Page 69 of The Fiance Dilemma

Grandpa’s lips thinned. “Just call Matthew already. It’s been ahellish three days with that woman calling at all times and driving past the house. I’ve run out of excuses and I’m annoyed. At the very least she should be annoying Matthewandyou. Not me.”

“Well, that’s mature and not at all selfish,” I deadpanned.

“You’re the one being a little selfish, honey.”

Well, ouch. I leaned my hip on the counter and moved some of the ladyfingers around, pretending that hadn’t affected me. Was I being selfish? “Am I being selfish?”

“Ghosting is always selfish.”

A gasp escaped my throat. “How do you even know what ghosting is? And I’m not ghosting Matthew.”

Grandpa Moe arched his brows. “I know plenty. And you got the boy wrapped into this whole thing and now, what? You’re not talking to him?”

“My phone died. I had to put it in rice. It’s a miracle it came back to life at all. And I’m sure he’s fine. Maybe a little worried, but okay.”

“I saw him yesterday, power walking through the edge of town while he glared at the ground much like you were at those egg whites.”

My chest squeezed. He’d been power walking? While glaring at the ground? What did that mean? Was he—

Grandpa continued, “It’s my duty to point out that you’re not doing yourself any favors. Whatever reason you think you have is idiotic.”

“I thought you didn’t like him.”

“I don’t dislike him. And if I can cut the boy some slack, so can you. Now do that before he resorts to trespassing with some boom box on his shoulder and makes a fool out of himself.”

I huffed out a laugh. But it was bitter. “As if he’d ever—”

The doorbell rang.

Grandpa Moe smirked. “He’d better not be bringing any music with him. I paused right at the rose ceremony and I’d like to watch who Emmanuelle leaves for last. In peace.”

With that, he whirled around and left, giving me no choice but to get the door myself.

My insides played tug-of-war, a part of me hoping it’d be him, and another one dreading the idea that it would. It was so silly.Iwas being so silly.

Objectively, I knew nothing needed to change after our phone call. That I had asked him to distract me in the first place, and that there were plenty of things to prioritize before this. Like that stupid wedding announcement Andrew made at the midnight farmers’ market and what that meant for me. Matthew. Us. Everything, really.

We don’t get married but stay friends.

That was one of the rules.

And now… Now what? Could we even keep doing this, seeing each other, talking, without breaking any of those statements?

How did one stayfriendsafter what had happened? How could we stay engaged and not get married but stay friends after the other night? Maybe Matthew had had casual relationships, casual sex, but I hadn’t. Not ever. So I didn’t know if I could put it all aside and act like he hadn’t given me an orgasm. A mind-blowing, toe-curling orgasm at that. Like I hadn’t moaned his name on the phone. Now I didn’t know if I could see him and not think of that. All because I’d been upset and it seemed like the world had been crumbling on me.

You’re important.

You have me.

And there’s nothing about you I want to fix.

There’s nothing about you that needs fixing.

You have me,my brain was stuck on. But did I? Not only did I not know what to do with that, but I no longer knew if I did have him.

He’d said all those things before I’d begged him to distract me. Before I’d let him believe that distraction wasallI wanted from him. It wasn’t, but what if I’d hurt him? Confused him? Annoyed him?What if Matthew wanted out now that he’d had time to think? Now that everyone believed he’d be standing at an altar on December first, waiting for me? I’d understand, I really would. I was no longer sure if I could do this whole engagement thing myself. This silly fiancé dilemma on my hands that I’d taken way too far. I’d been so selfish. Just like Grandpa Moe accused me of being. Just like I’d done so many times, to so many men.

That was why I’d been hiding.

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