Page 38 of For Butter or for Worse
I can’t help but smile back at him. “It’s a toss-up. Cecily used to make me smoothies every morning.”
“That’s a tough act to follow.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
“Are we done now?” Coop asks, interrupting our back-and-forth. “Some of us have jobs. Including the two of you. Jury’s out on Princess Shrink and her fancy doctorate.”
Scoffing, Cecily grabs hold of my hand, which is still clinging to King’s, and tugs us toward the door. “Anyone with a real job has the ability to take a vacation.”
Coop barks out a laugh as he follows us out the exit. “I have a real job.”
“I will believe that when I see it, Mr. Heyes.”
“How soon before you go back to New York?”
“No one says you have to hang around while I’m in town.”
“King’s my best friend. I’m not about to—”
“Will you two stop?” I snap that question at the same time King growls low in his throat, so I know he’s as annoyed as I am. At this point, we’ve made it out into the little parking lot outside Mr. Vanderman’s office and are alone, which is nice. I don’t have to feel like I’m under scrutiny for now. “It’s going to be hard enough to get through this marriage as it is, and we don’t need you going after each other’s throats.”
Cecily ducks her head sheepishly, and Coop simply gives King a nod and folds his arms.
I let out a deep breath. “Thank you. Cece, what in the world was that?”
She blinks, though she doesn’t look as innocent as I’m sure she would like to. “What was what?”
“We don’t have time for marriage counseling,” King replies.
“I’m more than happy to work around your schedules.”
King and I share a glance, likely thinking the same thing. “You know you don’t have to actually have any sessions with us, right?” I point out. “You can tell Mr. Vanderman that—”
“Georgiana Tiara Carpenter!” Cecily points a finger at me and looks genuinely angry. “I am not about to lie for you and besmirch my well-respected reputation just because you don’t think you can hack a real marriage.”
Coop snickers. When I glare at him, he shrugs. “I’m not laughing at Miss High-and-Mighty.”
“That’s Mrs. High-and-Mighty to you,” Cecily says.
“Whatever. I’m laughing because your middle name is Tiara.”
I narrow my eyes. “What of it?”
“Nothing at all.”
But it’s not nothing because King’s hand tightens once more around mine, and he’s looking at me with a curious look in his eyes. “I don’t think I knew your middle name.”
Whatever thoughts are going through his head, the expression they’re giving him is making me squirm. “You never needed to know it,” I mutter.
“Agree to disagree,” he mutters back. “Cecily, I know you were trying to help, but we really don’t have time to—”
“Like I said.” Cecily fixes on her therapist stare, which is enough to make me shrink into King’s side in fear of what might be awaiting us in the next two weeks. “I gave that obnoxious attorney my word that I would do this right, so that’s what I’m going to do. You will give me your schedules, and I will find times that work for both of you.” She looks specifically at me. “If you want that bakery, and I know you do, you’ll cooperate.”
I want to argue, but I don’t. “Fine.”
“And you.” She looks at King. “You will be open and honest, no matter how uncomfortable you might be. The goal of this is to talk things through and clear some air so Mr. Vanderman knows you are both trying to make this work, even if it is only for a short time.”
King actually takes a step back, like he might try to run. “I’ll try.”
