“Okay. Not what I expected. How?”
“I’m jealous of him or not good enough for him or something.”
“I’m going to need you to explain,” Liv said as she pulled over a pile of jeans and started turning them right side out.
“First of all, he was really weird when I ended up in his driveway. Let that be known. But he also has what I want for myself—his house, his studio, his shop, hislife. He’s an artist with his own business to live off of. I want that.”
“And you’ll have that.” Liv snapped a pant leg. “Why do you think you’re not good enough?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Yes, you did.”
Fern glowered overdramatically. “I’m just a mess. Had a stupid call with my mom. Leave me alone.”
Liv laughed at her and shook her head. “I’m sorry, lovey. Ignore your mom.”
“I’m trying.”
“So, Fitz has the life you want, and he was standoffish when you pulled up?”
“Yeah. That’s why I said ‘not good enough.’ He clearly doesn’t like me and wanted me gone. Remember he said I was too chatty on that call? I can want his life while not wanting him, Livvy.”
Olivia’s voice lifted as she made a little “Hmm” sound.
“What?”
“Nothing. Just do me a favor, next time you see him, give him a chance? He’s chill. You’re chill. I think you have a lot in common.”
“Mhm,” Fern agreed dismissively.
“Do you want me to come back here in the morning? We could grab breakfast downstairs and go check out the salon?”
“No,Mama, you sleep in,” Fern said with a wink at her pregnant best friend.
Liv scowled, angrily folding another pair of pants. Shehatedbeing called Mama and spent an hour complaining to Fern and their friend Renata about it just last week. The best part was she was only about ten weeks into the whole shebang. Fern was going to annoy her so much over the coming months. She couldn’t wait.
“I have to take back my U-Haul in the morning, and I promised Ren I’d drive by the place her parents are renting.”
“Renting? When they come up for her wedding?”
“Yeah.”
“They’re not staying in town?”
“Only the night of. But you know how they are. So hoity-toity. They got some big house out in thebigtown for the days sandwiching the event.”
“How supportive of them,” Olivia said sarcastically, digging into a boxfull of kitchen gadgets before carrying it away. “Have you gotten your bridesmaid dress?”
“Yeah. It’s in here somewhere. Do you have a steamer? I think it’s going to be bunchy.”
“Wrinkled?”
“Bunchy sounds better. Anyway, after I drop off the trailer, I’m meeting Rosalind at the salon. Then I’ll get back to this.” Now in the middle of the room, Fern threw her arms wide and spun in a circle, gesturing broadly at the mess of futon pieces, her empty bookshelf, a stray side table, and at least twenty boxes. She had way too much shit.
“How about dinner, our house, tomorrow? A little welcome party for you?”
“For me?” She wiggled her shoulders and tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Absolutely.”
