Page 54 of The Fiance Dilemma

I snagged the apple I’d brought as a snack from the corner of the bench and pulled out my phone to check my notifications.

There were a few messages from Bobbi, all of them different variations ofare things handled for Andrew’s welcome dinner.

The answer was: duh. Although not in the way she imagined. So I replied with a thumbs-up and moved on.

Next was a message from Grandpa. He’d sent me a link earlier today, after he’d been alerted of a new post from Page Nine. It wasaFilthy Reali-Teateaser, announcing something was dropping tonight. At midnight. The drama of the internet never ceased to amaze me. Almost as much as how quick of a study Grandpa was with new technology. He was asking me how to create a burner account. I snorted at the screen and typed an answer.

JOSIE:You don’t need one of those. You’re already anonymous. And where did you learn that?

His answer was immediate.

GRANDPA MOE:

Ugh.

I should have never taught him how to create, let alone use, an Instagram account. God knew what he was plotting now. I brought the apple to my mouth, taking a bite and debating whether I should be worried or at the very least press Grandpa for more details than that thumbs-up, but a message came in the group chat.

CAMERON:Adalyn’s feeling under the weather. Won’t be able to make it to Andrew’s thing tonight. Sorry.

JOSIE:Omg, is she okay?? And don’t even worry about it. It’s nothing special. Just our midnight farmers’ market at the barn, but repurposed. The only thing you’ll miss is a banner that says WELCOME HOME.

The thought of the banner made it a little hard to swallow the apple I was chewing on. But just like I’d told myself when I pulled out the paint can:tough shit, Josie.This was still Andrew’s town,much as it was mine. And I was mayor of it, besides being his daughter, so how could I not make him a sign?

MATTHEW:Shit. Is it the stomach bug she’d mentioned the other day?

CAMERON:Yes. It’s gotten a little worse, so I’ve made the executive decision to sit this one out. She’s sleeping, otherwise she wouldn’t let me cancel. We’re sorry, but she needs to rest.

JOSIE:Ugh. I’m so sorry. That sucks. Please give her a hug? And stop saying you’re sorry. Tonight’s thing is not that special.

The only one who needed to learn that was Bobbi. But I’d take one battle at a time. I’d thought about this long and hard. I knew my town, and no one would have attended a stiff, fancy dinner. The midnight farmers’ market on the other hand? It was a hit ever since we’d hosted the first one. And I couldn’t think of a better way to welcome anyone than this.

Matthew’s words from a couple of nights ago in my kitchen returned.

We wouldn’t have an aesthetic. Beautiful things shouldn’t be boxed. It eventually dims their light.

They’d been stuck in my mind since then. Together with everything that had preceded them.Together with Matthew, his eyes, the feel of his skin under my hands, the way he made me feel. Want.It had all inspired me. Inspired me to… go rogue. To escape the cage of control that Bobbi had snapped around my life.

She wanted a welcome party for Andrew to impress Willa Wang, and so I was giving her my version of one.

My phone buzzed, recapturing my attention.

MATTHEW:Tonight will be special, though.

MATTHEW:Because you’ll be there @BabyBlue

My cheeks flushed. I… He… I snorted.

JOSIE:Did you really just text that?

MATTHEW:Too much?

CAMERON:Yes. And I’m leaving. Bye.

JOSIE:Let me know if you need us to help with anything, though! I could drive down later, check in on Adalyn and help with whatever. Grandpa opened Josie’s today. I have time.

CAMERON:Absolutely not. And you don’t have time. You have enough on your hands.

JOSIE:Maybe soup? I can send Matthew down there while I handle things up here.

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