Page 66 of The Reason I Married Him
Hattie:Not like an actual human shield. Use her as a way for Aubree not to freak out at you, meaning bring up Wyatt and her possible love connection when Mac is there. That way she can’t hurt you.
Ryland:It will just be delayed hurt. I’m not willing to risk it.
Hattie:Are you really going to be a baby about this?
Ryland:Yes, yes, I am.
Hattie:You’re going to make me ask, aren’t you?
Ryland:You’re the one who’s more invested in her love life than I am. I’m just trying to make it day to day.
Hattie:Fine, I’ll ask her.
Ryland:Tread carefully.
Hattie:I will. Just know, I’m doing this for the family.
Ryland:Don’t try to act all cavalier about it. You and I both know this is for your own personal curiosity.
Hattie:Can’t you let me have my moment?
Ryland:Fine, you’re doing this for the family.
Hattie:Thank you.
Chapter Seven
WYATT
“Soooo, are we not going to talk about what happened at The Hot Pickle?” I ask Aubree as we sit on the back of her truck parked in front of the barn.
She didn’t say much after she ran into Amanda and Matt. She was quite silent actually, especially on the drive back, and I didn’t push her to talk because I felt like she was probably still processing.
Processing running into Amanda.
Processing the horrible things she said to her.
And processing the relationship she claimed we have.
But now that we’re eating our lunch, it has to be addressed . . . for obvious reasons.
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
That makes me chuckle. “Nothing to talk about? Uh, how about the fact that you called me your boyfriend in front of what I can only describe as an elevated version of Regina George.”
“So?” she says with a shrug as she remains fixated on her sandwich and in full denial mode.
“So the town talks,” I say.
“She won’t.”
“Uhh, I might be new to this town, but given she seemed to find out how you were doing, what’s going to stop her from telling everyone that I’m your boyfriend?”
Aubree is mid-bite when she pauses. I can see her mind working, thinking over her mistake. That’s right, it’s going to be known around town very shortly that I’m her boyfriend. I have no doubt about the “telephone” that passes through this town, especially if the news gets to Ethel.
After some thought, she shakes her head. “She won’t say anything to anyone.” And then she takes a bite of her sandwich.
“Do you really believe that, or are you living in a state of denial?”
