Page 38 of Sweet Nothings

“Oh,” she mutters with distant eyes. “I had no idea.”

“We had sex that night,” I blurt out. “In his car.”

Her jaw drops. “Laurel Eleanor!” She slaps me on the arm. A familiar ghost of a smile appears on her mouth. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her crack one. One that isn’t forced, at least.

“Yeah, well… we didn’t meet up again until I met the Hardings for dinner over a year ago.”

“I remember.” She nods, looking at me with pity for that night. I’d filled her in on every detail, leaving out the part where I’d felt awful for Lennon not having recognized me. “How was it seeing him since that night, though? That must have been awkward for the both of you. Or maybe not, considering you’re marrying him now.”

I lift a shoulder. “It was definitely awkward, but not because it was the first time we’d seen each other since that night. It was awkward because I expected him to look like a deer in headlights, you know what I mean? Like, shocked we’d run into each other after all this time. But he didn’t. He’d looked at me as if he’d never met me. Introduced himself and his date to me. Then I was forced to push through the entire night wearing fake smiles and making polite conversation.” Pressure builds behind my eyes, and I can feel tears springing behind them. I don’t want to cry. I want to keep today light and fun, not focusing on the fact my soon-to-be husband couldn’t remember me.

“That’s terrible,” Roe says, moving our joined hands so she’s now holding my hand instead. She squeezes it. “If you were so upset with him not remembering you, how is it that you’re now engaged? Help me fill in the dots here, Laurel.”

Refusing to shed a single tear, I inhale a shaky breath. “A few days after the funeral, he came to my office and asked me to marry him. His father apparently left the company and everything to him, but only under the condition he get married within thirty days.”

“So, he chose you?”

“Not exactly.” I sigh. “He had to marry a Branford. Either me or you, but considering you’re already married… well, that left only me…” I let my voice trail off, allowing the information to sink in. I give Roe a few seconds to process, eyeing her emerald cut diamond ring wrapped around her fourth finger.

“Why us?” she asks the question I don’t think any of us know the answer to. Not even Lennon.

I shake my head. “I don’t know. I don’t think anyone does. I turned him down that day though.”

“You told him no?” She chuckles.

“Yes. I was angry with him, too. I couldn’t get past the fact he didn’t remember me and then had the audacity to ask me to marry him.”

“What changed your mind?”

“You.” I allow my confession to dissolve in the air between us.

She gasps. “Me?” Roe allows a tear to slip from her eye as she shakes her head. “How did I change your mind when I didn’t even know until now?”

“You need the money, Roe. You need the money for your treatments. Lennon told me he will take care of me and that I won’t have to pay for anything anymore. But I made sure I’m not sacrificing myself in the process. With Lennon’s support, I can give you what I have. All my savings. You were worried I was going to lose all the money I have but this way, I won’t.”

“I can’t believe this.” Warm, fresh tears slide down Roe’s porcelain cheeks. I can’t tell if she’s brokenhearted, angry, or relieved. But when her eyes find mine, they’re none of those options. Instead, all I see is pain and fear. “I can’t let you marry him for me, Laurel. It isn’t right.”

“You’re my sister.” I pull her in for a hug and bury my chin into her small frame, allowing her warmth to wrap around me. “You honestly didn’t believe I’d just sit by and watch you not be able to get all the treatments available to you, did you? You need this money, and this is a win for everyone. Lennon gets the company. You get your treatment.” I loosen my grip Roe, holding her at arm’s length, secretly keeping the part about how I’m not exactly dreading marrying him to myself.

“And what about you?” Roe’s chin trembles.

I let out a small laugh. “I get to be Mrs. Harding for a year, I guess.”

Roe laughs with me. It feels good. Relief washes over me. She isn’t angry or bitter. Maybe she’s too tired, considering she starts her chemo treatments this week. Or maybe she understands where I’m coming from.

“Have you told Frederick?”

“Not yet.” I shake my head. “You’re the only one who knows. But even when I tell Fred, I don’t think I’m going to tell him my marriage to Lennon will be a contractual one.”

“Understandable.” She nods.

I sniff and eye the white bridal sign above the door, my mind wandering to thoughts about what married life with Lennon will look like.

“There’s more, isn’t there?” She eyes me suspiciously.

“What do you mean?” I wipe my hands across my cheeks, drying the tears I gave up fighting.

“You care for him. I can see it in the way your eyes lit up when you handed me the invitation. I can see it in the way you smile when you say his name.”

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