Page 67 of No Words

But now, suddenly, the idea of having one didn’t seem like the absolute worst thing in the world... maybe only the second or third.

Fortunately, Frannie was weaving her way toward me through the crowd, which was getting thicker and thicker as more people headed inside for the buffet. “Oh my God, Jo,” she said, waving a plate beneath my nose. “These shrimp. You’ve got to try one.”

Chloe looked down at the plate Frannie was holding. “Oh, the buffalo shrimp? Yeah, those are good!”

“Good?” Frannie’s beautiful red manicure was no longer visible beneath the orange sauce of the shrimp she was rapidly devouring. “They’re insane!”

Kellyjean sidled up to us. “Are y’all talkin’ about the shrimp?”

Frannie beamed at her. “Divine, aren’t they?”

“I’m about to ask the chef for the recipe!”

I didn’t get to hear how Frannie replied to that, however, because Will reappeared, touched Chloe on the shoulder, and leaned down to tell her something. I couldn’t hear what it was because the music and level of chatter in the restaurant was too loud.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out that whatever it was he’d said had pleased her, though, since Chloe gave him a dazzling smile in reply and rose up on her sneakered toes to give him a kiss on the cheek. Then she darted away throughthe crowd to join her teammates by the outdoor stage. A second later, they’d all lost their scowls and begun scurrying around, preparing for their big number.

“Well,” I said to Will. “You’ve made some people very happy, anyway.”

He shrugged with exaggerated modesty. “Only doing my duty as temporary board chair. Speaking of which, I see that you haven’t yet been fed. Should we get you a plate?”

Unfortunately, he said this right in front of Kellyjean, who sucked in her breath excitedly.

“Yes, you should!” She waved a hand excitedly. “Don’t forget the shrimp! Do you want me to snag a table? They’re going fast. I’d be happy to save y’all seats.”

“That’s quite all right, Kellyjean.” Will smiled. “I think we’ll manage.”

And we were. Will was able to use his credentials as temporary board chair to slip to the head of the enormous line that had formed at the buffet and secure us two heavily laden plates of food. Then I used my cred as the author of a beloved and heartwarming children’s series about talking cats to get us seats at a table.

“Ms. Wright! Ms. Wright!” Lauren bellowed from across the deck when she saw me. “Over here! Come sit with us!”

Lauren was sitting at a table not far from the stage with her two pals, Cassidy and Jasmine. Dressed to kill, the girls were in head-to-toe sequins and had hung purses and wraps over the backs of the empty chairs beside them, but when they saw me approaching, with Will not far behind, they reached to remove them.

“Are you sure these seats are free, girls?” I asked before I sat down.

“Foryouthey are.” Lauren’s worshipful gaze went from me to Will and then back again.

“Especiallyyou,” Cassidy said, batting her long faux lashes at Will.

I wasn’t convinced. “Aren’t you saving them for your mothers?”

“Oh, they’re in line for the bar,” Jasmine said in a scornful tone. “They’ll be gone forages.”

Will looked alarmed. “But there are servers going around with wine and champagne—”

“Our mothers only drink vodka sodas. Saves on calories.” Cassidy patted the seat of the empty chair beside her. “Why don’t you sithere, Will?”

“I’ll just sit here next to Ms. Wright, if that’s all right,” Will said, and dropped hastily into the seat beside mine.

“Your loss.” Cassidy fluttered those lashes in a way I didn’t blame Will for finding alarming.

“Oh, wait until you taste those shrimp!” Lauren was closely examining everything on my plate. “They’re amazing.”

“Are they?” I sampled one. The ensuing taste explosion was a welcome surprise. “Oh my God, you’re right!”

“See?” Lauren beamed with pleasure. “I told you.”

“Lauren’s glad she took your advice and came, aren’t you, Lauren?” Jasmine grinned wickedly at her friend. “Especially since now we get to sit with the third highest trending couple on Twitter.”