Page 9 of Love to Prove You Wrong

But to me, thiswasmy life. Gosh, I should stay as far away from him as possible. I didn’t need anyone messing with my life, especially not someone like Justin Miller.

Milly pushed her glasses up her nose then trailed her finger down her list of tasks. “Who wants to help build the food and drink stands for the open-air cinema? Preferably someone who’s good with wood.”

Justin’s hand shot up.

“I’m good with wood,” he said with a grin.

I rolled my eyes. “Classy.”

“Great. You two will have a wonderful time together.” Milly smiled at us and looked at her list again, ready to allocate another task.

I sat up straighter. “Excuse me, Milly. What do you meanyou two?”

She creased her eyebrows. “You are responsible for the food and drinks for the movie night. Justin’s responsible for building the stands so you can actually sell the food and drinks. This can only work if you two work together.”

My throat tightened. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Justin doesn’t even live here.”

It was a lame excuse, but I had to try something to get out of this. Manning the food and drink stands was a fun job, just not with Justin there as well.

He scoffed. “What? Now you’re discriminating because I don’t currently live here? I want to help. Plus, I lived here for eighteen years. Isn’t that what counts?”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “You sure want to help out a lot these days. What’s with this Good Samaritan act?”

“Guys, there’s no need to fight over this. I’m sure we can rearrange things if working together makes you uncomfortable,” Milly said.

I looked up and almost told her that yes, we should rearrange, but Justin cut me short.

“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. We’re both adults. We can handle this, can’t we, Addy?”

I gritted my teeth. He had me backed into a corner. If I said no now, I would come across as a whiny child. That was not the image I wanted to create for myself.

“Fine. We’ll work together.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Milly said. “Next one up is quilting some picnic blankets we can auction off. Anyone up for that one? I need three volunteers.”

As Milly appointed the quilters, I wondered why Justin was so keen on teaming up with me. It made no sense, but then again, did anything that involved Justin ever make sense? He loved taunting me, that much was clear. Maybe if I didn’t show him how much he got to me, he would back off.

I spent the rest of the meeting looking straight ahead. If I glanced at Justin again, I might explode and slap him.

When all the tasks were finally allocated and Milly had thanked everyone for coming, I heaved a relieved sigh. Everyone swarmed together at the tables in the back where fresh coffee and cake was up for grabs. Justin left to talk to Asher and Layla, Asher’s wife-to-be. He was finally out of my hair.

Suzie put a hand on my arm. “Are you okay? You look like a volcano about to burst.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit shocked that I’ll have to team up with Justin.”

“I’m sure it’ll all work out fine. Besides, there’s worse faces to look at all day long,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows with a smile.

Alex laughed. “Hey, I heard that.”

“Oh, you know I don’t have eyes for anyone but you,” Suzie said.

She pulled Alex in for a hug and kissed him. They were so adorable together I couldn’t help but smile, yet I also felt a tiny bit jealous. The love they shared was something I could only dream of.

“Excuse me, Addison.”

I turned around. “Oh, hello, Diane.”

I wondered what she wanted to discuss now. At least it couldn’t concern Duckota. For the duck to have traveled all the way from the inn to the community center would’ve been a miracle.

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