“That’s okay. I know you didn’t mean it; you’re just a little hungry that’s all.”
“I’m not hungry,” I mumble even though I know it’s a lie. I never ate lunch today because I was distracted by getting the Christmas decorations up in time for Thanksgiving.
“Okay, you’re not hungry,” he hums and I can see the stupid smirk on his face without even needing to see him.
“Well, I have to go get back to work. I’ll talk to you later, I guess,” I say after a beat.
“Yep, I’ll be over in twenty with a coffee and a snack for you. I’m on my way now.”
“Wait, what? Nick, no I don’t need a coffee. You don’t need to come here,” I hurry out.
“Too late, I’m already half way into town. See you soon, wife.”
“Nick, no,” I try to argue but he’s already hung up.
What a freakin’ mess this is becoming.
CHAPTER 15
Nick
Hello wife. I’m making homemade pizza tonight if you want to come over and enjoy some with me. I haven’t seen you much this week which doesn’t bode well for our appearance of being married.
Thanksgiving is the day after tomorrow and I haven’t heard from Noelle since she called to lecture me about talking with her grandma. What was I supposed to do, slam the door in the little old lady’s face? I’d only do that if I had a death wish because Grandma Carol was with her at the time. Denying those two is impossible. Once they latch on they don’t let go until they have what they want. And what they wanted was information.
When did we reconcile?
How was it seeing one another again?
Who asked the other to get married? (It better be me because I’m the man.Little do they know.)
Would we rather have daisies or dahlias at our wedding?
They hammered me with question after question, and I think if Noelle had been here to witness it she would havebeen in awe of how well I handled them. Not that it was hard—talking about being her husband is the easiest thing I’ve ever done.
Fake husband, a voice inside my head snaps.
“Fake husband,” I whisper to myself, setting my sketching pencil down. My eyes focus back on the drawing in front of me, taking in the image of a new museum the city has commissioned. They have some big, mega-billionaire donor who’s partially running the show on the project design which is making my work harder than normal. I usually have to abide by one party’s requests for certain design features, but this time I’m fielding two. And they’re two parties who aren’t seeing eye to eye on anything I send in, making getting it done all the more stressful. I reach my hands behind my head and lean back, stretching my shoulders after a few hours sitting hunched over the table. When I feel my phone buzz, I snatch it up and read her message.
Hey, that’s really nice of you to offer but I’m going to be working late tonight so I can’t.
My brows pinch together in the center of my face. She rarely works past six but I know the Thanksgiving dinner in two days is causing work to be a little busier than normal.
That’s okay. Is everything okay?
Uhhh, it will be. Just another problem I need to figure out.
What problem, sugar?
It’s nothing. This is the week we usually get all the decorations up in the inn so it’s decorated for dinner. We always leave the wreaths that hang in all the windows for last because they take awhile. Well, of course this year, the last year before I take over, the company I hired to hang them bailed at the last minute. And Belle is out sick with the flu this week so it’s just me here to get them all up.
I just have a lot of work to do, that’s all.
Glancing at the clock, I see that it’s half past four. While the sun is still up now, I know it won’t be for long seeing as how it gets dark so soon these days. Not only that, the first snow of the year is on its way into town according to the news so she’ll be hanging wreaths on the outside of the inn, alone, in the dark, when it’s freezing outside.
If anyone can get it done, sugar, it’s you.
I send the message and set my phone down to grab my shoes and my coat. The last thing I’m going to do is sit here like a moron knowing she’s stressed. My work can wait, hers can’t, and if I can help her out in some way I’m going to. Once I have myself together, I snag my phone off the table. A new message from her is waiting for me.
