Page 16 of The Reason I Married Him
“You okay?” Ryland asks.
I look up at him and plaster on a smile. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because your former best friend is married to your ex. They left you because they didn’t want to live in a small town, and now, they’re back. That has to sting,” Ryland says. Wow, is he good at pointing out the obvious. No sugarcoating it either.
I tilt my head to the side and stare at my brother. “Thanks for the recap, but I’m good. They can live their life the way they want.”
Verbally, I’m taking the high road. Internally, I hope their new house breaks a main valve and floods.
“Okay, but it seems like you’re . . . I don’t know, irritated.”
When am I not irritated is the question.
The constant badgering on this subject when I’m clearly trying to move on isn’t helping.
It’s actually making it worse.
Way worse.
“I’m fine,” I answer. “If they want to contradict themselves, move back here, and raise a child, that’s up to them. Who am I to say what they can and cannot do? It’s not like they went on and on and on about how they thought Almond Bay was the kind of place that you get stuck in forever and have no chance of growing as a person. And sure, I might not like doing all of the town activities, hate them actually, but that doesn’t mean I think Almond Bay is a bad place to live. I like it here. I’ve always liked it here, and if they realize they’re wrong in what they said, then sure, they’re just growing as people. And shouldn’t we accept them for the idiots they once were but note their growth?”
“You said idiots, Aunt Aubree. That’s not nice,” Mac says.
I turn to her, and in a sweet voice, I say, “Well, they’re being idiots. It’s fact. Wouldn’t you rather me tell the truth than lie?”
“Aubree,” Ryland says in a terse voice.
“Then Oliver and Landon are idiots,” Mac says.
“Mac, we don’t call our friends at school idiots.”
“She can if they’re acting like them,” I say, tapping the end of my fork on the table. Continuing my rant, I say, “And isn’t it just fitting that they would somehow find each other? They must have so much in common, even though Amanda said many times that she thought Matt was not my type and predicted that he’d leave me. Which she was right, but where was her concern with that comment when jumping into his bed? And not to mention, Matt once told me that Amanda had the resting face of a platypus. But you know, people evolve. They change.” I toss my hands in the air. “They move on. Their blinders can be lifted. If anything, I’m happy for them. Really happy. So happy that I should send them a gift. A bouquet of contradiction. Something that really says I’m happy that you were able to see the light and change. Because I’m happy. So fucking happy for them,” I roar just as I get out of my seat and push my chair in, taking off toward my guest house.
“She said fuck,” Mac says right before I shut the screen door to the farmhouse.
Yes, I’m fine.
Totallyfuckingfine.
Chapter Two
WYATT
“That’s a beautiful blouse,” I say as the owner of the Five Six Seven Eight Inn smiles back at me.
“Why, thank you. You know, this was part of the wardrobe I wore thirty years ago during theAnnie Get Your Gunproduction. I still fit in it.”
“And it still looks amazing. I remember my brother telling me all about this inn when he was around and how the owner was a beautiful singer and dancer. Please tell me you still put on some shows.”
Ethel clamps her hand over her chest in pride. “Occasionally, I might tap my toes and sing a few songs during town events.”
“Any coming up?” I ask. “Please say yes.”
She nods. “The End of Summer Jubilee is right around the corner. I might be performingSummer LovingfromGrease.”
“Well, count me in.”
“Will you be staying long?” Ethel asks as she hands me a key to my suite. I booked the biggest room she has. “Your booking says for only a week.”
