Page 26 of Say You Want Me
“We’re all here, honey.” Two more women step in from the back porch.
Oh dear God.
Now I remember.
These are the four women who were all sitting around Presley’s house and plying me with baked goods when hell broke loose. Presley told me all about the older women from the town. All four of them have been friends since grade school, and they knoweverything. They also make the most amazing cake. I swear, I could’ve orgasmed from one slice.
“Mrs. Townsend!” I walk over and give her a huge hug.
“Angelina Benson, it is so good to see you again.” She returns my embrace. “You look just radiant.”
She’s another one of those moms I wish I had.
We all gather around the table as Mrs. Hennington, Mrs. Rooney, Mrs. Kannan, and Mrs. Townsend talk about the baby and how they can’t wait for the wedding. Wyatt laughs and shakes his head at me whenever I start to correct them. “You need to tell them we’re not getting married,” I whisper in his ear.
“Trust me. You don’t want to do that. It’s better to let them go off on their tangent. If you correct them, they’ll keep you hostage. Think of it as me savin’ you.”
I glare at him, and he laughs. “Stop being so damn adorable.”
My lips purse.
He leans in and kisses my temple.
All the conversations that were going on around us cease. I glance around and everyone is looking at us with expressions of delight on their faces.
I look at him, waiting for some kind of explanation, but he just watches me. I see something in his eyes then. It’s there, but it’s guarded. That knowing feeling sits heavy in my gut as I wonder if I imagined it. Could we both be starting to feel something more?
I don’t want him to fall in love with me.
I don’t want to want him.
I want for us to be friends.
I want tonotfall in love with him.
But there’s a very good chance I’m not going to be able to stop it.
Mrs. Hennington clears her throat, breaking the trance. “Have you considered what we talked about, Angie?”
What we talked about? I scramble through the conversations we’ve had and finally land on what she’s talking about.
The bakery.
“I just don’t think it would be right.” I shake my head. “I would really feel terrible when I have to go back to Philly.”
“I’m sure Becca could use the help,” Macie says, handing me a piece of pie. “With being short staffed and all, she’s a bit overwhelmed. Even if it’s only while you’re here.”
I want to help. It would be great to have something to do back in the bakery, but I don’t know if I should. Why put down roots when I’m not planning to let the tree grow? My mind goes back and forth over the pros and cons and if I were to take her up on her offer it will give Wyatt false hope.
“Oh, I would love some help,” Mrs. Kannan says with a smile. “Especially with the festival and the weddings I have comin’ up.”
“I’m honestly not sure that I would be much help, Mrs. Kannan. By the time I got the lay of the shop, I’d be leaving. It wouldn’t be right.”
Mrs. Kannan and Mrs. Hennington share a look. I’m not too sure what they’re conveying, but I’m wishing that it’s in support to let it drop. “I understand, but I sure hope you change your mind.”
Crisis averted.
We talk a little more, and Wyatt sits next to me with a grin. He looks confident, as if everything is going according to plan. It makes me wonder what else he has up his sleeve. So far, the first two weeks have been almost too easy. We’ve laughed, had tons of dates, had a pretty fantastic kiss, and gotten along great. If things continue at this rate, in a few months, I’m going to have a hard time convincing myself to go back to Philly.
