Page 15 of The Fiance Dilemma

Sometimes I wondered how we, as a community, had survived this long without going absolutely insane.

“We totally support you, you know?” Gabriel said, bringing me back to the conversation. “I know you must have your reasons for keeping this from everyone. We’re all a bunch of gossips, although we mean well. But now that it’s out… I want to hear everything.” He smiled. “And see the ring. Let’s see where this one ranks.”

I loved Gabriel. We’d known each other since we were kids, and were still good friends, even if we didn’t hang out like we used to. He was a family man now. A dad to Juniper, a husband to Isaac. I knew all of this came from a place of warmth, but boy, if he squeezed me for any more details, I was pretty sure I was going to scream. “Ring’s not here,” I said with a tight bend of my lips.

“What do you mean the ring’s not here?” Gabriel’s brows arched. “Where is it?”

“At the… cleaners. It needed a polish.” All of them did, so I wasn’t technically lying.

“If you say so,” he said with an incredulous shrug. “So what about my other questions? Who is he? How did you meet? What wedding theme are we going with this time?”

Wedding theme.“Does any of that matter? Why can’t we talk about Isaac? Or Juni. How is fifth grade treating her? Is Isaac coming to the Warriors game on Sunday or is he stuck somewhere traveling?”

Gabriel frowned. “Of course it matters. You’re engaged, Josie. Again. After, you know, Duncan. Who by the way I’ve heard is, and I quote,facing some important challenges.My cousin Martha, the one who lives in South Carolina, told me she was keeping an eye on him, to keep us in the loop. And some lady in her book club is somehow related to one of Duncan’s campaign managers and is feeding her top-notch information. Anyway.” He pursed his lips. “Can’t say I’maffected by the news. If he was running for state senator here, I sure as hell wouldn’t—”

“That’s kind of Martha,” I interjected. “And you. But you know that whole anti-Duncan stuff never sat well with me. He isn’t a bad man. He has principles, which is rare in politics. Things just didn’t work out for us, and that’s not a good reason for anyone in town to judge his work or want to cancel him.”

Gabriel’s eyes rolled behind his red-rimmed glasses. “You’re too honorable, Josie girl. A true unicorn.”

I wasn’t. I was amessed-up girlwho wasgiving trauma.

“So anyway,” I said, readjusting my apron. “This is still a coffee shop, you know? You guys are going to run me out of business if all you want to do is chat.”

“You know that couldn’t be further from the truth,” he answered with a snort. “Green Oak would cave into itself without this place. Or your baked goods. Or you. But okay. Point made. I’ll wait until you decide to open up about this Maverick guy.”

“His name’s not—” I shot him a glance.

Gabriel’s smile was sly. “Ugh, so close.” Another shrug. “Alas. How about you get me something special today? To make up for not telling me a single detail about this man. Does he have abs? Is he a generous lover? Is he really from Tennessee? Nobody knows. Not even me. Which I’m fine with, by the way.”

I got to work on an extra-large, extra-sweetJosephino,decidedly ignoring Gabriel as he debated the merits of dating a cowboy like Maverick and continued to prod at my barely standing patience.

“Cinnamon or cocoa?” I hit the metallic jug against the rack—hard—just as he said something about pitching bales of hay.Shirtless.

“Cocoa,” he answered with a roll of his eyes. “If you please.”

“Great,” I said with a smile that I was sure wasn’t reaching my eyes. Then I bent my knees and kneeled behind the counter with theexcuse of reaching for a new cocoa powder shaker. But all I did was close my eyes, giving myself a moment and a pat on the chest. God, I was sweating. Rivers. I lifted my knit sweater and let some air get in, only springing up to my feet when I felt slightly better.

“Here’s your—Mothercracker.”

Otto Higgings’s—and his pug, Coco’s—faces greeted me. “Don’t know who you’re talking about, but I don’t think I can take more foreigners in town. Green Oak’s small enough.”

“Good morning, neighbor,” I said, hearing the unease in my voice. And the grudge I so wanted to hold against him. But that wasn’t who I was. So I decidedly ignored that and glanced down at where Coco was sitting. “You know the rules. Furry companions are welcome, but no stinky butts on my counter.”

“That’s what I said,” Gabriel muttered. “That’s not the place for a dog’s ass, Otto.”

Otto grumbled something, reluctantly snatching Coco off the counter and holding her in his arms. “My Coco doesn’t stink.”

I inhaled very slowly, then grabbed my disinfectant bottle and started wiping at the surface. “What can I get you, my sweet and cheery Otto?”

“So where’s this Mario?” my neighbor asked in return. “The blond one. You sure made some ruckus in the middle of the night. Woke me and Coco up. You know she needs her rest.”

“Oh?” Gabriel perked up. “Mario, huh? Blond. Anda ruckus?” My so-called friend shot me an inquisitive glance. “Color me interested, Otto Higgings. On a scale from one to ten, how…ardentwould you care to rate this ruckus?”

“Well,” Otto started with a thinking face. “I’d say—”

“There wasn’t any ruckus,” I intervened. “It was a normal, ordinary, customary night.”

“There was quite a commotion on your porch, though,” Otto muttered, readjusting Coco’s pink collar. “Can I get one of thosepuppy drinks you do? Coco loves them. I’ll have a glass of water. They’re both on the house, aren’t they?”

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