Count Your Lucky Stars (Written in the Stars, #3)(53)

“Shit.” Olivia eased off the gas. “Sorry.”

Margot shrugged. “You want to talk about it?”

Olivia puffed out her cheeks. “I just feel bad that I didn’t check in. I normally do, but with everything going on, I spaced.”

“It sounds like he’s doing fine,” Margot said. “He definitely didn’t sound upset.”

“No, but—”

“No buts. Your dad wouldn’t want you to feel guilty for living your life, Liv.” Margot plucked Olivia’s phone out of the change holder. She shook it pointedly. “Pretty sure he specifically tasked me with making sure you have a good time. So that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to have a great time this week, celebrating Annie and Brendon, and you are going to relax. Okay?”

Olivia breathed deep and smiled. “I can try.”

*

An hour later, Brendon met them in the lobby of the lodge with a warm smile. “You guys made it.”

“We hit traffic a few exits back,” Margot said. “Bumper-to-bumper.”

“I think there might have been an accident,” Olivia added, adjusting the strap of her duffel bag so it wouldn’t cut off circulation to her arm. “We saw flashing lights.”

“It’s all this extra snow,” Brendon said, gesturing for them to follow as he led the way through the lobby and down a long hall. “I’m glad Luke’s got snow chains, otherwise I don’t think they’d let us on Snoqualmie Pass.”

“Luke? Who’s Luke?” Margot frowned. “Do I even know a Luke?”

Brendon laughed. “My friend from college, Luke. I’ve mentioned him before.”

Margot’s nose wrinkled adorably, and she adjusted her grip on the case of beer she’d brought, her contribution for the weekend, courtesy of the brewery Oh My Stars was partnering with. “Hmm.”

“I know I’ve mentioned him.” Brendon’s expression faltered. “Wait, didn’t I?”

“The name sounds vaguely familiar . . .”

“We were roommates freshman year,” Brendon tacked on. “I think I told you the story about the time he accidentally shrunk all his pants in the wash and went to class wearing a three-piece suit?”

A flicker of recognition passed over Margot’s face, her eyes widening slightly behind her glasses. “Oh, that Luke. Okay, yeah, you’ve mentioned him.”

At least Olivia wasn’t going to be the only new addition on this trip, the odd man out, everyone already closely acquainted with one another. “He’s a groomsman, right?”

Margot did a double take. “Hold the phone. Groomsman? I thought it was just me and your coworker Jian?”

Brendon gripped the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “Shoot. Don’t tell me I forgot to tell you.”

Margot’s hair swished against the sides of her neck when she gave a sharp shake of her head. “This is the first I’m hearing of there being another groomsman.”

“I wasn’t sure he was going to be able to make it to the wedding. He wasn’t sure he was going to be able to make it. He’s been in Minsk for the past few months treating patients with drug-resistant TB.” He smiled over his shoulder. “Doctors Without Borders.”

Olivia’s brows rose. “Impressive.”

“Right?” Brendon nodded, stopping in front of a bank of elevators. “Anyway, he managed to swing the time off and let me know a couple weeks ago. I guess with the fire at the first venue and having to make all of these new plans, it slipped my mind. Even then, he didn’t think he was going to be able to fly in until Friday, but he found an earlier flight and managed to make it to town last night.”

Margot gave a thoughtful hum. “How long is he in town for?”

“A week,” Brendon said, thumbing the up button. “He’s got to go back to Belarus for a couple weeks to finish up his rotation, then he flies back home for good. It’ll be nice to have him back.” His gaze flickered between the two of them, his smile broadening, lingering curiously on Olivia. “I think you’ll really like him.”

Wait. Olivia looked at Margot then back at Brendon, pointing at her chest. “Me?”

Brendon held his hand against the open elevator door, allowing the passengers departing to step out first before gesturing for her and Margot to step inside. “Yeah. He’s great. Funny, caring, loyal.” His smile went crooked. “Single.”

Olivia’s stomach lurched, and it had nothing to do with the elevator rising. She looked over at Margot for help, but Margot was staring at her phone, scrolling, expression giving not even a single clue as to what was going on inside her head. Olivia swallowed. “Um.”

It was one thing to keep their relationship—she didn’t know what else to call it; arrangement sounded sleazy and friendship didn’t fully encompass the scope of what they were doing. A situationship, maybe? It was all a little fuzzy and undefined—under wraps. She didn’t like it, wasn’t a fan of having to pretend like she didn’t want to kiss Margot or hold her hand, to curtail any of her impulses. But she could understand where Margot was coming from, not wanting her friends, Brendon in particular, butting in.

But here he was, doing it anyway . . . just not the way either of them had anticipated.