This isn’t over. We have to tell the truth by the time we land in Martha’s Vineyard. There’s no way I can pretend to be interested in Lucy. Everyone will see through it immediately.
Thank God they don’t allow weapons through airport security, because if I had access to something that could seriously hurt Lucy right now, I’m not sure I’d be able to hold back.
Kill. Me ... Or her. Now.
Either would be less painful than pretend-dating Lucy Jones.
Chapter Ten
Lucy
Everything about this trip so far is excruciating. I can’t believe I told Katherine that Hunter and I are involved. What was I thinking? And then everyone made such a fuss about switching seats so we could sit together. I swear Katherine was shushing Ed so she could listen to Hunter and me talking. Neither of us knew what to say.
The journey from Martha’s Vineyard Airport seems to be taking four and a half hours. Our party is split between two SUVs, and our driver assured us it was going to take less than fifteen minutes. Our driver is a liar.
We turn off the road and head through gates that have a sign on it with the name Gableview. I try not to be obvious about craning my neck to see the house. Okay, so the images Hunter showed me were incredible, but he’s never actually been here. It might have all been bullshit. But as the driveway curves to the left, I let out an audible gasp.
The house is even more beautiful than the pictures. I snap my head at Hunter, but he’s buried in his phone. I nudge him and nod toward the house. He narrows his eyes like he’s not getting what I’m trying to say. So exaggeratedly, I give a big thumbs-up.
He chuckles, and even I can’t help but smile at my ridiculousness.
“Oh, this is gorgeous, Lucy,” Katherine says. “How ever did you find it?”
“I didn’t,” I say. “I can’t take any credit. Hunter knew someone who knew someone.”
“Jack Alden,” Hunter says, as if we’re all supposed to know who Jack is.
“This is Jack’s place?” Ed asks. I guess Ed knows.
“Sort of. His family has a place on the same stretch of land that they use. This place is an investment property.”
The car comes to a standstill outside the beautiful two-story house that looks like something out of a film set. The white siding and gray shingle roof make the house blend into the vast sky above. White hydrangeas surround the front porch, exactly how they were in the pictures—abundant and soft against the crisp lines of the architecture. A Star-Spangled Banner on the side of the house ripples in the breeze. I almost don’t want to enter in case the spell is broken.
“I don’t think I’ll ever want to leave,” Katherine says.
I couldn’t have said it better.
Ed is the first to take the steps up to the porch and the front door. “Do we have rooms assigned?” he asks. “Or is it a free-for-all?”
Hunter chuckles. I’m not quite sure why.
“I’ve assigned rooms,” I say. “Ed and Hunter are in the second guest bedroom on the third floor. Then we have—”
Katherine interrupts. “I know Ed and Hunter were sharing, and you and I were sharing, but since you and Hunter are a couple now ... you two can share, and Ed and I can share!” She beams as she talks.
Out of the corner of my eye I can see Hunter shaking his head. Obviously, I don’t want to share a room with him. But I can’t think of an excuse. Katherine’s suggestion has me spiraling. This is not what I had planned.
“It’s just silly otherwise,” she continues. “And I hate sleeping without Ed now. In fact, a couple of months ago when he stayed in New York for the night, I didn’t sleep a wink with him gone.”
My insides feel heavy. There’s no getting away from this.
“And it means you guys get to hang out a little more,” Katherine says, grinning.
I slide on a smile. “Sure,” I say. “If that’s what you want, Katherine.”
Katherine squeals. “Thank you. This is absolutely incredible. I’m so looking forward to this weekend. Wedding planning has been so stressful. It will be good to just kick back and relax.”
My fake smile is replaced with a real one when I see Katherine so happy. It’s not like we’re going to be spending loads of time in our rooms anyway. We’re just there to sleep. Hunter and I are adult enough to make it work. I hope. At least I knowI’madult enough to make it work.
