And how much I will too.
39
THE MIND WIPE SOCIETY
ISLA
I call a meeting in the morning at the Candy Cane Diner. I simply have to after the other night and cheering him on at the game last night. I can’t walk around with this knot of guilt in my stomach any longer. I need to clear this weight from my shoulders before our next date this evening.
My brother knows some of the truth. My parents have figured out part of the story. It’s time my friends knew everything too.
Sabrina, Leighton, and Mabel arrive at the booth. Mabel just arrived in town to check out the competition and to meet with Aurora for some bakery advice—she’s thinking of opening her own soon.
Right now, they fill the booth one by one, chatting about Christmas plans, where they’ll be staying, and who’s wearing what to the gala.
Sabrina turns to me. “Which raises a very good question. What exactly willyoube wearing to the gala?”
That’s a good question. It’s agreatquestion.
When Rowan went to morning skate yesterday, I did alittle shopping. I found a sequined silver dress—sleeveless, long, sexy, and fun. But it also makes me sad.
Because the gala is our last date. The trouble is…my friends think it’s thestartof something.
“So…here’s the thing,” I begin.
Mabel sets down her menu. “Anything that starts with ‘here’s the thing’ means a confession’s coming next.”
She knows me too well. And she knows—maybe better than anyone—how I feel about Rowan.
I swallow roughly, set my hands on the table. “I need your vow of secrecy.”
“Obviously. This is the mind-wipe society,” Leighton says.
I take a deep breath. Nerves rush through me. I half-wish I weren’t saying this. But I need to tell them. “We’re fake-dating.”
Mabel’s brow furrows. “Really?”
Leighton cocks her head. “You are?”
Sabrina just blinks. “But…why?”
My stomach plummets, but I nod. “It’s just for the gala.”
“You’re faking it for that?” Leighton asks, her voice equal parts disappointed and intrigued.
“You really can’t tell anyone, especially anyone on the team,” I add, my tone making it clear I mean they can’t tell their guys. “But yes. He needed a date for it, since the team is making everyone go.”
“How did this happen?” Leighton asks.
I swallow past the tight knot in my throat and start at the night of the auction, when he picked up my Holly Jolly martini and drank from the same spot I did and my mind started racing. The Christmas tree farm, when I imaginedRowan kissing me. How he helped with my tree both at the farm, and back at my apartment even though it wasn’t his thing. But he did it for me. And of course the cookie swap andthat kiss. “You all saw it. How tense I was trying to set him up with other women but wanting him for myself too.”
I catch them up to speed with Evergreen Falls, and our night dancing at the Candy Cane Diner, and onto the Christmas train, and the Love Shack, and even the morning after when he made me an omelet. “With mushrooms,” I add.
Mabel whistles. “Damn. Does he know how deeply you love those little fleshy spore-bearing fungi?”
“Yes! Like a bear loves honey. And there was coffee too.” I pout, then drop my head into my hand. “It was everything I wanted, and he did it for me. Fine, maybe he was trying to prove we’ve been fake-dating for a while—since we have this whole bet going on—but still, he did it.”
Mabel waves a hand dismissively. “Whether he did it for a bet or not, who cares? Like you said, he did it. And actions speak.”
