Page 59 of Backup Plan

“I’ll stop by, babe. I just got to work. I need to go. Love you!”

“Love you, too. And thanks. I know I’ve been a giant pain in the ass, but I appreciate you more than you know.”

“You’re not a pain in the ass,” I say softly. “You’re a bridezilla. Bye!”

She’s giggling when I hang up on her, and I can’t help my own laugh.

I walk into the office still smiling, and I slip into the meeting five minutes early. Stuart walks in, and thus begins my day.

I don’t get a chance to check out the mansion during lunch since I’m still making up for being out of the office all last week. But once I pick up the boys, I swing by with them.

It actually doesn’t look delayed at all to me. I snap a few photos, stop Benji from knocking over a gallon of paint, and stop Sammy from hitting Benji with a two-by-four.

I should have done this without the two of them, honestly. I sit one boy in one corner and the other boy in another corner so I can call Everleigh.

“How bad is it?” she answers.

“Babe, it’s fine. It actually looks ready to me. I texted you some pics before I called. There’s a bit of construction stuff to pick up, but it looks like they painted today, and the first floor will be ready a week from tomorrow for you and your man to get married here.”

“Oh, thank God. It sucks being in a different city from where you’re getting married. Write that down. If you ever get married again—”

“Just hold it right there, lady. I’m not even officially divorced yet. I’m certainly not jumping into marriage anytime soon.”

I thought the boys were preoccupied in their respective corners, but apparently not since Benji yells, “Not even with Uncle Liam?”

My cheeks turn red as I hope Everleigh didn’t hear that, but her next words tell me she clearly did as she starts to laugh. “Oh God, imagine you and Liam.”

I laugh, too, and I hope it’s real enough to pass the best friend vibe check. “Can you imagine?” I say over the laughter.

“Oh, man. I needed that,” she says. “Okay, back to business. I’ll be in town on Sunday night, and remind me what days you’re taking next week so we can do all the wedding stuff.”

I clear my throat. “I’m, uh—”

“Penelope Lane Wade Calloway, tell me you’re taking some time for the wedding!” she demands.

“Ev, I can’t,” I say softly. I walk outside to say this part out of earshot of my kids. “You know how Brent is. I’m working my ass off for a steady paycheck so I can support the boys.”

“I’m sorry. I’m just so caught up in all this wedding stuff. What can I do to help?” she asks.

“Nothing. It’s fine.”

“Right, but you know I come from a family with money and means, and I want to help.”

“You know how I am. I don’t ask anyone for anything.”

“You asked Liam if you could stay with him,” she points out. “Come work for me. I’ll keep begging you until you say yes.”

I laugh. The truth is that I adore Everleigh. She’s my best friend in the whole entire world. And I want it to stay that way, which is why working together, having her as my boss…it’s not a good idea.

I just don’t know how to tell her that without hurting her feelings.

“I’m fine at Langford for now, but I’ll keep your offer in mind. In the meantime, is there anything else you need me to do?”

“Yeah, so I got a list of things from Madden that are supposed to happen tomorrow at the mansion, so can you check tomorrow after six that the pavers are done in the backyard and the landscaping is complete, and make sure the parking area is usable? I can take care of the rest during the week.”

“You got it, Foreverleigh.”

She laughs. “Thanks, Pencil.”