Page 17 of A Chance for Us
I look to Devney, feelings that I’d buried coming just a little closer to the surface, and I hear all of it whisper again.
Nice.
A great guy, but not the guy.
I like you, but I love someone else.
I wish it were different.
How many times does a man need to be the last option? Not only is this entire thing insane but also it is wrong on so many levels. Maren is upset, rightfully so, but someone has to be rational here. Apparently, it’s going to be me.
I step to her. “I think that, in about an hour, you’re going to see that this was a bad idea. I can’t pretend to marry you. I have no desire to fake marry anyone.” Stella’s fingers dig into my elbow, but I continue. “Maybe your family can use this time as a reunion, but marrying you—pretend or otherwise—isn’t the right idea.”
A tear falls down her cheek, and she brushes it away. “You’re probably right. I . . . well, I’m . . . it was stupid.”
“Don’t say that. Ollie is—” Stella stops talking when she sees my face. “He’s probably right, which isn’t something that happens often.”
Maren attempts a smile, but her eyes are still filled with tears. “It’s fine. I’m going to go back to Devney’s rental and try to figure out what to do. I’m sorry there won’t be a wedding.”
Stella speaks quickly. “Don’t say that. Let’s meet tomorrow and discuss a plan.”
“I wish there were more I could do,” I say, feeling like I’m two feet tall. She looks so goddamn broken. I hate it when girls look like that.
She shrugs. “Me too, but I understand.”
Maren walks back to the car and settles into the passenger seat. Devney gives me a small wave, and I lift my head. As soon as they turn down the drive, my sister glares at me and slaps me in the arm.
“You are a jerk.”
“Maybe so, but at least I’m not fake engaged right now.”
I turn, not wanting to hear her tirade that I’m sure is coming.
“She needs you.”
“She needs a therapist.” I stop, facing her quickly. “Wait, you actually want me to pretend to marry her? You think it’s a good idea to lie to everyone?” I bite back the asshole remark about how lying comes naturally to her, but that would be mean.
“I wanted you to at least not make her cry!”
I shake my head, going back inside where I’m not surrounded by crazy women.
I grab the folder that’s sitting on the front desk, and Stella rips it out of my hands. “What is your issue?”
Stella huffs. “You. What exactly is your brilliant plan now, Oliver? Do you see all the work being done? It cost a fortune to speed up construction for the second weddingyoubooked. A wedding that is now going to be canceled. Do you know how much we are going to lose now that this event isn’t going to happen?” I have the good sense to look sorry even if I’m not sorry at all. “Your going along with Maren’s suggestion would have saved us thousands of dollars and cost you nothing but a few days of your time.”
“I get that, but . . . are you kidding me, Stella? You want me to just lie to everyone? Say vows to someone who doesn’t love me?”
“Oh, it’s called acting. You can manage it for a few days.”
Little does she know I’m a pro at it.
“I get that you don’t understand the issue, but normal people don’t fake marry people. This isn’t like asking someone to go to prom.”
She covers her face with her hands for a second. “No, it’s not normal, and I do understand your feelings on vows and promises. We all love you for it, but we love money too. I love this resort, and the fact that I am eating rice and beans for the third day because we pulled all the money out of savings proves it. Sacrifice your morals for a few days so that woman can give her dad what she needs and you don’t have to deal with your other siblings.”
“I’ll come up with something. I always do.”
She doesn’t look impressed. “What aboutallthe people who are going to cancel once she calls this off? We already lost half our bookings from the groom’s side. How are you going to come up with the additional funds we owe to get this done on your timeline?”
