Page 47 of The Deal Maker

Hope closes her eyes and looks like she’s ready to strangle me. “No. Jason is perfectly healthy and things are great, aside from his mother. I’m talking about you. You’re running and I think it’s a mistake.”

I stand up, not sure I want to hear more about this right now. I don’t want people judging my life, especially someone who was there for the fallout from my last relationship.

“I don’t need someone in my life to be happy. I’m already happy.”

“That’s great, Mags. I’m just saying, things are going to change once I get married. I don’t want you to spiral out because of that.”

“So you want me to just throw myself at the closest male and say, ‘Hey, let’s do life together?’” Anger burns my chest. Why can’t people just leave me be? I now understand what Duke was saying earlier about people not leaving him alone.

It’s okay to look past the single status and see that I do everything I can to be kind and supportive, doing what I can to help in my business and in the community, when I have time.

Hope must sense my mood, because she scoots closer and pulls me into a hug. “No. I’m not saying you have to settle for anything less than the best. But it’s hard to do that when you aren’t even trying to date or get out there and meet people.”

“If I wanted to meet people, I would’ve stayed back in Virginia. Being here in Willow Cove is awesome because I don’t have to worry about falling for anyone. Most of the people are just visiting, and the ones who live here already have their lives just the way they like them.” I take a breath and let it out. “Sorry, I mean, I need some time. And I’m actively working on the scavenger hunt, which means you shouldn’t be hounding me about dating, right?”

Hope rolls her bottom lip in to catch it between her teeth. “You’re right. Those were the terms. I need to let you be until the contest is done. Just don’t give up, Maggie Dean. Some guy will be lucky to have you by his side one day.”

I give her a small smile and my brain decides to steer itself to a mental picture of Duke. Maybe it’s because he’s the only guy I’ve been around who is even remotely dateable. Not that I’m thinking about dating him. Because I’m not.

“Let a girl heal first and then we can move onto the bigger stuff.”

Hope gives me a look that tells me she’s not ready to give up this conversation, but she knows she needs to for our relationship to continue.

“Will do. Now where should we start?”

She pulls out several color palettes and I have to breathe through the sucker punch that I feel in my gut with all we’ve talked about.

She’s getting married and things will never be the same. It’s something I’m going to have to accept. I’m just not sure how.

TWENTY

DUKE

My throat still feels itchy this morning. I’d gone through several doses of Benadryl last night and this morning, but I’m grateful that I didn’t have to go to the hospital. Epipens are hard enough to get as it is, since there was a shortage for a bit, and I’m glad I didn’t have to use one for wanting to spend more time with Maggie.

I’m standing at the usual spot outside our businesses with two paper cups. I figured that being the owner of a candy shop, she probably had a sweet tooth, but I wasn’t sure if she is a fan of coffee loaded with cream and sugar, so I went the safe route andbought a hot chocolate. I got one for myself as well, but it’s too humid to be drinking warm drinks.

It’s almost eight-thirty and Maggie still hasn’t arrived, which isn’t like her. I thought she would’ve been on time, like the past few days, but maybe she’s sick?

I open the app and type out a message to her.

Me:Are you okay? I’m just waiting by the store to get started on today’s mission.

There’s no answer and I tuck my phone away and wait. The hot chocolate is now tepid, which makes it a little easier to swallow with the humidity in the air.

Hope arrives at The Candy Jar close to nine and I’m worried when I don’t see Maggie behind her.

“Good morning,” Hope says, taking her keys out of her pocket. She nods at the two cups in my hands. “Do you have a morning date?”

How do I handle this? My thoughts and feelings about Maggie are the pinnacle of confusion and I don’t want to be irritated that she might’ve stood me up. To our scavenger hunt meeting. Not a date, obviously. I haven’t had the guts to ask her out yet.

The shame of rejection is enough to keep me from that right now.

“I was just waiting for your cousin to show so we could do our daily hunt tasks.”

Hope’s eyes fly wide and she says, “Oh no. I thought she’d left early to be here to meet you.”

“So she’s not at home?” I ask, knowing that’s one less place I’d have to check.

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