“You two had good parents. Both of ’em. And I reckon now you got yourself a good man of your own. That Adler boy is a good one.”
Please. Someone. Help me.
“You’re going to have gorgeous kids,” Lisa says.
Kids?My palms sweat as I fight the urge to run out the door.
“We’re excited to have him in the family,” Markie says, facing me again. Thankfully, the men go back to their conversation, and Lisa helps a customer in the drive-thru. “Are you good?”
I lean forward and lower my voice. “She’s talking about our kids. What the actual fuck?”
“People are just excited for you.” She makes sure we’re alone. “Remember, they don’t know it’s not real.”
I flop back in my seat. This is too much. They’re all doing way too much.
My phone buzzes, and I pick it up, thankful for the distraction.
Hartley: I still need to call my brother.
Me: Are you ashamed of me?
Hartley: Come on.
I smile.
Me: Well, you’d better hurry because I’m at Piper’s Pizza and everyone here knows.
Hartley: You’re kidding?
Me: I wish. I just got told that our kids are going to be gorgeous.
Hartley: Our pretend children will be gorgeous because you’re their mother. They don’t have a choice.
I grin, typing my response.
Me: I’ve already agreed to marry you. You don’t have to keep charming me.
Hartley: Unfortunately, my charm fails when it comes to you.
Me: I don’t think that’s true.
Hartley: I assure you that it is. I’m going to call Gray before Brooks finds out. He’s the biggest gossip in town.
Me: Let me know how Gray takes it.
Hartley: I’ll call you later.
I stare at the screen, feeling like I should say something more. But what’s there to say besides,okay? That’s lame. And it doesn’t feel right.
“I see,” Markie says, smirking at me.
“You see what?” I put my phone down. “Is this one of those I-spy games?”
She laughs. “No. I’m guessing you were texting with Hartley.”
“Yeah.”
A look of satisfaction crosses her expression as she takes a breath. “Okay, switching gears. Let’s talk about the Sugar Days pickleball contest. I need a new partner. A good one. I gotta maintain my reign and beat the crap out of Jasper and his new girlfriend.”
