Page 189 of The Way I Hate Him
“It’s never too soon to tell someone how you feel. It’s something I should have done a lot sooner when I took you into my home.” Her eyes soften. I swear I’ve never seen Gran like this. Not sure if it’s the fresh air, or her seeing me with Hattie, but her demeanor has completely changed. “I’m so proud of you, Hayes. Everything you’ve done, everything you’ve gone through. I’m very proud of you.”
Well . . . Jesus.
“Thanks, Gran,” I say, feeling weird that we’re having a heart-to-heart in the middle of a Five Six Seven Eight event.
“Now, go have fun. I want to sit here in silence as I contemplate the rest of my time on this earth.”
Annnnd she’s back.
I lean over and press a kiss to her cheek before standing and heading over to the bar for a drink.
I nod at the bartender. “Diet Coke, please.”
“Not putting anything in that Diet Coke?” a voice says from the side of me. I glance to the right and find Abel and Ryland with drinks in their hands.
“Do you have something in your drinks?” I ask them.
They both nod and bring their glasses to their lips at the same time.
I turn back to the bartender and I don’t have to say anything, he just nods and says, “I got you, man.”
“Thanks.” I reach into my wallet and pull out a twenty. I slip it across the bar as he hands me my drink, then I join the boys . . . something I didn’t think I’d ever do . . . again.
“I didn’t think you guys went to these events,” I say as we step off to the side.
“Mac wanted to come,” Ryland says. “I forced Aubree who forced Hattie, who I’m assuming forced you.”
“Yup. But then I invited Gran because she needs fresh air.”
“And I have serious FOMO, so that’s why I’m here,” Abel says.
“So basically, we can blame this all on Mac,” Ryland adds. “Although, Ethel did corner us the other day and told her there would be cotton candy and carnival games. Of course Mac begged to come, so in reality, this is Ethel’s fault.”
“It’s the whole Society’s fault,” Abel says. “Meredith, my nurse, overheard Dee Dee and Keesha talking about a friend they know who works at Lovemark.”
“The romance channel?” I ask.
Abel nods. “They want to bring business to Almond Bay, have some movies made here. Apparently, a small town in Maine, Port something or other, has truly made a name for itself from some of the movies that have taken place there. And you know the Peach Society will do anything to make sure Almond Bay remains a popular tourist destination. So putting on more events like this is something they’ll continue. And pressuring the community to join is part of it.”
“Wow, and here we thought Ethel was just trying to bring the town together for a fun event,” I say, shaking my head. “There’s always motive behind everything.”
“I don’t know.” Abel shrugs. “Could be kind of cool. Maybe we could be extras in some of those romance movies.”
“Hayes Farrow as an extra in a Lovemark movie, now that’s something I have to see,” Ryland says.
“Why is that so funny to you?” I ask. “Don’t I look like the Lovemark kind of guy? Maybe it’s what I need for my acting career to launch. Jennifer Lopez had to start somewhere, so maybe this is where I start.”
“Nah, you already started with those shirtless fragrance commercials,” Ryland says with a teasing smirk.
“For someone who’s hated me for the past decade, you sure know a lot about me.”
He chuckles. “Hard to avoid you these days. If it’s not your music on the radio, or my students talking about you, it’s the fragrance commercials on the TV, or the mention of you in town. Pretty hard to avoid.”
Abel rocks on his heels. “I think he’s secretly been harboring feelings for you. Everyone says there’s a thin line between love and hate.”
“We’re not even text acquaintances yet,” Ryland says. “There’s no fucking love.”
“Not yet.” I tip my glass toward him just as my phone buzzes in my pocket.
