Page 7 of Fortune's Control
My last date was more than a year ago, before the accident. A jolt ran through my left leg and faded where my ankle once was. “There’s no routine. I did her a favor, that’s all.”
“A favor? The mystery grows,” Jack said. For a supposed best friend, he was proving himself inadequate for the job.
“You three are enjoying yourselves way too much.”
“Oh, this is fun, and we are enjoying it. But, also, it’s because we care.” Jack slapped his chest. “Down here. Deep.” He considered further. “Very deep. Close to my stomach.” He picked up another wing and started eating.
“She’s coming over,” Dean announced.
“Then can I count on you to shut up?” I needed at least one friend on my side, and the sourpuss in our group was my best shot.
“After a night of jokes about gator wrestling? Joke’s on you.” He stood. “Hi, I’m Dean. I’m sullen and enjoy rudeness. This is Jack, Shane’s next-door neighbor and oldest friend. He’s also a lazy do-nothing.” He thumped his brother. “This is my brother, Aiden. Don’t trust him with any secrets, or it will end badly. Don’t trust him with anything.”
Lilah bit her lip as her cheeks darkened from pale pink to scarlet. “It’s nice to meet you all. I’m Lilah, andit appears I interrupted your evening. Thank you for dinner, Shane, and earlier, too.”
“Earlier? Well, that’s interesting,” Aiden said, butting in. “Say, do you have plans later? Such as a date with a gentleman or gentlewoman?”
“Later tonight?” Lilah swallowed. She glanced at the floor and back at me. “No plans.” Her features tightened.
“Are you involved with anyone at all? Any long-term commitments or significant others?”
Her voice hitched. “Significant? Is this some sort of prank? Is there a camera filming me?” She searched the bar, confused.
I wanted to sink into the floor. “No prank. Unfortunately, my friends are mildly drunk and have the intellectual capacity of a half-grown walrus. You aren’t obligated to forgive them.”
“I’m about to do you a big favor.” Aiden winked at me. “How would you feel about getting married? Perhaps to my friend here, Shane the Shut-in. He’s boring as hell, but loyal. Like an old dog.”
“Get married? I…what…okay.” Lilah said the last word like she couldn’t decide whether it was a question or an agreement.
3-Lilah
Foot. Mouth. Horror.
I shuddered as the words played in my head. How to explain a confused acceptance to an insincere proposal? I spent hours sitting at the bar, trying to forget that my would-be rescuer sat mere feet away.
His features darkened from discomfort into a flat-out glare as his companions took me in like some strange object displayed at the local museum.
What would Mom say? Spectacular job, Delilah. You did it again. First, you lost your job, and now you’re embarrassing this poor man.
I deserved her criticism because his friend’s question tempted me, as it meant I wouldn’t return to my car or be alone in the dark. Shane asked if I needed help earlier, and, for one brief second, I let myself indulge his offer. An embarrassing joke wasn’t a solution, nor was this current situation, which I knew the moment the thought flickered in my head. It all led to a bumbled acceptance that should have been a refusal.
Foot. Mouth. Bigger horror.
He deserved an apology. “That’s not…I didn’t mean…Sorry.” Beautifully delivered in every way.
Shane raised a finger to stop me from speaking any further.
One of them filled the silence. I couldn’t recall his name, not after that. “We were joking. You two don’t need to get hitched.”
Shane glared at the three of them. “All of you did enough, somaybe shut the hell up. Also, go away so Lilah and I can talk.” He stood and, without trying, made me feel small. “Alone.”
They left after declaring a sudden urge to check out the bar.
“I’m sorry, this is my fault, so please don’t pretend this is real,” I said.
He squinted at me. “We’ll figure it out later, but right now, sit closer to me so we can talk, as I don’t need half this town eavesdropping on our private conversation. No matter what happens, every person in Fortune’s Creek will hear about this, so let’s leave some to their imagination.” Shane pulled back a chair for me. “What’s your full name?”
“Lilah Mayberry.” People wandered in while I ate, filling the restaurant with patrons all eager to overhear. There was no reason to recognize the name, and I had already made enough poor decisions today. Offering an assumed name was too much, even for me.
