Page 20 of Just My Fake Husband

I realize I’ve turned on Lakeside Road and can see Longdale Lake on my right, it’s inky blackness hovering in my vision like it’s going to swallow me whole.

“I know. I know. I just think the benefits of all of this outweigh the costs,” Jana says.

Jana is analytical. A woman of science. There’s a lot of formulation going on right now. Of course she’d do a cost analysis in her head.

I always had it in the back of my mind that I could get married. Theoretically. If I’m honest, I’d love to get married and have kids. But Skye needs me, and I’d have to find the person who understands she’s not just my sister, she’s an integral part of my life, my responsibility. You can’t love me without accepting and loving my sister, too. You can’t love me without understanding that she isn’t going anywhere and that she’s my top priority.

So I’ve made peace that marriage might not happen for me. I could meet someone and fall in love, but they might not be the right fit for Skye. In which case, there would be no more “someone.”

It’s okay.

To prove my point: want to know the number of dates I’ve been on since my parents died?

Zero.

And before that, I had braces for years. I don’t know. I didn’t feel confident in them. For some reason, I got it in my head that I couldn’t start to date someone and kiss them with my braces on. I felt so . . . pubescent and pimply. Even though I was mostly past the pimple stage.

Again, it’s fine. I adore my job, sister, friends, and Longdale. I’ll figure out some hobbies at some point. There is a full life ahead of me regardless of my relationship status, something I’ve assured Jana of many times.

“This isn’t a question of if I’m going to do it or not,” I say. “I only mentioned it to prove that, once again, my life is weirder than reality television.”

“You are so right. It’s like the potato thing all over again. Okay, here’s another chapter for that book you’ll make millions on: Chapter 15: That one time I got proposed to by a hot, rich man and turned him down.”

And by potato thing, she means the time I was in science class my senior year and we were making those potato powered batteries to light a lightbulb. While readying the potatoes, I peeled a huge, ribbony chunk of skin off my finger with the peeler. Upon glimpsing that chunk of skin dangling off the peeler, I promptly fainted and got a concussion. That experience is the gold star, the standard, I think.

There is no response that would be adequate. “I gotta go,” I tell Jana. “I have to stop for gas and then get back to Skye.”

We end the call, my stomach full of buzzing bees.

Too bad I never even make it to the gas station.

Chapter 7

Gabriel

Seeing a gorgeous blonde on the side of the road, hood of her car opened, would make anybody do a double take, and if you’re decent and at all able, you stop to help. Especially on Lakeside Road. Nobody should have to be stuck out here.

I slow my car, but I’m not able to stop in time, so I do a U-turn. It’s in that process that my chest squeezes tight.

It’s River Judkins. In jeans and that ridiculous Sesame Street T-shirt.

I turn around and pull up behind her car. She frowns when I get out.

“Aren’t you happy to see me?” I toss out casually.

She chews on her bottom lip. “What are the odds? You showing up like this totally belongs in my book.” Still, her browneyes are sparkling. I guess being stuck on the side of the road with her clunker has chastised her.

“Your book?”

“I’m only talking to myself.” She studies the motor oil on her fingers. “What are you doing here?”

“I had to make a couple of stops before I started heading home.”

“And home is that way?” She points up the mountain.

“A temporary home, yes.” I incline my head toward her heap of scrap metal. “What were you doing up here?”

She raises her chin. “I sometimes like to drive around when I need a moment alone.”

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