sure,” before Violet reached over and removed the lid, grabbing a chocolate cupcake for herself. She bit into it and let out a moan. “What did you put in this? Cocaine?”
“N-no,” Nick stuttered. “Just flour, sugar, milk, butter, eggs and cocoa powder.”
“Please ignore her,” Lily said. “She says whatever comes to her mind. It’s best if you just don’t respond.”
Violet nodded, mouth full. “She’s right. I have no filter. This cupcake is delicious, though. You should be on that baking show with those nice British people.”
“Thanks.” His lips turned up in a shy-yet-pleased smile. He offered the tin to Lily. “Want to try one?”
Lily nodded, reaching eagerly. Then Iris’s black Mercedes pulled up in front of them, and Lily retracted her hand. “I’ll try one later. Iris hates when people eat in her car.”
“Sorry, I’m late,” Iris said, rolling down her window and unlocking her doors. Lily took Nick’s cupcakes while he grabbed Violet’s suitcase and placed it in the trunk. Violet wordlessly plopped down in the passenger seat while Lily and Nick sat in the back.
Iris pivoted around and looked at Nick, giving him a quick, analyzing sweep with her eyes. “You must be Nick. I’m Iris.”
“Nice to meet you,” Nick said as Iris took his hand in a very businesslike handshake.