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Everleigh hired another strategist just before the wedding so she could take some time off. The newer strategist, Naomi, and her assistant, Ashley, are taking care of the office while we take the weekend off.

Everleigh was nervous to leave, but Naomi assured her that she has it all under control.

It’s a girls’ weekend plus a baby boy, and we get in late Friday and watch rom-coms. After a bougie brunch on Saturday morning, we head to the spa for a day of treatments. We bar hop on rooftops, though I don’t drink much since I still have a headache from my birthday night out. We walk the lakefront, we avoid talking about work, and we spoil baby Jack.

And even though I don’t bring him up, Cash Maddox is on my mind through it all.

The way he looked at me on Thursday night. The way his eyes met mine, and it felt like fireworks exploded. Cliché, maybe. Probably. But it still felt exciting and new and different.

I want to feel more of that. I want that flutter as my tummy flips, that excitement of a flirtation zipping up my spine. And, of course, I want to feast my eyes on the pure candy that is Cash Maddox.

It’s lust. That’s all. It’s an attraction.

But I stalk his Instagram for a new photo. I search his name and study every headline.

I pull up hockey clips on YouTube. I know nothing about the game, but apparently he’s a C for center. See? I’ve already learned something. He wears number ninety-eight, and he got into a fight a few years ago that put him in the penalty box for five minutes.

I don’t bring his name up to Ev or Ains, though. One is my sister, one is my best friend…and both seem to have agreed with Dex the night he warned Cash off.

So I obsess in silence and pretend like it doesn’t make me feel lonely.

We head to court on Monday just in case the jury comes to an agreement, but it’s a quiet day while the jury deliberates. We spend most of our time in the food court with Madden rather than in the actual courtroom.

It’s strange waiting for the verdict. On the one hand, I can’t help but wonder if there’s any reasonable doubt. If that’s what’s taking so long. If there’s a holdout who doesn’t believe he did what he’s been accused of.

On the other hand, I wonder if they’re just being thorough.

Madden brings it up first. He’s beside Ev, and I’m beside Ainsley in a booth in the corner. “I feel like if someone wasn’t questioning it, the verdict would be in by now.”

Everleigh nods. “Agreed. Maybe they’re disagreeing in there.”

“That’s good, though, right?” I ask.

Madden lifts a shoulder. “Who knows? We could guess and contemplate, but we won’t know for sure until they walk out and tell us.” He sighs.

“What’s wrong?” Everleigh asks.

He shakes his head. “I don’t know. It just feels like things aren’t adding up. For him to pin it all on us with all the papers he signed, but then not to question any of us? It doesn’t make sense.”

Everleigh presses her lips together. “I was thinking the same. Is he hiding something?”

Madden shakes his head. “I don’t know,” he murmurs. “Or just trying to move it along since he knows he’s guilty.”

“But if he was guilty, why didn’t he take the plea deal?” I ask.

“Good question,” Madden mutters.

And then I ask him the same question I’ve asked a hundred times over the last year. “So when are you and Kennedy getting married?”

He chuckles, and then he says, “We picked a date.”

I shriek. “You did?”

He nods.

“When?”

“February nineteenth. It’s the week after the Super Bowl and just before baseball preseason games start. We’re hoping everyone can make it out to San Diego.”