It's Complicated

Jake is five hundred miles away, which makes keeping this romance under wraps a simple solution. Virtual dating is sort of the worst, but their chemistry is electric, even if their relationship status is complicated.

It’s the perfect plan...until it isn’t.

When worlds collide, Andie’s scrambling to keep this budding relationship hush-hush. Will she lose her best friend and Jake in this charade? Long-distance dating is hard. Secretly dating her best friend’s brother is downright dangerous.

After applying to many teaching positions across multiple districts, Andie’s stuck subbing. It feels as if she’ll never get ahead professionally. When an unusual teaching opportunity falls in her lap she accepts, but it reveals the cracks in their already fragile relationship.

Can Andie keep everything from falling apart, just as her life seems to be finally coming together?

If you love swoon-worthy romance and fierce female friendships, you will love It's Complicated.

The sparkle and shine of Christmas still glowed bright in downtown Nashville, Andie mused, as she gazed out the window of the Dog-Eared Page where she worked. Shoppers bustled past, returning gifts, buying things they hadn’t received under the tree, or just enjoying their vacation.
Vacation, what is that?
She’d been substitute teaching since the start of the school year, and was no closer to landing a permanent position than she had been in August. Her phone buzzed. It was Lexie. Again. She knew what it was about. Andie got Ben’s attention and told him she was taking her fifteen minute break. Then she pulled on her coat and stepped outside. The weather was frosty, but nothing unbearable. In fact, when the sun broke through the clouds, it was almost pleasant.
“Finally,” Lexie exclaimed.
“Look, I know why you’re calling, but I really don’t think I can. I need to get as many shifts at the bookshop as possible, because I don’t get paid for these two weeks of winter break, remember?”
“Y’all aren’t gonna be open New Years Day, anyway. Please, it’s just one day.” Lexie pleaded. “Delilah and Jade will be here and it won’t be the same without you, Belle.”
“Driving eight hours in winter weather does not sound like a great start to the year for me,” Andie replied.
“Well, what are you gonna do instead?”
“Go to bed early?” Andie suggested.
“No ma’am, because I’m gonna send you a ticket to come out here.”
“I can’t accept—“
“Yes, you can. Think of it as a belated Christmas gift.”
“You got me a gorgeous cashmere throw for Christmas,” Andie said.
“Fine, an early birthday present.”
“Six months early?” Andie countered.
“Seriously. I am not taking no for an answer.”
Andie knew her friend would not budge. Guess I’m going to Charlotte for New Year’s Eve.

Andie stepped out of the town car Lexie had arranged in front of a Georgian style house that bordered on being a mansion. The red brick practically glowed in the setting sunlight. In all the years she’d known Lexie she’d never been here, and had often wondered if perhaps the stories of her parents’ extravagance were exaggerated. Clearly, the stories were one hundred percent true. Suddenly, she wished she’d taken Lexie up on her offer to rent her a designer dress, but she’d felt badly about taking the plane ticket and borrowed her sister’s formal instead. She climbed the steps to the front door and rang the bell.
Half expecting a butler to answer, she was surprised when that familiar blond head appeared.
“You made it!” Lexie screeched. “I was worried you’d decide to stay home at the last minute. I’m so thrilled you’re here. Come on, the girls are already upstairs,” she said, dragging Andie into the ornate marble entry.
Just seeing Delilah, Lexie, and Jade made her heart lighter. All at once, Andie was happy to be there too. There was an open bottle of champagne on the table and a charcuterie board beside it in Lexie’s sitting room. Shoot, her bedroom was like a suite.
“Looks like the party’s already started,” Andie said. “Oh…the good stuff.”
“I swiped it from tonight’s bar. Mama only stocks the best,” Lexie said, grinning.
Delilah and Jade jumped up and hugged her in unison.
“Missed you,” Jade said.
“So happy you’re here,” Delilah added.
“Where are y’alls beaus?” Andie asked.
“Well, Cole is showing up for the party at eight,” Lexie said, “and Daddy, Vance, and Brad are golfing. They said it was too nice of a day to spend it indoors.”
“Typical men,” Delilah said.
Lexie poured her a glass of champagne, then returned to applying her eyeshadow. They each had a station set up around the room. Andie was exhausted from her flight and plunked down next to the bubbles and nibbles.
“Is everyone looking forward to going back to work?”
“Ugh,” Jade said. “Not if my students are as unmotivated as they were in the days leading up to the break.”
“Or as hyper,” Lexie chimed in.
“I’ve heard it’s called the endless stretch of days until spring break,” Delilah added.
“Talk about gloomy,” Andie said. “I know y’all do this every day, but shoot I worked a lot in December and I’m glad your kids were as miserable as the ones I subbed for. They were practically unhinged.”
“How’s the wedding coming along?” Delilah asked Jade.
“Ugh, we are so behind. Y’all I just don’t know how I am going to get it all done and do my job at the same time,” Jade said.
“Could you hire a wedding coordinator?” Lexie suggested.
“Not in the budget,” Jade replied.
“What is it you’re falling behind on,” Delilah asked.
“Everything,” Jade replied, laughing nervously. “Decor mostly, putting the favors together, creating the centerpieces. It’s a whole lot of little things that just take a lot of time.” She sighed.
“I could help,” Andie said suddenly.
“How?” Jade asked. “You aren’t close and I can’t ship this stuff to you in Nashville.”
“No, I mean I could come over maybe a couple times a month and help with…whatever. I’m not a super crafter like Lexie, but if given instructions I can handle simple craft projects.”
“Do you mean it?” Jade asked, jumping up.
“Well, yeah. I have the time. I’m not grading papers or lesson planning on the weekends like y’all. When I’m not at the bookstore I can drive over for the weekend.”
“You are a lifesaver!” Jade launched herself at Andie, practically spilling the still full glass of champagne in her hand.
“Does this have anything to do with the fact that you can see Jake at the same time?” Lexie whispered.
Andie looked up startled, hoping Delilah hadn’t overheard. She gave Lexie a warning look. Dating your best friend’s brother was definitely the biggest friendship no-no. She surmised Delilah knew something was up last summer at Nantuckee lake, but she wasn’t sure if Delilah was aware she and Jake had continued talking. All of them had had crushes on Jake over the years, so it was nothing new, but this was the first time Jake had returned the attention.
“Team work makes the dream work,” Jade said, still beaming.
Andie was glad she could carry some of her burden. After all, what were friends for.
“Can I get a New Year’s cheer to that?” Lexie said.
“To the new year!” they said in unison, clinking glasses.

Waiting for the girls at the top of the stairs, Andie fidgeted with the thin straps of her black velvet sheath, conscious that it wasn’t sparkly or as extravagant as the others’ dresses. Lexie’s mom had hired a hairdresser, and Andie’s hair was in an intricate updo with about a million bobby pins. If she had been impressed by the house in the two minutes it had taken her to cross the entry and get upstairs, Andie was completely awestruck when she saw the entry a few hours later. The chandelier bathed everything in crisp sparkling light. There was a stunning display of white flowers on the circular table just inside the door that had not been there when she arrived. Lexie’s mama sure knew how to throw a party. Brad, Vance, and Cole were waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Seeing three handsome men in tuxedos made the sting of Jake not being here that much greater.
“Uh, I forgot my wrap,” she said. “I’ll meet y’all outside.”
Andie rushed back to the bedroom and closed the door behind her. Maybe coming here wasn’t a good idea. She slid her phone out of her clutch and texted Jake a selfie.
Jake: You look incredible!
Andie: My hair is crunchy.
Jake: Haha!
Andie: Discomfort is beauty, I guess.
Jake: You’re beautiful no matter what.
Andie: Wish you were here. Are you having fun skiing?
Jake: Yeah. The powder is insane. They’re opening a trail close to midnight and we’re all skiing down with torches.
Andie: WOW! Sounds …cold ; ) but a memorable way to ring in the new year.
Jake: LOL. You have fun tonight.
Andie: You too. I’ll send you virtual bisous at midnight.
Jake: Looking forward to it.

The party was being held in the back yard. As Andie stepped onto the veranda, she realized that back yard was an understatement. The lawn extended far beyond the house. In fact she couldn’t see any neighbors—or lights other than the ones set up for the party. She paused to admire the fountain, or was it a pool? Andie shook her head. This was one magnifique house. She rubbed her arms and hurried down the steps to the tent set up just beyond the fountain/pool.
Inside the tent there were delicate chandeliers suspended above round tables set up around the dance floor. A band played softly. Lexie jumped up from their table and waved her over.
“There you are,” Lexie said. “I was worried you got lost.”
“A very real possibility.”
“Yes, the grounds are extensive here.”
“Is the fountain based on the ones at Versailles?” Andie asked.
“Yes! Mama had the pool designed after those fountains. How did you know?”
“Lifelong dream to go there,” she said.

Dinner passed pleasantly, with easy conversations, a gourmet meal, and phenomenal wine. Andie was ashamed to admit that she had been convinced she’d have a terrible time. What was I thinking? These were her best friends on earth. She could never have a bad time with them. As dessert was cleared the dance music began. A mellifluous song floated over the crowd. The couples went to the dance floor. Leaving Andie alone at the table. Ah, this is what I was dreading. She checked the time and yawned. Midnight was an hour away. Hopefully the band would play some upbeat tunes.
Andie signaled for the waiter to top off her champagne. She sipped slowly, and scrolled through her phone. Friends were posting their celebrations. Lexie had already uploaded their group pic. She gave it two taps. She noticed Jake had also liked the image, and a warm glow filled her chest.
Delilah came over after the first song had transitioned into a faster tune. “Come and dance. This is a party after all.” She pulled Andie onto the middle of the dance floor.
“Okay, maybe a few dances. But I’m pretty tired. I may go up to bed in a bit,” Andie said, yawning.
“What? No ma’am,” Lexie said. “This is a New Year’s Eve party, and you are stayin’ until midnight.”
Andie knew when not to argue with her friend and decided she’d just have to deal with the embarrassment of taking a seat during the slow songs. Thankfully, the slow numbers were few and far between.
About fifteen minutes before midnight the band transitioned to a string of slow numbers, and Andie retreated to their table to stare at her phone until the big moment.
“It’s almost time, y’all. Get ready to make a wish and give a kiss at the stroke of midnight,” Lexie’s mama said, beginning the countdown.
The belles and their beaus stood in a circle, joining everyone in counting out the old year. At the stroke of midnight the band began playing Auld Lang Syne.
“Happy New Year!” They all cheered.
Andie closed her eyes to make her New Year’s wish when a phone alert stole her concentration. She looked down to see a text.
Jake: Happy New Year! Where’s my kiss?
Andie quickly snapped a silly kissy face selfie and sent it off.
Jake: Beautiful, as always.
Andie: Wish it was in person.
Jake: Me too.
He sent back photo of himself poised at the top of a mountain, holding a lantern that illuminated his handsome face.
Andie: Trés beau. Don’t break a leg.
Jake: ; )

An hour later, Andie was walking back to the house alone. Jade and Vance had already gone inside, while Delilah, Lexie, and their dates were still dancing. Andie had her heels in one hand. The cement was frigid beneath her feet. The bistro lights surrounding the tent reflected in the pool. She slowed and paused next to the water and leaned over to view her reflection.
A fleeting trail of light streaked across the surface of the water. Andie gasped and looked up as the shooting star faded into nothingness. Realizing that she had forgotten to make her wish at the stroke of midnight, Andie squeezed her eyes closed.
“This…I mean, last year was sort of challenging. I would love some real direction for my future. Like a full time teaching job, and my own place to live. And…you know I’ve had feelings for Jake for forever, in spite of the physical distance separating us at the moment, I would really love for us to find a way forward…together.”
She opened her eyes, hoping those weren’t too many wishes but on a night like this, full of promises and fresh starts, she had a feeling her wishing star was capable of delivering all her heart’s desires.