Page 36 of Someday You Learn

She pushes her plate to the side. “It seems like the logical thing to do, right?” I nod. “But if I don’t have something to show him, something he can see with his own two eyes, he’s never going to support it. My father is a man who loves hard, but is stubborn about things he believes in.”

“Ha. I’m aware,” I say, chuckling. I reach for my sandwich, finally takinganother bite. “Okay. So, do you even know where to start with this?”

“I have a list,” she says confidently. “And I’m starting tomorrow. I need to find a space, first and foremost, and when I was researching the town, I saw several properties for sale, so I’m going to start there.”

An idea comes to mind, but I refrain from saying anything. I want to hear what else she has to say. “Then what?”

“Then I need to figure out branding and marketing materials. I’m sure I’ll need to renovate the space to make it work with all of my ideas, so some construction will have to happen.” She blows out a harsh breath. “There’s a lot to do, but I can’t do anything until I have a gallery space.”

“Makes sense.” At least she has a plan. Once she finds a spot, I have to believe the ball will really start rolling.

She picks up her sandwich again, taking another bite. “Okay, so what about dinner with my dad? Should we schedule it for tomorrow?”

I blow out a breath. “I can’t tomorrow. It’s Sunday, and I always have dinner with my family on Sundays.”

“Oh.” Her face falls a bit, but she recovers quickly. “Okay. No problem.”

“Actually, you need to come with me.”

Her eyes widen. “Go with you?”

“Yeah. I mean, it would be weird if I showed up without my fiancée, and I need to tell my mom before she hears it from someone else.”

“Oh God.” She bites her bottom lip. “Your mom is gonna hate me, isn’t she?”

“Are you kidding? She’ll probably try to formally adopt you,” I say sarcastically.

Cashlynn chuckles, her shoulders relaxing. “That would be weird.”

“I know, but I haven’t dated anyone in four years, so showing up to dinner with you is going to make her fucking night.”

She tilts her head, curiosity flickering in her amber eyes. “Why haven’t you dated anyone?”

“I just haven’t,” I say, shrugging as I grab my plate and head to the living room.

“Does it have something to do with why you think no one will believe that we’re engaged?” she presses, following me to the couch and sitting beside me.

“Drop it, Cashlynn.”

“I need to know more about you if we’re going to make this believable, Parker.” She settles in right next to me, not giving me any fucking space. I glare at her as I take a bite of my sandwich. “Am I wrong?”

I have to admit to myself that she’s right. But she doesn’t need to know all the details. “Fine. I was engaged to someone else, but it didn’t work out.”

Her eyes widen. “Oh.”

“Yeah, and that’s all you need to know, okay?” I face the television and finish my sandwich, but I can feel Cashlynn’s eyes on me the whole time. Finally, I glance over at her. “What?”

“Nothing.” She turns to face the TV too.

“Are you sure? You look like you’ve got something to say.”

Her head spins to me again. “I just…” Her brows draw together.

I’m growing more irritated by the second. “Spit it out, Cashlynn.”

She sets her plate on the coffee table and tucks her legs under her, turning to face me with her elbow braced on the back of the couch and her head nestled in her hand. And fuck, she looks sexy—relaxed, open, unbelievably brave. She has no fucking clue how much I envy her courage.

“I guess I just don’t understand how any woman could walk away from you.”

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