When I finally had control of my emotions, I took a sip of my latte and stubbornly pretended I’d been successful at shoving Ford out of my mind. I could do that all day.
“Well, I thought that was my previous tenant out here!”
I turned my gaze toward the voice. Mabel waved, strolling toward me wearing a leopard tracksuit and a matching visor.
I forced a smile to my face even as my stomach churned and dread filled me. Had word already spread about what had happened with Ford and me? God, was Mabel here to interview me for a Live? Ask me about my fake marriage and what I thought about my husband hooking up with some random woman already?
I wasn’t sure I’d survive it.
But one glance at her empty hands, free of any recording device, had me exhaling a deep sigh of relief.
“Hey, Mabel.”
“Hey yourself!” She climbed the stairs before taking the seat next to me and giving my knee a pat. “How are things going with that hunky firefighter husband of yours?” Before I could answer, she continued, “Really damn good, I imagine.” She elbowed me in the side and waggled her brows as if I hadn’t caught her meaning. “Is he at the firehouse today?”
“No, he’s…with Beck.” I hoped she didn’t catch the stumble in my words or pick up on the fact that I was lying through my teeth. Because, no, Ididn’tknow where my husband was.
She hummed in acknowledgment and shot me a bright smile. “I’m so happy for you both. After knowing you since you were babies… Well, it makes this a whole lot sweeter. You left for college before you could really settle into yourself—and thank God for that…gave you a chance to get away from your parents for a bit and blossom into the amazing woman you are…”
I snapped my gaze to hers, trying to read in her expression if she’d meant that how it had sounded. My parents had always put on a show for everyone else and had no problem making me out to be the issue. They were so good at it, so convincing, that I hadn’t stopped to question if maybe not everyone had believed them.
Before I could ask her anything about it, she continued, “But I was lucky enough to watch your husband grow up into the man he is. Watched him wander around, too,” she said wryly, “trying to figure out what it was he was searching for. But I think we both know it was you.”
I blew out a humorless laugh. “I’m not sure I’d go as far as to say that.”
“Oh, honey. That boy’s been smitten foryears. Might’ve been too dumb to say anything, but sometimes we women make them stupid. And there’s no doubt that man is stupid in love.”
“I’m not—” I cut myself off before I could finish the rest of that sentence, because what could I say? That I wasn’t who he wanted? That he didn’t love me? Even if those statements were true, I was his wife in the eyes of everyone in this town. From their perspective, of course he was in love with me.
“Well, I’ve gotta run.” She patted my knee again and pushed to stand. “Would you mind letting your husband know the picture he wanted should be delivered to you soon?”
“Picture?”
“Yes! He didn’t tell you? It’s your first kiss as a married couple. The one from the front page. Boy, let me tell you, when he cornered me after that was printed, I thought for sure he was going to tear me up one side and down the other.” She clucked her tongue. “Could’ve knocked me over with a feather when he said he just wanted a copy—one for his phone and a print for the cottage—and if I got him both, he’d let my stalking slide and wouldn’t mention it to Brady. Heaven knows I don’t need any more trouble with the sheriff…”
My brows furrowed as I registered everything she’d said. “Ford asked for that?”
“Sure did.” She grinned then gave a slow shake of her head. “I never thought I’d see the day Ford McKenzie voluntarily displayed a picture of himself and a woman on his phone for the whole world to see, but here we are. He enjoyed sampling the wares, if you know what I mean. Nothing wrong with that! I did a little of it in my day. But as soon as George and I had our first date, that was it. I’m not surprised Ford was the same. As soon as you came back into town, it was game over for him. But of course, after the crush he had on you in high school, that’s to be expected.”
“Crush…”
“Oh sure, like you didn’t know.” She smirked at me. “And it was no surprise that continued, especially when you’ve grown into such a gorgeous, kind, intelligent woman that anyone with half a brain cell would be proud of. He didn’t stand a chance, now did he?”
That damn lump was back in my throat, and I worked overtime trying to swallow it down. Trying to make sense of what she’d said, but everything was getting jumbled up, too much information at once. Ford hadn’t had a crush on me in high school… He’d driven me to the brink of insanity, and I’d been downright cruel to him. And the picture he wanted? That didn’t necessarily mean anything. Of course he’d have proof of his wife when we were trying to make this ruse a reality to everyone around us. Of course it wasn’t real.
“Oh, and I forgot to tell you that I ordered more of that strawberry lube. I’m sure you two’ve already gone through what I gave you…” She sighed, a dreamy, far-off look on her face. “I remember when George and I couldn’t keep our hands off each other in that honeymoon stage. But don’t you worry—my supply should be restocked lickety-split.”
And then, before I could tell her there wasn’t any lube use in our future, she took off, leaving me staring after her, my thoughts chaotic.
Ford…crushing on me in high school? Ridiculous. And absolutely not true. It couldn’t be…
But before I could focus more on that, my phone pinged with an incoming text.
Luna:
I think you left your water bottle down at the beach this morning. Purple?
“Dammit,” I muttered before typing a response.
