“Am I crazy?” I call out to a circling pelican, who is looking for scattered food left by tourists on the beach. “Am I making a mistake, trying to pretend like Luke and I are in a relationship?” I speak out loud and then look around me quickly to ensure that nobody is nearby, listening to me talk out loud to myself like a crazy person. I really don’t need word going around the island that Mia Bishop is a nutcase.
“Hey, Mia. Is that you?”
I look behind me and see Wendy ina pair of jogging shorts and a sports bra. Her dark hair is on top of her head, and her face looks sweaty and focused.
“Going for a swim in your clothes?”
“No, just headed to my grandparents’ house for dinner with my brother, Rafe.” I giggle as I step back from the water and head over to her. “Been jogging?”
“Yeah, trying to stay fit after all our nights partying it up at Cocktails & Chaos.” She wipes her forehead. “Thanks for including me. I know, sometimes, I can be a bit of a grouch when you girls are talking about men.” She smiles ruefully. “I hate that my ex has turned me off of love, but I don’t want to make you girls hate it as well.”
“Your ex sucked and was a fool for dumping you.” I stick my finger up in the air. “Screw you, jackass, for dumping Wendy. Mark my words: he will regret it.”
“I know he will.” Wendy nods. “But suffice it to say, right now, I’m just concerned with keeping Seaside Bed-and-Breakfast open.” She looks stressed out. “And trying to get my grandma to spend more time figuring out how to get her spending under control and less time in everyone’s business.”
“Ha-ha, girl. I know what you mean. Those busy Bees are in everything.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “I have faith in you though. You are more than capable of turning the business around, and I bet you end up meeting a hot guy who will make you forget your ex.”
“I’m not interested, thank you very much.”
“Not even for a hot one-night stand?”
I start humming the words to “WAP” by Cardi B, and Wendy just looks at me in shock. I burst out laughing at her expression and she just shakes her head.
“Nothing wrong with getting some. There are going to be some hot men at the wedding, I bet. Maybe even staying at your place. You wouldn’t want to have hot sex with some tall, dark, handsome stranger?”
“No,” she says quickly, but I notice her face goes red, and she’s looking away.
My brain immediately starts ticking. Has she already met someone? I’m about to pry and ask her a question when she speaks again.
“What about you? Are you planning on having a hot love affair with a gorgeous wedding guest? Oh, wait, did you decide to go with Luke?” She lowers her voice, and I grin.
“I mean, I wouldn’t say no to a hot guy.” I move my hips back and forth. “But I’m not sure that’s going to work, to be honest. Now I officially have a fake boyfriend.”
“So, it’s on?” She grins at me, and I nod.
“Luke and I are going to the wedding together. As a couple. We’re going to pretend to be in love.” I giggle and twirl around. “My heart beats for you, Luke.” I stop and wink at Wendy. “At least, that’s what I’ll be telling everyone in a couple of days.”
“Oh, hmm.” Wendy smiles ruefully, and I see her gazing at me before speaking again. “Is it all a ruse or …”
“Or what?” I frown and stare at her. “It’s just a ruse, trust me. There is nothing between Luke and me in real life, other than being best friends. Nothing at all. You know this, Wendy.” My tone sounds slightly too high, and I frown.
Why would Wendy even ask me that question? There is absolutely nothing between Luke and me. Nothing at all but years of friendship.
“Rafe, can you have a seat, please?” I ask my brother as he hovers over the table, grabbing warm chocolate chip cookies and stuffing them in his face. “I have something important I want to announce to everyone.” I glare at him as he goes to grab another cookie. At the rate he’s eating them, there won’t be any left for me. “Please save some for the rest of us.” I grab my fork and take another bite of the lasagna my grandma made for dinner. “I would like some cookies as well.”
“You snooze, you lose, Mia.”
“You sound like you’re five.” I grab two cookies and place them next to my plate just in case.
“I don’t know any five-year-old vets.” He chortles as he takes a seat across the table from me. “What’s the deal? What’s the big announcement?” He looks over to our grandparents and then our parents. “Does anyone know?”
“I have no idea.” My mother looks slightly miffed that she’s not in on whatever I’m about to divulge to everyone, but I hope she will understand why.
“Everyone, I’m about to impart on you a huge announcement, something I can no longer keep to myself.”
I look down at the table, my face bright red. To everyone else, it may look like I’m blushing with anxiousness or embarrassment, but the fact is, I’m doing my best to look like I’m struggling to tell them this information. I need for them to believe that this is real. My grandparents, parents, and brother are all upstanding people, and I love them, but they like to talk. And while I don’t think any of them would deliberately tell my secret, I am not so sure that it wouldn’t slip out. Especially from my grandma’s lips. So, I have to ensure that they all believe me.
“What is going on, Mia?” Rafe checks his watch and then taps his fingers against the table in a grating way. “And how long is this announcement going to take? I have beach volleyball later tonight, and I have to go to work tomorrow. Unfortunately, the animals are not going to understand that I spent the night listening to you whine about how …” His voice drifts off as I give him my best death stare.
