Page 28 of You Found Me
Oh. My. God.
It’s a setup.
This sweet meddling woman planned all of this! I’d smack myself if that wouldn’t make me seem crazy. Actually, on second thought, maybe if they think I’m insane I’ll be less appealing to Heidi. Nothing against her. She’s a very pretty girl, but there’s something in her eyes that has my brain screaming “danger ahead.”
“That’s very kind of you to offer, but I wouldn’t want to impose on a family lunch.”
Ms. Clara waves off my comment. “Nonsense. I’m going to miss having you around here. I just thought it’d be nice to spend lunch with you and my granddaughter—who’s visiting after a bad breakup.”
I don’t want to do this. Not even a little. But my mother raised me to be a gentleman, and I think hightailing it out of here would be considered rude.
“If you’re sure it wouldn’t be an imposition, then I’d love to join. As long as there’s enough food.”
Heidi smiles wide. “There’s plenty of food. I tend to cook and bake a lot when I’m upset.”
“Well, lead the way,” I tell them with a fake smile.
While they are talking to one another on their way out to the garden, I very quickly send off a text to Theo.
HELP! Call me with a work emergency. Ms. Clara set me up with her granddaughter. Save me! She has crazy eyes!
I put my phone back in my pocket and quickly catch up to them, finding that they’ve found a cute patio table to sit at while we eat lunch. My goal is to scarf down whatever she’s made and wait for Theo to call me.
They’ve already started to set the table with containers of food. Right when everything is out, the walkie-talkie clipped to Ms. Clara’s pants starts yapping about needing her in the kitchen immediately.
I watch as she winks at Heidi before looking over to me. “I’m sorry, I’ll be right back. Feel free to start without me.”
“Does she do stuff like this often?”
Heidi furrows her brows. “Stuff like what?”
It’s then that I realize Heidi doesn’t know this is a setup. She really thought she was coming here to spend time with her grandmother. Rather than burst her bubble, I move on. “I’m sorry that you’re going through a breakup. That’s always tough.”
“Thank you. It sucks, I was ready to get married, and he wasn’t. And instead of giving himself more time with me to come to the same conclusion, he broke it off.”
I see the unshed tears in her eyes and feel awful for her. “Not being on the same page is rough, but maybe he doesn’t wish to get married right now, or ever. Though, if you don’t mind me asking, how long were you together?”
“Three months,” she says with a sniffle.
Had I known that was going to be her answer, I wouldn’t have taken a drink of my sweet tea. Because right now, I’m fighting for my life as the too sweet, sweet tea goes down the wrong pipe.
Wanting to be married after three months seems wild to me. I know a lot of couples back in the day would get married rather quickly. Live and love fast and all that, but marryingsomeone underaged was also the norm then, so not really the best comparison.
Once I stop coughing, I clear my throat. “Wow. Three months is quick to know you want to marry someone.”
She pouts, but it’s not in the cute way Emmaline does when she’s trying to get her way.
“I know it was fast, but I loved him. And I thought he loved me.”
“I’m sure he loved you,” I say to placate her, “but sometimes men need longer to realize just how much. Maybe give him some space and he’ll come around.”
“Well, he never actually said the words. I just know that he did.” She shrugs and continues, “You’re right though, I’ll give him some time before bringing up the subject of getting back together.”
Sweet lord.
Trying to push marriage on someone who hasn’t even told you they love you is . . . a choice.
I almost feel bad for this poor schmuck—not bad enough to keep Heidi off his back though. I understand Ms. Clara likes me and wants to set me up, but she has to know that her granddaughter has a few screws loose.
