Serves Me Wright (Wright #9) - K.A. Linde Page 0,52

parked next to Sutton’s new Range Rover.

Come around back. The gate’s unlocked. xoxo

I plopped a wide-brimmed hat on my head and grabbed my beach bag out of the backseat. Annie’s residency started at Texas Tech in full force tomorrow. Her life was going to be a madhouse, but she had today off, and Sutton and I were taking the rare opportunity to get away for the afternoon. Jason was at summer camp all week, and they’d hired a full-time nanny for Madison. Sutton had jumped at the first opportunity to have a break.

I hefted my bag and walked around to the back. Jordan’s house was on the Wright golf course that Landon had commissioned to PGA standards. But the best part of the house was the immaculate pool and spa.

Annie and Sutton had already stripped down to swimsuits. A pitcher of margaritas sat between their tables.

“Hey, y’all,” I said.

“You made it!” Sutton said with a wide smile.

“I did.”

I held my breath for a second and then stepped into the backyard, carrying the other thing that I’d had in my backseat with me. I walked right up to Annie and dropped a twelve-pack of Coke onto the empty table next to her.

She looked at it, then at me, and then back down. Then she shrieked at the top of her lungs, jumping out of the seat and throwing her arms around me.

“Oh my God!” she squealed. “Yesss! I knew it!”

Sutton’s hands covered her ears. “Dear Lord, what is happening? I escaped the screeches of my toddler for a reason.”

Annie bounced up and down. “I won a bet!”

Sutton arched an eyebrow. “What bet?”

I laughed at Annie’s reaction. “Annie bet me a Coke that Julian was into me.”

“And I said I was so sure that he was that I’d bet her a whole twelve-pack.” Annie hefted the package up to the sky. “And look what I have, bitches!”

Sutton shook her head, laughter bubbling out of her. “So, you’re dating my cousin, too?”

I dropped my bag and sank into the seat next to her. “I am. As utterly surreal as that is to say out loud.”

“Why?” Sutton asked. “Anyone would be lucky to have you, Jen.”

I shrugged. “Well, I sort of thought that I’d make it longer than a few weeks with my no guys for ninety days policy.”

Annie snorted. “No one thought that would last.”

“Least of all if Julian showed interest,” Sutton added.

“I never thought he’d show interest. You know, he was interested in someone like Ashleigh Sinclair.”

Annie wrinkled her nose. “A two-faced, manipulative asshole who tried to ruin his life? Yes, why can’t we all be as perfect as Ashleigh?”

“That’s not what she means,” Sutton said knowingly.

“No. I know that she tried to ruin his life and sabotage the winery. I certainly don’t forgive her for it. But I’m also not a Sinclair.” I gestured to Sutton. “And I’m not a Wright.”

“Neither am I,” Annie said quickly.

“But you’re Annie,” Sutton said.

“Right! You’re Annie,” I gushed. “You’re Miss Self-Confidence. Your whole motto is, I am woman. Hear me roar.” Annie laughed but didn’t deny it. “I’m more the David Rose type and you know, not connecting.”

Sutton chuckled.

“Who cares if you’re not like me? There’s no reason that Julian shouldn’t see how wonderful you are in your own way.”

“But how could he? When I didn’t see it in myself first?”

They were both silent at that question. It was true. I wasn’t just shy; I actively self-sabotaged my own life. I got in my own way. I’d rather stay inside than go out. I was more comfortable in front of a camera. I preferred the company of cats that didn’t even belong to me to ninety-five percent of people. And I wanted to be as bold as Annie, but that wasn’t who I was.

“Part of me still feels like the nobody I’ve always been. And the last couple years with you two and all your amazing friends and family was just a dream.” I shrugged. “I liked Julian, but I didn’t feel good enough for him.”

“Well, good news,” Sutton said, taking my hand, “it’s not a dream.”

I laughed. “I’m so glad.”

“And,” Annie said pointedly, hands on her hips, “if anything, you’re way too good for Julian.”

“Yeah, right,” I sputtered.

“He had his chance with you, and he ended up dating someone like Ashleigh Sinclair,” she said furiously. “If he didn’t see what he was missing, that was his own damn fault for having bad taste. Not your fault. Not because you’re nobody. You’re our friend, and