Luke
Sounds like a plan to me, girlfriend.
Mia
Don’t be goofy, boyfriend. I’ll call you tonight to plan, if I’m not too sloshed.
Luke
Great. I can’t wait to see Rex’s face when he realizes we’retogether.
Mia
He’s going to feel like a fool.
Luke
I know. This is going to be perfect. Have fun tonight and stay safe.
I drop the phone onto my desk and take a seat. There’s a huge grin on my face, and for the first time in a long time, I feel excited about heading back to Coconut Beach and seeing my old friends and all the new friends that Mia has told me about.
I’ll still have to do a shit-ton of work while I am there, but Mia will understand. She can cover for me when I need to be in meetings or on calls. That is what is so great about this arrangement. She isn’t my real girlfriend, so she won’t expect me to be with her one hundred percent of the time. I’ll just have to show up to key events, and that will be enough. I will be able to close this deal and show up for the wedding. It will be perfect. And it will wipe that cocky smile off of my brother’s face.
He’s always thought he’s better than me. He’s always known my secret. Well, this time, I’ll show him. I’ll finally come out on top.
chapter three
Mia
Iread the front of the cream linen invitation out loud again and try not to roll my eyes. I’m still mad about the note that Rex wrote.
“Who invites someone to a wedding with a two-week celebration two weeks before it’s meant to happen?” I shout out to Juniper, who is in the kitchen, making us an easy chicken fried rice dish for dinner before we go out for the night. “That’s absolutely ridiculous.”
I drop the invitation on the bed and head out to our cozy little kitchen. I stop next to the small pinewood table my grandma Lucille gave us when we moved in, along with four uncomfortable chairs. They are the reason we usually sit on our couch to eat instead of at the table, but the one time I complained to my parents, they told me that was why God had invented cushions. When I told them the cushions didn’t help, they told me to be grateful and not to upset my grandma with complaints, and so that was that. Thankfully, Juniper’s parents allowed us to choose the couch we wanted, so that is deep and comfortable.
“Have some cucumbers, Mia.” Juniper looks up from cutting onions. “It’s still going to be about twenty minutes.” She frowns. “Are you hangry? Or still upset over Rex?”
“I am neither hangry nor upset. I am still pissed about the rude note on my invitation.” I wave it in the air in front of her face.
“The invite sounded perfectly polite, but I agree his note was rude as hell. But at least you and Luke have that plan.”
“The note was tacky and rude.”
“The note was rude, but that doesn’t surprise me. Rex has never exactly been Mr. Nice Guy.” She makes a face like she wants to gag.
I’ve always known that neither she nor Josie liked Rex. But I also knew his mean persona was a front. The true Rex was the guy in the bear suit who carried me home and to my bed like I was a damsel in distress and whispered in my ear. I was so drunk that night, and I knew that most other boys would have taken advantage of me.
“I know he has that jackass front, but he’s not all bad.” I sigh because I don’t really want to defend him, given the note on the invitation. “I don’t want to partake in two weeks’ worth of wedding festivities, even if Luke is there as my pretend boyfriend, but I know I’m going to have to. Grandma Lucille and his nana, Bitsy, are best friends. They will expect me and Rafe to be there.” I mention my older brother, who also still lives in town. However, because he runs the local vet clinic, I’m sure he will find plenty of excuses to not have to spend much time partaking inall the fun.
“How is Rafe?” Juniper asks casually as she minces some garlic cloves. “Haven’t seen him in a while.”
“He’s busy with Paws and Claws and training Cherie. Oh yeah, I saw her at Salty Sirens this morning, and she said to remind you that Lani needs to come in for her rabies shot soon.”
“Oh yeah, I’ll make an appointment.” She looks up at me. “Want to open a bottle of red wine and grab three glasses?”
“No, what I’d like to do is tell Rex off.” I groan and cover my face as I think about everyone staring at me while he’s all lovey-dovey.
The worst part is the fact that I know half the town knows about my stupid teenage crush. I literally performed a one-woman play in the town talent show one year, talking about two fated soulmates who lived on an island off the coast of Florida, called Ria and Mex. I still cringe when I think about it. That wasn’t my finest work, but I was fifteen, with my head in the clouds and under the mistaken belief that Rex felt the same way for me as I did for him.
