Page 141 of The Reason I Married Him
Hattie clasps her hands together. “Isn’t that just beautiful? They’re so cute together. So perfect and right for each other. An opposites attract kind of thing, like me and Hayes. But you know, Hayes and I have been together longer, not that it matters, but we have, and sure, we live together, and so do you, but we’ve been living together longer. And if you’re wondering if I’m saying all of this because I’m jealous that Wyatt proposed before Hayes, I’m not. Not even a little. I think it’s great, especiallysince we just found out about you guys. Nope, not jealous. Thrilled actually. I’m so happy for you and not even the least bit jealous. Not even a tiny bit.”
Hattie did not pick up on Aubree’s acting skills. Because I’d say she’s totally jealous.
“Hattie . . .” Hayes says.
She glances over her shoulder, a scowl in her eyes. “Yes?”
He pulls on the back of his neck, looking visibly uncomfortable. “It, uh, it seems like you might be slightly jealous.”
Wow, dude. I even know to keep those kind of thoughts held in. Why does he think saying that out loud will help anyone?
“I’m not jealous of my sister. She deserves happiness,” Hattie says. “I’m fine over here. Not irritated with you at all. If I think about it, I honestly don’t even want to get married, no offense to you guys. But marriage, ew, gross. I don’t want to be tied down to someone for life. I like having the option of just upping my life and running to whoever has their arms open and ready for me.”
And now she’s playing with fire.
“Excuse me?” Hayes says, falling right for her trap. These Rowley women are not to be messed with. “Can we have a moment?”
Proud of herself, Hattie walks off with Hayes.
Glad I’m not a part of that conversation. Nope, I have a happy fiancée, ready to . . . uh, why is Aubree looking at me like that?
Like she has murder on her mind but is masking it with the maniacal smile plastered across her lips.
Uh, Hayes, actually, can you bring that conversation back here?
Speaking softly even though we’re alone, she asks, “What the hell was that?”
“Your sister? Oh, I think that was her?—”
“The proposal, Wyatt.”
Yup, that’s what I thought she was talking about, but you see, always deflect at first. Clearly, it didn’t work this time.
“Oh that.” I place my hands on her hips, acting as if we’re having an intimate moment. She’s a loose cannon, and I have no doubt that my balls are at high risk right now. “That was not how it was supposed to go.”
“And how was it supposed to go exactly?”
“Funny story,” I say.
“I can already feel myself laughing,” she deadpans.
Yikes.
Swallowing hard, I say, “Well, the train and the dancers and the confetti cannons were not my idea. That was all Ethel. When I thought about proposing, I asked her for some assistance. I thought it would just be her singing to us, but, well, she went a bit over the top. Dee Dee was involved. She had a whole headset and everything. I’m still trying to figure out who she was communicating with. Anyway, this was all on her, so don’t hate me.”
Aubree looks over at Ethel, who is back on stage, smiling and waving at us. We wave back.
“And that’s what makes you new to town,” Aubree says. “You never get Ethel involved in planning anything. It will only end badly.”
“This didn’t end badly. This ended up great for me. You said yes, and the whole town saw it.”
She smooths her hand up my chest and speaks closely. “Yes, but you fell out of a kiddie train, scraped your chin, lost the ring, found the ring, and looked green the entire time. Not to mention, you have yet to meet my wrath when we’re in private.”
“Ooo.” I shiver. “Don’t tease me with a good time.”
She rolls her eyes and pushes away from me. “You’re so annoying.”
A decent firesparks in front of us as Aubree, Hayes, Hattie, Abel, Echo, Ryland with a sleeping Mac on his chest, and I all form a circle around one of the firepits at the inn. It’s been a long afternoon turned into evening, and nearly everyone in town congratulated us. We spent a good half hour talking to Ethel, complimenting her and thanking her. She took pictures with us and then went around, boasting about how she was able to pull off the most epic proposal ever. Her words, not mine.
