Page 78 of Fake It Till You Make It

“No.” He smirked as if offended. “I came to take her back home, where she belongs.”

The hell he will. Eli brain short-circuited on half the conversation, but he didn’t miss that this man wanted to take Amarie from him. Eli took a step forward. Amarie’s home was in Service, with him. His momma’s hand on his forearm stopped him in his tracks, but not the growl that rumbled through his chest that shook the rafters.

Chapter Twenty-Two

AMARIE FLOATED INTOthe Black Bear, a mixed ball of emotions. Giddy at having passed her licensure exam dominated, but uncertainty about Eli’s reaction to her probable career move threatened to overshadow the heaven-on-earth moment. But that’s the thing about the new her, she liked this accomplished, self-assured lady looking back at her in the mirror, and difficult decisions, like jobs and replacements, could wait until after the celebration. Her boyfriend—oh how she loved the word, and possibly the man attached to it—had surprised her with a pretty sweet bonus in last week’s paycheck.

For the rest of the evening, it was all about her and Eli. She had it all planned in her head. First, naked dinner for two. Then they would spend all night under the birch trees—the pine trees poked in not-so-pleasurable places—exercising his hard-as-stone triceps with dips of her hips.

Gracie Lou passed two bags over the counter. “There’s enough in food here to feed for three meals.”

Amarie looped the plastic over her wrist and gripped the grease-stained paper bag in her other hand. “Smells scrumptious as usual.” Amarie smiled.

“The apple butter is Caleb’s grandma’s recipe. The skillet cornbread and pan-fried trout are all mine. What you two celebrating?”

“I passed my nursing exam.” Amarie beamed.

“Of course, you did, smarty-pants. So, why are you not down here celebrating with everybody?”

Amarie realized the possibility of the whole town celebrating one of its own was unique to Service, but for her personal accomplishment, separate from the vet clinic, to be deemed worthy floored her.

“Is that an option?” Did Gracie really view Amarie as a part of Service, in her own right? Not an extension of Eli or the business? She felt like she belonged, but she had a habit of creating the world she wanted to circulate in. For years she’d created a false reality to justify staying in a failed relationship with Russell, tolerating his shenanigans. Allowing herself this joy, Amarie refused to feel guilty that she celebrated what many would consider a small win. She hadn’t gotten a job yet. She hadn’t saved anyone else’s life yet, besides her own, of course.

Gracie Lou grinned. “This is Service, Amarie. We celebrate big and small. And you being the one nurse in town, well, that’s huge.”

How could she leave a town that wanted her to be theirone? She thought of how Matt and Eli had rallied to help Ruth and Phoebe, protect them when they were most vulnerable. How Leah had welcomed her with open arms and biscuits. How long had she searched for a place where she could work with people who appreciated, rather than exploited, her willingness to offer a helping hand? She’d wanted this kind of connection, dare she say family, her whole life.

“I mean with the way the bachelor auction is going, Eli can actually afford a round of drinks,” Amarie joked.

“Oh honey, the whole town is glued to their TikTok page following #SexyKittyVet. We are so proud of how you’ve worked with Eli to save the family business and land. The Calvarys are country royalty in these parts. Mr. Calvary never met a stranger. That man would give anyone the shirt off the clothesline if they needed it.”

“I think the term is ‘off his back.’”

“This is Service. Other than Noah, any man with a woman from this town knows there’s a cast-iron skillet aimed at his head if his shirt comes off for anybody except for his lady.”

“I see your point.”

“And I see that you’ve raised seventeen thousand dollars to keep our vet here in town.”

“It’s amazing really. I can’t believe we’re so close to reaching our goal.”

Gracie walked around the counter and pulled Amarie into an embrace. She smelled of flour, sugar, and hot cooking oil.

“You’ve given that man of yours a new lease on life.” Gracie Lou released her with a sigh. “I have known Eli since we were in diapers, and honestly, he was a grumpy baby. A serious toddler, and that lasted until he was about, I don’t know, maybe college. He acted like a cardboard cutout of his father. Then he married whatever her name was, but she never stuck around long enough for the town to meet her. He came back home worse than when he left. We’ve gotten our Eli back. It’s rare to find a partner in this life. What you share with Eli, it’s precious.”

Amarie’s heart started to giddyap in her chest. When she held Eli, warm and secure in her arms, he was like that long-lost missing sock. Her mate.

“Caleb and I are thinking there’s wedding bells in the future for the two of you.”

“Oh my goodness, Gracie Lou, I don’t think we’re anywhere near picking out rings.”

“You must not know our story.”

“Do tell.”

“Caleb and I met online, which is crazy because we live right here in the same town. I guess hiding behind our handles made it easier to get past folks’ opinions about us hooking up.”

“Why would folks look down on you two dating? Caleb’s perfect for you.”