Page 88 of The Jinglebell War
Peach’s eyes go wide and she leans away from me. “Oh, my goodness. You do think Nick and I aren’t going to last. You really don’t believe anyone can make it work, do you?”
I look down at my knees. “It’s not because I think any less of you.”
“Oh, no.” Peach sounds absolutely distraught, and I look up to see her mouthing something at Cherry, her eyes glassy.
“What?” I ask. “What are you two silently communicating?”
“That you’re more screwed up than we realized,” Cherry says.
“Cherry,” Peach says in a scolding tone.
“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings,” I say to Peach. “I hope you and Nick last, but I don’t really believe it can work for anyone.” Garrick’s parents are the rare exception and they’re probably only staying married for financial reasons.
Except, I remember the way Nora and Howard looked at each other and I know that’s not true.
“You didn’t hurt my feelings,” Peach says. “I know Nick and I are going to last, because we love each other and we’re willing to work to make our marriage amazing. My heart is broken for you that you don’t believe in true love or lasting marriage.”
“You basically believe everyone’s an asshole who will walk away when things get hard,” Cherry says.
Peach gasps. “Which is why you always wanted to help me. You think I’ll only stick around if you’re useful.”
“That’s not—” I start.
“Peach, you’re a genius,” Cherry says. “That’s exactly what it is. Blue’s problem is a combination of low self worth and an inability to believe in lasting love.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” I drop my head into my hands. I can’t take everyone psycho-analyzing me. “I have a lot of issues, but I do not have low self-worth.”
“I think we need an intervention,” Peach says.
Cherry nods. “That is exactly what we need.”
I pick my head up and glare at them. “Nope. I don’t need an intervention. I’m good. I just need to get over Garrick, and I’ll be back to normal. Just give me twenty-four hours.” Even I don’t believe that.
“What should we start with?” Peach asks, tapping her chin.
“Definitely Pride and Prejudice,” Cherry says.
“A book club intervention?” I ask.
“Nope.” Peach grins. “A movie intervention. It might not be real life, but Cherry and I can tell you it’s pretty darn close for us.”
“You’re both still in the honeymoon stage.” When they give me pointed looks, I hold up my hands. “No offense.”
“We don’t have any other way to convince you,” Cherry says. “If you can’t see how happy Peach and I are, then nothing we tell you will change your mind.”
Peach looks up from scrolling on her phone. “I found something that might work. A list of the longest married couples in history.”
Cherry claps. “I love true life love stories. Great idea.”
I sit through a list of real-life couples, then I’m forced to watch three romantic movies before Peach and Cherry finally pass out around six in the morning.
All the movies do is make me miss Garrick even more, and I have to admit my resolve is starting to crack. Maybe true love and happily ever afters do exist. Maybe Peach and Cherry are the lucky ones and they’ll never be betrayed. Maybe it’ll all work out for them, but it’s too late for me. There’s no coming back from what Garrick did.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Garrick
“Let me get this straight,” Mav says over a beer at the locals-only secret bar. I’m behind the bar, tending it, and he’s seated on a stool on the customer side. “You signed a petition to get her recalled as mayor to help her?”
