Page 17 of The Fiance Dilemma

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Not judging,” she repeated, inspecting her nails. “I have daddy issues too. Half the world does, and the other half deals with a partner who has them.”

“Well, that’s not an issue I have. I don’t belong to any of those groups.”

“Tell that to pro soccer player Ricky Richardson,” Bobbi countered. “Or senator wannabe Duncan Aguirre. Or Shawn or Greg, whose last names and occupations are irrelevant. Wasn’t Ricky so affected by you leaving him at the altar that his performance turned to shit and he was transferred to some team in Canada? Yikes.”

My spine went as stiff as a stick. “Canada is great. And he loves it there.”

“Wasn’t Duncan close to ending his campaign because he was so heartbroken? Didn’t Greg flee to Thailand after you hit the road?”

My jaw clamped. “I thought Greg didn’t matter. And how do you know any of that?”

“I’d be doing a bad job if I hadn’t researched you before coming out here, Josephine. And if I found out, don’t you think Page Nine will? That podcast belongs to the main source of gossip in the country. Sam and Nick wouldloveto pick apart such a varied collection of grooms-that-never-were.”

“That’s not at all intrusive,” I commented. I shook my head, returning to the counter with the final product. “And I don’t collect them. Also, Greg now goes by Astro. Which you would know if you dug deep enough. I also didn’t exactly leave Ricky at the altar. And Duncan is fine, believe me. I’m also not the only woman on the face of the earth who’s been engaged a handful of times. I don’t know why everyone’s making it such a big deal.”

“Four times. Five now. And under the age of thirty,” Bobbi offered in a final tone. “It’s a big deal when paired with who your father is. And please, don’t tell me you’regood friendswith your exes. I thought you were smarter than that.”

“What if I am friends with them? How is that bad?”

Bobbi blinked at me, her expression one of pure and utter outrage. “This is not a sitcom, girlie. Wake up.” She let out a scoff. “This whole thing is giving unresolved childhood drama. It’s giving off nineties rom-com vibes that haven’t aged well. It’s giving Ross Geller.”

“Ross Geller is a divorcé,” I argued, trying really hard not to let her words affect me.

As if at a loss, Bobbi picked up her cup with a sigh and brought it to her lips. A moan left her. “You know what? I’ll marry you if you decide to give Blondie the boot.”

I was flattered, but I took that for what it was. An opening. An exit, hopefully. “So about Matthew—”

“Look around you, Josephine,” Bobbi said, dark gaze sharpening as it held mine. “Everyone’s ecstatic with the news. I haven’t seen this many smiles since my unfortunate visit to Barcelona’s wax museum years ago. And these are not even that creepy.”

I swallowed the strange lump in my throat and did as she asked as much as I didn’t need to. Bobbi wasn’t wrong. The atmosphere in the small café I considered my second home hadn’t been this animated since the Green Warriors made it to last year’s Little League final.

“Your father extends his best wishes, too,” Bobbi continued.

My head whirled in the woman’s direction. I braced myself on the counter. “Andrew knows?”

“He does now,” she confirmed after a beat. “And he’s thrilled you’re open to letting him have a significant role in your life. He thinks the least he can do is pay for the wedding, all things considered. He’s obviously thankful you’ll do this at such a critical moment, too. This might give us the angle we need to fix this whole thing.Unless,you’d rather consider the move to Miami. Blondie could come, too, I suppose.”

My stomach twisted, that sudden urge to scream, or run, or do something really silly, rising again.

He’s thrilled you’re open to letting him have a significant role in your life.

I would have big, fat daddy issues if my father had ditched me in some town in the middle of nowhere.

He thinks the least he can do is pay for the wedding.

I’d told myself I’d never go through that again. A wedding. Not after Duncan. Not after four. I would have been happy to help organize Adalyn and Cameron’s, whenever they decided to tie the knot, but not mine. Definitely not afifthwedding. And definitely not if I already knew I wouldn’t make it down the aisle. Absolutely not to a man I barely knew, either.

But… that wasn’t very different from any other time I’d told myself I wouldn’t jump into a new engagement and had done it regardless.

It was Bobbi who spoke, as if she was somewhat aware of my internal struggle. “I really am not here to pass judgment, Josephine. I’m here to help. It’s Andrew’s andyourimage being trashed. And I’m incredible at my job.” A pause. A tilt of her head. “I’m a good judge of character, too. I think you believe in second chances. Iknowyou’re a team player.” Her arm rose, pointing at all the tables brimming with people behind her. “I can see you care about your community, so I know you care about your family, too. Andrew is your family now. Families look out for each other, so I encourage you to put your pride aside and accept his help.”

My gaze shifted behind Bobbi, but I wasn’t really looking at my patrons.

Andrew is your family now.

Families look out for each other.

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