Page 81 of Marrying Mr. Majestic

“Yes. And?”

My best friend was an insufferable ass. Had he been able to tell? And did that mean everyone could tell? “And that wasn’t part of the deal,” I hissed, low enough not to be overheard. “He’s leaving, and then what? I’m supposed to just… get over it?” My voice wobbled on the last part as my fear made itself known.

“Or,” he drawled. “Or you could talk to him. Ask him if there’s any chance of a real future there.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. He would no more want to settle here in Majestic than… than…” I tried to think of something Silas absolutely detested. “Buy a billionaire a ticket to space, or… eat strawberry ice cream, or… pet a cat backwards, or?—”

Foster held up a hand. “I get it. But I think that’s up to him to decide, don’t you? Why not at least tell him how you feel? What if he felt the same way but decided not to tell you because he assumed you’d never leave Majestic?”

His words caught me by surprise. “Oh.”

“Mph. Anyway, have the conversation. Work through it together. But maybe wait until after the exhibition. Right now, you need to stay focused on this weekend.”

I nodded. “I know. Of course. It’s just that… I’ve been so excited for it ever since AdventureSmash selected us for it, and now… I’m practically dreading it. As soon as it’s over, I might lose?—”

“Waylon, can I talk to you?”

I glanced over to see Eden approaching from behind me. “Uh, sure?”

Foster tossed a twenty on the table and stood up before clamping a hand on my shoulder and meeting my eye. “I was wrong, then. Do it today. Maybe then you can enjoy yourself this weekend.”

I dipped my head in acknowledgment, even though I wasn’t sure if he was right or not. Foster said his farewells to everyone around us and headed out the door, the equipment on his duty belt catching the morning sun as he turned toward his vehicle.

Eden slid into the seat he’d vacated. “I’ve been worried about you,” she said in a soft voice.

I glanced across the table at her. “Me? Why?”

She reached out and placed a hand over mine. “I’ve seen you around with Silas. It’s… strange. And I’ve been wanting to talk to you about it.”

“About me being with a guy?”

“Well, yeah, kind of. That’s part of it. But also, it was really fast. I mean, you have to admit it seems weird. How could you have possibly met and married someone in the same weekend? Is it… I hate to ask, but is this some kind of joke? Is it real?”

“It’s not a joke,” I said, wishing like hell I could also say, Of course it’s real.

“I just don’t understand, Way. I’ve been waiting for you to come talk to me. To confess the truth. How long are you going to keep this up?”

I pulled my hand out from under hers and crossed my arms in front of my chest. “Eden, I’m going to keep this up as long as the man will have me.” And that was the god’s honest truth.

She huffed out a laugh. “Be honest. There has to be an explanation. You don’t go from proposing to me Saturday morning to marrying him Saturday night. Something happened. Did he put you up to this?”

Her voice had gotten louder as she’d spoken, but I didn’t realize it until I noticed the people around us staring. Aunt Blake stepped over from a nearby table. “Eden, let it go. Those two boys are in love. I know what love looks like, and Silas Concannon is one hundred percent in love with my nephew. If you’ve seen them together, you can’t help but realize it.”

I tried to beg her with my expression to stop, to end this humiliating show in front of half the town, even though it was kind of her to step up. I hated knowing Aunt Blake was defending me today but might possibly learn the truth in a matter of days. I didn’t want to lie to her. I didn’t want her to regret going to bat for me.

“It’s nobody’s business,” I said, feeling the sweat trickle down my back. “I’m sorry if you are upset by it, but my relationship, my m-marriage, is between me and Silas.”

Eden tried reaching for my hand again, but I refused to uncross my arms. “Babe, I’m concerned about you because I care. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

For the first time in weeks, I remembered when Silas had first met Eden at Three Daughters. Silas had told me that day that Eden might still say yes to marrying me… if I wanted her to. Fool that I was, I’d actually told the man that I didn’t know if I was in love with her or not.

Even then, I’d known the truth, though I hadn’t been ready to admit it to myself. What I’d felt for Eden was a decade of friendship and familiarity, weighed down by the town’s expectations. I’d expected we’d end up together, so when she’d taken that option off the table back in Vegas, I’d been disappointed. Maybe even a little bit… lost.

I saw those same feelings mirrored on her face now.

But that quick sting of disappointment was nothing compared to the blind panic that gripped me when I thought of Silas turning me down and walking out of my life, possibly for good.

So while I sympathized with Eden a little bit…

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