Free All You Need Is Fudge by Nancy CoCo Page A

Paige said. “That way she couldn’t say I was flaunting our money.”
    â€œThat was brilliant,” Jenn said. “I bet you got a plaque for sister of the year.”
    â€œI did,” Paige said with a smile. “It burned Carin every time she passed the honors wall.”
    â€œWhat happened after college?” I asked. “Surely this didn’t go on.”
    â€œWell, we both have strong ties to Mackinac. So Carin was constantly trying to outdo me on committees and things.”
    â€œBut Paige got the last laugh,” Trent said with a grin.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” I asked and lifted my wineglass to take a sip.
    â€œCarin brought her boyfriend by the club one night to flaunt him,” Paige said. “I had broken up with my college boyfriend a few months before that and hadn’t been dating.”
    â€œShe thought showing off her boyfriend would be a dig at you?” I asked. “That sounds very immature.”
    â€œTrust me. It was,” Paige said. “Her boyfriend thought so, too. He came to see me the next day to express his disappointment in Carin’s behavior.”
    â€œHow sweet,” I said.
    â€œI know. I thought so, too,” Paige replied. “We talked all through the night and into the next day. By the end of the visit, Reggie asked me out.”
    â€œOh boy,” Jenn said.
    â€œI know,” Paige said and sipped her drink. “I told him he had to break up with Carin first. Then wait two weeks to make sure he really meant it before he called me again.”
    â€œAnd did he do what you asked?” I asked.
    â€œHe did. He went straight to Carin’s house and broke up with her. Then he texted me to let me know that it was done and his two weeks were starting.”
    â€œAnd?” Jenn asked.
    â€œAnd two weeks later to the hour, he called me and asked me out. I said yes, and the rest is history.”
    â€œWait, you stole Reggie from Carin?”
    â€œNo,” Paige said with a shake of her head. “Reggie broke up with his girlfriend and two weeks later asked me out.” She smiled. “We’ve been together ever since.”
    â€œI bet Carin was livid when she found out,” Jenn said as the servers placed the salad plates on the table.
    â€œShe was beside herself and tried to corner me about it, but Reggie wouldn’t let her. He went straight to her parents and talked to them about his feelings and intentions. He told her family that I had nothing to do with his decision. That it was Carin’s own actions that caused the breakup.”
    â€œThat took a lot of guts,” I said.
    â€œLike I said, Reggie has known Carin and her family since he was seven. His best friend is Carin’s brother Ash. It’s why he dated Carin in the first place. He was always over at Ash’s house and she was there and she was pretty.”
    â€œIt has to be tough for him,” I said.
    â€œYes,” Paige said. “They are his family and he’s grieving for Carin as much as they are . . . even if she was mean.”
    â€œCan I ask you a question?” I leaned toward Paige.
    â€œSure.”
    â€œDid you and Carin have a run-in yesterday?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Paige asked.
    I noticed a nervous tremor in her fingers.
    â€œRex came to the club meeting and questioned us about yesterday,” I said. “Remember when we were talking about the feasibility of creating small party favor ships at the last minute?”
    â€œYes,” Paige said with a smile and held up her gold leafed replica of the ship at the centerpiece of our table. “They turned out amazing.”
    â€œThank you,” I said. “Sandy is a craftsman.”
    â€œDon’t let her give away too much credit,” Jenn said. “Both Allie and I stayed up half the night pouring the chocolate into the molds and ensuring they didn’t have bubbles. Plus the gold and silver leafing