This time I do blush, properly. I haven’t had a chance to share this with anyone, and I’m dying to. I know I probably shouldn’t say anything, but surely a few, vague details would be okay?
Before I can help myself, I’m gushing. “He issosexy—but it’s more than that. He’s been really supportive about this idea I had to open a cafe. And he’s so cute with me, always holding my hand, kissing me, and he does this sweet thing where he tucks my hair behind my ear.” I smile, picturing the adoring way he looks at me when he does that, and a little sigh escapes me. “He’s just… he’s amazing.”
“Wow,” Alex breathes, her eyes wide. “You really like this guy.”
My skin prickles uncomfortably at her words. She’s right—Idoreally like this guy. I like this guy who is pretending to be married to someone else and lives thousands of miles away from where I live.
“Yeah,” I mumble, my shoulders slumping. Across the salon I see Geoff watching me curiously, but I ignore him.
“So you’ll bring him to the wedding then?” Cat asks.
“Oh, no.” I shake my head and a heavy feeling settles over my heart. “It’s… no, it’s not like that.”
“What?” Alex asks, puzzled.
I shrug, blowing on my nails. “It’s complicated.” I think back to when Luke first used that word, and how much more complicated it is now.
“You mean it’s just a fling?” Cat says. “Because you’re leaving?”
“Yeah,” I mutter. A fling. I hadn’t thought to label it but I guess that’s what it is.
“Are youkidding?” Alex blinks at me, incredulous. “I’veneverheard you talk about a guy like that before. That’s not just a fling, Harriet. It sounds like you’re in love.”
“I’m not in love,” I reply, chuckling. That’s such an Alex thing to say. “It’s only been a couple of weeks.” But she’s right about one thing: I like him a lot. So much that I can’t bear the thought of leaving. And that’s before I remind myself that I’ll have to see him pretending to be in love with his ex-wife soon. But there’s no point dwelling on that right now.
I push the thought from my mind, and by the time we finish up and head out of the salon, I’m back to being excited about spending the night at the cabin alone with Luke. It’s going to be delicious.
The four of us wander through the East Village, talking and laughing in the pink blush of early evening. There’s a cool nip in the air, and I smile when we step into the warmth of Bounce. Alex and Cat head for a booth, but Geoff grabs my arm.
“We’ll get drinks,” he calls to the others, then drags me up to the bar.
I open my mouth to ask Geoff what’s going on when a tall, bearded bartender appears in front of us. Cat’s brother—I remember him from the last time we were here.
“Hey!” He runs a hand through his messy, dirty-blond hair. “You’re Alex’s sister, right?”
“Yes,” I say, smiling. “I’m Harriet.”
“Cory Porter.” He extends his hand and I shake it, feeling a little flustered. I’d forgotten how cute he is.
Beside me, Geoff rolls his eyes at Cory. “Don’t even think about it.”
Cory laughs, raising his hands innocently. “Just being friendly.”
“Sure.” Geoff adjusts his glasses, then gestures behind the bar. “Can we get a round of strawberry rosé mojitos?”
“Seriously?” Cory scrunches his nose and Geoff chuckles.
“Yes. It’s a bride thing.”
“Fine.” Cory lets out a resigned sigh. “I’ll get Josie. She knows how to make them.” He heads to the other end of the bar, speaking to a petite brunette woman, and she grabs a pitcher to make our drinks.
Geoff turns his attention to me. “I told you something would happen with your plane man,” he says with a self-satisfied grin. “So you figured everything out?”
I play with a cardboard coaster on the bar, overcome with the sudden urge to tell him everything. Steph’s been busy at a work conference and hasn’t had time to chat, and when I think of the last time I talked to Geoff, he was so encouraging.
“Well,” I say, dropping my voice, “kind of.”
He quirks an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
