Page 15 of Somehow You Knew

“And maybe she doesn’t want you to have those same regrets,” Laney says, and I hate that her words hit me so hard. “But if you’re not interested in him romantically, then convince him to do it for the money. Make a freaking poster board presentation for crying out loud, but don’t let this opportunity pass you by. You’ll definitely regretthat.”

She’s right. I know she’s right. But is it possible that Diane could be right too?

I know what I felt that day in the coffee shop when he approached me. I know the dreams my mind has conjured up since that interaction as well.

But if we’re going to do this, I have to let that go. I have to accept that this is nothing more than a business transaction. There have to be rules we both agree to. And if I can convince myself of that, perhaps I can convince him too.

“It’s worth a shot,” I admit.

“Exactly. And I’ll be here every step of the way, you know that.”

“I do. Thank you.”

“Have you told your mom yet?”

I slap a hand to my forehead. “God, no. But she’s not the one I’m concerned about. It’s my brothers.”

“I know if I told my brother I was getting married to a complete stranger, he’d have some choice words, for sure.”

“Parker won’t have any place to judge, seeing as he was only pretending to be engaged to Cashlynn at first. But Dallas and Penn? They’re going to want to drill Gage, probably do a background check, threaten him and…” As I’m speaking, a notification comes through on my phone. I hold the phone away from my ear and see a text message from an unknown number.

Unknown: I guess you do like the nickname after all.

Groaning, I put the phone back up to my ear.

“Hello? Hazel?”

“Sorry, I got a text.”

“I was wondering why you went silent.”

“It’s Gage.”

Laney’s volume increases. “Oh my God! What did he say?”

“Did I tell you that he called me ‘Spitfire’ in the office today?”

“What? No. He’s already giving you a nickname?”

“Apparently Diane used to refer to me that way…”

“Aw, that’s kind of cute.”

I instantly grow irritated. “No, Laney. It’snotcute. Nothing Gage does is cute, all right?”

She clears her throat. “Yes ma’am. Sorry. Getting back to hating his guts right this second,” she jokes.

“We don’t have tohatehim, but we don’t need tolikehim either, okay? I need you on my side in this…”

“You know I am, but—”

Another text comes in before I hear what else she has to say.

Unknown:I think we should meet up and talk about this.

I stare at it, my heart pounding. “Oh my God, he wants to meet up.”

“That’s a good sign!”

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