Page 25 of Wedding or Not

“Oh please.”

“I mean it. Maybe you weren’t thinking anything, but Wes sure was.”

My instinct is to object, but she’s not actually wrong.

Wes almost kissed me on Sunday night. I know he did.

“Some things have changed,” I admit at last. “I thought he didn’t like me all these years, but I think I was misinterpreting things.”

“You were definitely misinterpreting things. Even I could have told you that.”

“And we’re getting along better, which makes the situation easier. But don’t start buying into our fictional narrative. This whole thing is a show for the public. It’s not real.”

“Isn’t it?”

“I don’t think so.” The flutters in my chest and belly belie my words, so I make myself sort out the feelings so I can answer her truthfully. “It’s kind of… exciting. Fun. And he’s a lot nicer than I realized he is.”

“Plus hot.”

“Yes, he’s hot. I thought about him as a nerd for so long, but he’s definitely hot now. But building up a relationship in my mind out of this seems like a really, really stupid thing to do. What’s been happening isn’t… natural. So assuming a real relationship is going to come of it is a recipe for heartbreak.”

“Maybe.”

“Definitely.”

“Okay.” Natalie frowns as she ponders. “So just be careful. Don’t build up a relationship in your mind out of nothing. But if real things grow, don’t close them down. Just see what happens.”

“Yeah. That’s good advice. I’ll be careful but see what happens.”

Later that day, after lunch, I’m opening the gate that blocks the private areas of the garden from the public so I can begin my daily walk around Blossom Park.

Most days I take a walk, often in the mornings before we even open. I like the exercise, and I like the nature and fresh air, and I love the gardens. But for the past week I’ve been taking a walk purposefully during open hours so visitors can see me.

Since a lot of people are probably visiting because of the social media buzz, it makes sense to give them a little of what they want.

So I dress cute and take my tablet so I can pretend to being doing business as I make the meandering loop of the walkways that wind through every single garden and around the wildflower fields.

Today I wear a loose blue-gray dress in a gauzy cotton with tennis shoes and my hair clipped up in a knot. Since there’s no reason to waste the walk, I make note of damaged plants, benches, and pavement as I go.

Jake’s crew has been working overtime, so overall the property is in pristine condition. All the early-spring flowers are blooming, and the day is brisk and sunny.

I have a really good time.

I walk all the way to the ticketing booth at the front entrance to chat with the staff, and I’m walking the stretch of road that leads to the main parking lot when someone drives up beside me and stops.

I’m used to cars slowing and people hanging out car windows to snap photos of me, but most people don’t hold up traffic to come to a complete stop.

Startled, I glance into the passenger window and see that the driver is Wes.

Smiling, I lean over so I can see him better. “Hey there. I wasn’t expecting you until this evening.”

“The morning meeting finished early, so I took off before they could drag me into something else.” He looks pleased with the world and is ridiculously good-looking with his tie loosened and a green-and-brown sweater-vest. “How are things here?”

“All is good. Better than I could have dreamed of.”

I shoot a quick look back to see three cars stopped behind Wes’s. I’m expecting to see annoyed expressions, but the SUV behind him is full of college-aged girls who are giggling and aiming their phone cameras at us.

Shaking my head in baffled amusement, I say, “It’s a crazy, crazy world.”