Page 22 of Play Pretend

“Willow…” She sighed, but I kept my gaze glued to what was happening out there. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

No. I wasn’t sure at all.

But I couldn’t tell her that—I couldn’t tell anyone that. If anyone ever found out about the lies, they’d think I was a stalker. I’d have to leave town, and I really didn’t want to.

I wouldn’t have a choice, though. Because who in their right mind lied and said they weredating the sheriff? Crazy people, like me, that was who.

And, under it all, the guilt wasn’t about lying to my dad. It was about dragging Ronan into it without his knowledge or consent. The longer it went on, the more it ate at me.

My phone vibrated, thankfully saving me from this conversation. Because I knew once I opened my mouth, the only thing that would come out was word vomit, and I’d tell her everything.

I could just imagine what would happen if she heard all my dirty secrets. Her mouth would fall open, and her eyes would go wide. Her face would shift with disgust, and maybe there would be a little anger lingering there, too. She’d throw me out of her bakery and her life.

I’d be left all alone, with no choice but to move back to Ohio.

I clamped my mouth tightly shut as I pulled my phone from my apron pocket. I waved it at her, trying to ignore the sinking feeling at the sight of my dad’s name on the screen.

“I have to take this,” I said, pushing off the couch.

“Willow—”

“I’ll be back.” I felt her eyes on me as I hurried to the kitchen, answering the phone on the way. “Hey, Dad.”

“Oh, look who finally decided to answer,” he said, a tight chuckle leaving him. I ripped a bit of skin off my lip. I should’ve known something like that was coming. “I was starting to think I’d been demoted to voicemail-only.”

“I’ve just been busy.”

I pushed the back door open and stepped outside, letting fresh air fill my lungs. The hill the Sugar Shack was perched on overlooked the ocean and harbor. I watched the ant-sized men hurrying from one boat to another. They worked quickly,efficiently, and I made a mental note to take them some coffee and bagels in the morning.

“I get it. Me, too. I’ve been swamped at the office. It’s one thing after another, but I guess that comes with the territory of being boss, huh? I have to put everyone’s fires out. Not that you’d know about that. You’ve never been a boss before.”

A cold, oily feeling spread through my stomach at the words. No, I had never been someone’s boss before, and if we were being completely honest, he wasn’t anyone’s boss, either. Not the way Gracie was. He was a manager, overseeing a handful of employees at the company he worked at.

But the way he spoke made it seem like it washisbusiness. Like he’d started it from the ground up, but he hadn’t. He was a cog in the machine, just like I was.

I leaned against the side of the building, listening to the faint indie music filter out from the open back door. Leaves rustled in the trees overhead, and squirrels ran from branch to branch.

It was a peaceful day, and that was the only thing keeping me from spiraling.

“So, what’s up? I need to get back to work,” I said gently. Silence greeted me for a long moment. So long, I thought the call dropped. I pulled the phone from my ear to look at the screen, but it was still connected. “Dad?”

“Well…” He chuckled, sounding nervous, and my hackles immediately rose. “Well, you know we’re going to Greece next summer.” I swallowed thickly at the reminder.

“Yeah, I know.”

“And it’s been a while since we’ve seen you…”

I took a deep breath. Was he about to invite me on this family vacation? Excitement warred with dread inside me. I didn’twantto go, but a big part of me was excited he finally remembered me. That he was about to invite me.

Maybe this was the turning of a new leaf. A fresh start. If this was him trying, I could try again, too. I’d put so much work and effort into our relationship over the years, and he never had. But now that he was?—

“And your birthday is coming up soon,” he continued, and I bounced on the balls of my feet, fighting a smile. “So we thought we’d come up to visit. We’ve never seen your place or met the couple of friends you have. We thought it was about time.”

My entire world whipped around me—it tilted and turned, spinning out of control. All the air in my lungs whooshed out in a violent breath, and a distant roar filled my ears. Every pulse point in my body thrummed as my heart battered against my ribcage.

The words sank like a lead brick in my stomach, forcing bile to rise in my throat. He wasn’t inviting me to go on my dream vacation—he was forcing himself into my life.

A life I’d carefully cultivated—a life totally my own.

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