Page 36 of Hot Shot

She smooths her hair and top, and sits up straight. “Yes. I’ll be good, I promise. Tell me what happened, honey.”

I could use more wine, but I can’t risk her getting up again or she might never sit back down.

Nothing left to do but spill the beans.

So I do, starting with Wilder not mailing the papers, which makes her giggle and kick her feet. There is also a brief interlude wherein she informs me that she never liked Davis and thoughthe was a stuck-up prick. Also, that she always wished Wilder and I had ended up together.

At this point, I ask her how much wine she’s had and she swears this is her first glass. What’s bad is that I believe her. Easygoing to a fault, Mama is, possibly with a side of ADHD.

To her credit, she does get more serious when she learns we’re still married and I didn’t know. By the time I finish telling her about Cricket and Ashley and Wilder finding out the whole thing, her smile is gone, and emotion creases her brow. And yet somehow, when I tell her about the plan to pretend to be married in front of the whole town, she doesn’t even flinch.

“I don’t know, Cass—I feel like it’s a good plan.”

I shake my head at her. “What do you mean? It’s a terrible idea!”

She stills, looks to the side like she’s thinking. “Wait, you don’t want to do it?”

“No! I mean, yes I want to help and all, butmarried? ToWilder?”

“Right. I don’t understand. Did youwantme to disagree?”

“Well, kinda!”

“So you wanted to argue about it?”

“I don’t…I mean…” Did I? “I guess I just figured you’d say it’s irresponsible.”

She picks up her glass with a shrug. “You’re already married. He needs help. You told the little girl you were married to him, for Pete’s sake. That was some move,” she says on a chuckle. “It’s not like he’s a stranger to you.”

“That’s part of the problem, though, isn’t it?”

“Only if you let it be.” She takes a sip.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

The glass clinks delicately between us when she sets it down. “Only that it sounds like you’re worried you’re gonna have trouble because you used to love each other. So, I guess whatI mean is that you shouldn’t count anything out. Just let it happen, whatever it is.”

“Mama, I am not ready to ‘just let it happen.’ Davis just?—”

“Davis is a weenie and I hate him. He was never good enough for you. I know he hurt you, Cassidy. But don’t let him take any more from you than he already did.” She covers my hand with hers and squeezes. “Don’t let him be the reason you do or don’t do anything. Okay?”

“Okay. But listen—I ammadat Wilder. He lied to me. He nearly let me marry Davisknowingit was an actual crime. It’s not fair what he did, and it’s not fair that he put me in this position with Cricket. But I want to help. I’m not ready for anything with anybody, but we’re both adults—all this is just going to be for show. And you know what? He’d do it for me.”

“All great reasons. Did you still want me to argue with you?”

I groan. “Mama.”

“What?” she asks innocently. “I just want to help too. Did you need me to tell you you’re crazy so you can convince me—and yourself—that it’s not so crazy after all? I can, but it sounds like you have it all worked out.”

“God,” I say, laughing a little as I get off the stool and head for the stairs. “I think I’m good.”

“Okay, well I love you!” she calls after me. “You owe me new begonias!”

I don’t know why I thought she’d scold me—she’s this unserious about most things. But I feel better having told her, knowing she has my back.

But I cannot fathom the size of the mistake I’m walking into.

CHAPTER 12

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