Page 12 of The Reason I Married Him
I try not to think about it too much—I’m barely hanging on as it is.
Ever since that relationship went up in flames, it’s been pretty . . . dry here.
Very dry.
Like years.
Hence the eighty percent jealousy. I’m jealous of the way Hayes can walk in the room and make Hattie’s cheeks blush. That blush says everything.
But the twenty percent that’s not jealous? Well, that’s because I don’t think I could handle anything or anyone other than myself and the responsibilities that fall under my command right now.
“So is he going to propose soon?” Ryland asks. “Because he hasn’t asked me for permission yet.”
Hattie’s cheeks turn a deeper shade of red. “I think we’re just, you know, content with where we are right now.”
Why don’t I believe that?
Maybe because I’ve seen my sister in a relationship before, and she was never this infatuated. If you look up the definition of head over heels in love, Hattie’s picture would come up. From the googly eyes to the absentmindedness to the giddy behavior—she’s a fool in love, and it’s great to see.
I take a seat at the table right next to the kitchen. “Do you want to get married?”
“Yes,” she answers. “I love him, and no one will ever come close to stealing my heart like he has, but I don’t want to scare him either.”
“Why would you think getting married would scare him?” I ask.
Anyone on the outside looking in wouldn’t think Hayes could be scared. He’s solid and set in his ways. He looks at Hattie as if she’s part of every aspect of his future.
“I don’t know.” Hattie shrugs. “Sometimes it seems too good to be true, and I don’t want to . . . I don’t know, mess it up.”
I can feel that. Things were good with Original Matt . . . until they weren’t.
“He won’t be scared,” Ryland says. “He’s very much infatuated. Also, if he’s scared, he deals with me.”
And there it is, our overprotective brother. He’s been like that ever since I can remember.
Our mom died of breast cancer when we were young. Our dad was left with four kids, and well, he wasn’t happy about it. He spent most of his nights drinking in front of the television while Ryland and Cassidy tried to hold the household together. Cassidy was mainly in charge because Ryland played baseball most of the time. But he protected his three younger sisters when he wasn’t playing baseball.
“I don’t think you’re going to have to put your big brother foot down,” Hattie says just as Hayes walks into the house holding two plates, one full of roasted corn and the other stacked with kebabs.
When we fall silent, he glances around us and asks, “Were you talking about me?”
“No,” Hattie says as both Ryland and I say, “Yes.”
He brings the plates to the table, and my mouth waters as I take in the charred kebabs. Seriously, this man.
Where can I find a Hayes Farrow? Not that I’m looking, but if one happened to fall into my lap, I wouldn’t be mad about it.
“Glad to see my girlfriend is the one lying to me.”
“Hey, how do you know I’m lying? They could be lying.” Hattie points at me and Ryland.
“Are they?” Hayes lifts an eyebrow, and Hattie cowers.
“No, but I was trying to spare your feelings.”
“Uh-huh, and what were you talking about?”
“Nothing,” Hattie says quickly while attempting to give us a subtle evil eye.
