Page 26 of Married to the Frenemy

“A party at Kaplan Farm comes to mind.”

“So we’re doing that?”

“What?”

“Telling the truth,” she replies pointedly.

“It’s better than coming up with some lame story. Hell, the reason I asked you in the first place is because of our…history.”

She fidgets with her wine glass, not looking directly at me. “So we’re just going to tell people we had a secret fling years ago and are now getting married?”

“It’s a second chance love story. Don’t people love that shit?”

She gives me a quizzical look. “Have you been spending time with Grandma Estelle?”

“Why do you say that?”

“She’s an avid romance reader and second chance is a favorite. Along with monster romance.”

“Monster romance? You mean…”

“Exactly like it sounds.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “It doesn’t matter how long I’ve known that woman. She still manages to surprise me every day.”

“Me, too.” A smile teases her mouth before her expression turns serious. “But let’s get back to our story. I just?—”

“Haley.” I place my hand over hers, the warmth of her flesh on mine sending desire spiraling through me.

I tell myself the only reason I’m brushing my thumb along her knuckles is to sell the idea of us as a couple. Not because I actually want to feel her skin on mine.

But it’s hard to ignore the rush of memories the feel of her hand against mine brings back — memories of the summer our paths crossed after years of not seeing each other. We spent every free minute we could together, often sneaking out in the middle of the night. And not simply so I could get laid. While I certainly loved that, too, I was just as happy holding her hand as we gazed at the stars together.

With the rest of my life feeling like it was falling apart around me, Haley was the one good thing in it.

Until I ruined that, too.

“Let’s not make this more complicated than it has to be,” I continue. “We’ve known each other since we were kids. You used to piss the shit out of me with your uppity attitude. And I irritated the hell out of you by constantly arguing with you, even when I knew you were right. Over the years, I continued picking arguments with you, not to prove something, but because I thought it was the only way I could get you to talk to me. Then I tricked you into giving me your first kiss because I hated the idea of you giving it to someone from that stuck-up private school you went to, so I said you could practice on me.”

I stare into the distance as I recall that particular day. I should have known once I had my first taste of Haley, nothing else would ever satisfy me again.

And nothing else has.

“I didn’t think you’d ever go for it,” I say around a chuckle, bringing my gaze back to her. “But you did. And that’s just one chapter of our story. Do you see what I’m saying? The truth is enough. It may not be pretty or full of heartfelt declarations. But I’ll take real any day over a bunch of lies.”

“Except this isn’t real,” Haley reminds me, pulling me back to reality.

I blink, suddenly aware of my hand still caressing hers, as if second nature. As if the last fourteen years never happened.

“I just meant that our story is already real.” I pull my hand away. “No need to make this more confusing than it has to be.”

She nods, a furrow creasing her brow, as if deep in thought. I’m convinced she’s about to reveal some earth-shattering truth or ask a question I don’t want to answer. Then she shakes it off, the same practiced smile I remember from her teenage years pulling on her lips, all poise and grace.

“What are your thoughts on the wedding?”

“At first, I was going to suggest Reno.”

Haley’s nose wrinkles in obvious disapproval, and I chuckle at her response.

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