Always the Last to Know by Kristan Higgins Page 0,123

you gave her isn’t wasted. It just doesn’t show up the same way.”

“You’re a wise woman, honeybun.” I stroked her silky hair and kissed her head. “Don’t tell her about your dad, okay? It would break her heart.”

“I won’t,” said Juliet. “She’s been great this whole time. And look at her, sending us off, taking charge. She sent us flowers, even!”

“And we smell so good, too. I might never shower again.”

We started laughing, and then we couldn’t stop, that wonderful, unstoppable laughter that made me run for the gorgeous bathroom, which made us both laugh harder.

Maybe it was the champagne. But I didn’t think so. I think it was relief, and a little exhaustion, and most of all, love.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Juliet

Sadie knew a thing or two. The two nights in Boston had been heaven.

Juliet hadn’t cried so much . . . well, ever. But they were the good kind of tears, the kind that washed away the dirt from your soul. Mom was magical. She could make every situation better just by her pragmatism, her dry sense of humor, her conviction. If the woman Juliet most admired in the world thought Juliet was the bomb, who was Juliet to disagree?

Even so, she felt nervous when she got home. Oliver could well be furious with her. When she texted to say she was going away for a couple of nights with her mom, his response had been, “Have fun.”

That was it.

He was home when she got back . . . His car was in the garage, at least. Sloane swarmed her at the door, full of questions, wondering what presents she was about to receive. Juliet gathered her up and smooched her cheeks before doling out the gifts—a fake Boston Police Department badge, since Sloane wanted to be a cop, and a T-shirt that said Chowdahead. For Brianna, she’d bought a replica of the statue that showed Mrs. Mallard leading her ducklings through Boston Common.

“I loved this book when I was little,” Brianna said.

“I know.”

Brianna looked at her. “I’m not little anymore. Here, Sloane. You can have it.”

“Yay!” Sloane said.

“I got you a T-shirt, too,” Juliet said, holding it up. Wicked Smaaht.

“Thanks anyway.”

Okeydokey, then. “Where’s Daddy?”

“Daddy!” Sloane bellowed. “Mommy’s back! She brought presents!”

He came up the stairs. “Hello, darling.”

“Hi.”

“Did you have a good time?”

“Yes. Definitely.”

“Brilliant.” His voice was tight. “Girls, would you mind going to your rooms?”

“Are you fighting?” Brianna asked.

“Not at all,” Oliver said. But his eyes were not happy. “Darling, shall we go up to the deck?”

“Sure!” Too enthusiastic. Shit.

It was a gorgeous day, full-on May glory, the lilacs blooming below, their scent heavy in the air, the wind gentle off the water. She still felt like throwing up.

“Right. Well. You said some things the other night,” Oliver began.

“Listen, I—”

“No, no. My turn. It’s only fair, isn’t it?”

She nodded. Sat down on the sofa and tried not to cry.

Oliver took out a piece of paper.

“Do you want to sit down?” she asked.

“No. Please. Just let me read this.” He cleared his throat. “Dear Juliet, you told me you were tired of trying to be perfect and that you were afraid I would cheat on you if you were anything less than one hundred percent. Please allow me to share the following with you.” He glanced at her, frowning, and her toes curled in her shoes.

“The first time I saw you at Yale, you were standing in the rain at the corner of York and Elm, and I stopped in my tracks because I knew the world had just changed. Then, rather unfortunately, a cabbie blew past you, soaking you, and I felt it would be ungentlemanly to approach you.”

Oh, God. She remembered that. She’d been drenched to the skin with filthy gray water, and the driver hadn’t so much as tapped his brakes.

“The second time I saw you, you were buying tampons at the CVS just off the green, and again, the time didn’t seem right to engage in witty conversation with you, because, knowing me, I’d have said something less than clever, such as ‘Oh! I see you’re menstruating! How wonderful!’ and you rightly would’ve dismissed me as a wanker.”

She felt a smile start in her heart.

“The third time I saw you, you were going into a party in Saybrook, and I begged my former flat mate to get me in so I could be in the same room as you, and when I saw you, my heart was pounding so hard, I thought I might vomit, and I