Page 63 of The Reason I Married Him
I shake Wyatt’s arm off me as he says, “To be honest, I’m slightly curious as to what the beast would do.”
“It’s not pretty,” Hattie says.
“Yet, she’s pretty herself. Would love to see that contradiction, but I don’t think I’m brave enough to tempt it . . . at least not yet.”
Hattie chuckles. “Probably smart. Okay, well, catch you two later. Have fun.” She winks knowingly and takes off.
When she’s out of earshot, I say, “What is wrong with you?”
“Probably a lot of things,” he answers. “Can you be more specific?”
I turn toward him, hand on my hip as I speak quietlyandtersely. “You realize that between last night and right now, my brother and sister will assume something is going on between us.”
“Perfect,” he says, pressing his hand on my lower back and moving us toward the sub shop. “Then I’m doing my job.”
I stop and turn toward him. “No, you’re putting on a show that I didn’t?—”
“Aubree?”
Oh God, I know that voice.
And not in a good way.
This is the only reason I hate small towns.
Because you bump into people you never want to see.
Turning around, I come face to face with my ex-best friend.
“Amanda,” I say while adjusting the bandanna on my head. What’s the use? I look like I’ve been rolling around in dirt all day long and she looks pristine and put together like she just walked off a photo shoot. “I, uh, I didn’t know you were in town,” I lie, because what else am I supposed to say?
“Oh really? I thought your sister would tell you that Matt and I went into The Almond Store.” Of course she did, but the last thing Amanda needs is the knowledge that people were talking about her presence.
“Must have slipped her mind,” I say.
“Probably, now that she’s with Hayes Farrow. Seems like she is completely occupied. I get that, though. When you fall in love, it’s hard not to be distracted. Which speaking of, the light of my life.”
The light of her life? Oh my God, could she be any cheesier?
And then to my horror, my ex-boyfriend walks through the open door of The Hot Pickle and joins Amanda as he places his hand on her back. There’s no doubt in my mind that she does this for show because the evil wench places her hand on his chest and kisses him very . . . provocatively. Like, there’s tongue action going on. We’re on a sidewalk in front of a sandwich shop. Reserve the tongue for the home and the drive-in movie theater.
When she pulls away, she wipes her thumb over his lip. “Oh, sorry about that, my handsome man, I got lipstick all over you.”
“Never going to complain,” he says as he looks up at me. “Oh hey, Aubree. Wow, it’s been a while.”
Yes, it has.Last time I saw you, you told me that small towns were for losers and that you wanted to grow and would never be caught dead living in one.
“Yes, it has,” I say and then gesture to the both of them. “I’m assuming you’re together.”
Amanda rubs her stomach. “And expecting. I hope that’s not weird for you.” She winces. “I’ve heard through the grapevine that finding love has been difficult for you.”
What.
A.
Bitch . . .
“I wouldn’t say hard, just been preoccupied, you know, since my sister died and left behind a farm, a business, and a four-year-old daughter,” I say, the bitterness in my voice unmistakable.
