“Your sister then,” Officer Ramirez said. “But no more throwing things from the car.”

“Don’t worry,” Maze said. “I’m taking the bride here straight to a bar.”

Officer Ramirez put his cap back on his head. “Just don’t go to the Cock and Bull in SLO, because that’s where I’m going after my shift, and nothing personal, but I don’t want to ever see you ladies again.”

When he walked away, Heather let out a long, shuddering breath. “No jail today,” she whispered to herself.

Maze slid Cat a look. “Well, that was fun.”

“Better than the florist meeting, though.”

Five minutes later, Maze pulled up to a dollar store. She gave Heather her credit card and Heather nodded sagely and got out of the car.

“What’s happening?” Cat asked.

“Wait for it,” Maze said.

Soon Heather was back in the car with two mystery bags. “Let the bachelorette party begin!”

“I’m not dressed for a bachelorette party,” Cat said, looking down at her casual sundress.

“We’ve got you covered,” Maze said. “Heather?”

“Yep.” Heather gave a bobblehead nod and opened one of the bags, pulling out a bright, bedazzled tiara. “Sorry, the pickings were pretty slim.”

Cat just blinked.

“It’s from Frozen,” Heather said. “I figured this way we can reuse it, because Sammie’s going to want it.” She handed it up to Caitlin. “Oh, and here. It’s from a Bride of Frankenstein costume that was on sale for fifty cents, but a veil is a veil, right?”

Caitlin stared down at the tattered veil made of torn lace. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“It’s a rite of passage,” Maze said. “Put them on.”

Cat did and then pulled down the sun visor to look at herself in the mirror. “Dear God, I look like a zombie princess.”

“I think it’s kinda awesome,” Heather said.

Cat pointed at Maze. “I’ll get you for this. Someday when you’re getting married—”

“Bite your tongue, woman.” Been there, done that, and now she had a set of divorce papers to sign to prove it. But even as she thought it, her heart constricted. Because she knew something no one else knew. Something was happening to her back here in Wildstone. She was . . . softening. More than that—and this was the biggie—she didn’t want to sign the papers. And she wanted to keep Walker.

How terrifying was that?

“Seriously,” Caitlin was saying as Maze pulled into the bar’s parking lot. “You’re going to fall in love hard, I just know it. Maybe even with Walker—”

She paused when Maze choked on her own tongue.

“Hey, it’s possible,” Caitlin said stubbornly, having no idea how accurate she was.

Heather pulled a pack of plain white T-shirts and a rainbow of Sharpies from the bags, and they sat in the car decorating the shirts. Cat’s said BRIDE-TO-BE, along with some design that was meant to be dandelions but actually looked like vaginas. Maze’s and Cat’s shirts said MAID OF HONOR.

They all pulled on their shirts, tying them at the waist so they fit better.

“Now we’re ready,” Heather said.

“Yeah.” Maze nodded. “The question is for what?”

Chapter 19

Maze’s maid of honor to-do list:

—Keep the gas tank full just in case Caitlin needs a getaway car.

Maze led the way into the Whiskey River Bar and Grill holding Cat’s hand.

“Thanks for not listening to me about no bachelorette party,” Cat said. “But I’m not really feeling the whole social thing.”

“No worries. It’s just me and Heather.”

“God, I love you,” Cat said with feeling.

A back corner booth had been decorated with streamers, balloons, and a string of lights that, up close and personal, Maze could see were shaped like little penises. She slid a look at Heather, who just laughed and said, “You’re welcome.”

They were served by the owner of the bar himself, Boomer Nichols. He brought a large pitcher of strawberry daiquiris to their booth, smiling when Maze pointed to the string of lit penises with a raised eyebrow.

“Standard bachelorette party decorations,” he said, hugging Caitlin. “We keep them handy for just such events. Wait until you see the cock cookies.”

“Oh my God,” Caitlin muttered, turning beet red. “Seriously?”

“Double grande, babe,” he said. “Just for you.”

Heather raised her hand.

Maze laughed. “What?”

“If I ever get married, I want double grande chocolate cock cookies at my bachelorette party.”

Maze took ahold of the pitcher of daiquiris. “Before I pour, we need a quick game of Truth or Dare.”

Caitlin shook her head. “I definitely need alcohol before that game.”

“Just play along for a second,” Heather said, knowing she and Maze needed a truth from Caitlin, a very specific truth.

“Fine,” Caitlin said. “Dare.”

“Are you sure?” Maze asked. “A truth will be easier, trust me.”

Heather nodded sagely.

“Nope,” Caitlin said, shaking her head. “I want a dare.”

That was curious enough on its own, but given what Maze had found back at the house in Cat’s bathroom trash, she was going to press the issue. “Fine. I dare you to get up on the bar and do stand-up comedy.”

“But I’m not funny.”

“Then you should take truth.”

“Oh my God, truth then.”

Heather leaned in. “Tell us a secret.”

Maze nearly laughed, because seriously, Heather and her secrets. But she didn’t laugh because Caitlin was holding a secret and it was scaring Maze.

Caitlin looked down at her diamond engagement ring. “Okay, truth.” She drew a deep breath. “I wish I’d given this more thought, which I can’t believe I just said out loud.” She thunked her head on the table a few times.

“Careful,” Maze said. “You’ll knock something loose.”

“I wouldn’t mind knocking myself into another life. Hey, is it considered premeditated if you drink yourself into a coma on purpose?”

“So you do wish you weren’t getting married,” Maze said softly.

“Moving on,” Cat said tightly. “Your turn, Maze. Truth or dare? And pour the damn drinks.”

“Not quite yet,” Maze said, holding on to the pitcher. “You’ve got a bigger secret. You have to tell us the biggest one.”

Caitlin squeezed her eyes shut. “Okay, fine, so I had a little, teeny-tiny thing happen last year. And yes, maybe my doctor called it a breakdown, but I prefer the word exhaustion . . .”

Maze and Heather stared at each other because that was so not the secret they’d been expecting.

“You had a breakdown? A year ago?” Heather asked.

Maze reached for Cat’s hand. “Are you okay?”

“Of course.”

“Cat,” Maze said softly.