Page 102 of Just (Fake) Married
“Your mom said you were up here,” she said. She wore a black puffer jacket, sweatpants and an unreadable expression.
“Yeah,” I said with a smile. “But shouldn’t you be at school?”
Marion looked over at Ethan and then back at me. “We have our own student committee for the Feud Day Festival and I wanted to give you an update.”
I blinked. “On what?”
“On our plans for the day,” she grabbed her phone and tapped on it and the phone in my pocket buzzed. I pulled it out and had an airdrop from Marion. “In addition to what we talked about at the town meeting, our team of students usually support the re-enactments by providing directions to the tourists to each of the spots. This year, we’re creating a QR code for a digital map, so that will free us up to focus on other activities.”
“Wow,” I said, looking down at this list. “What a fantastic idea.”
“We need a sign-up sheet for the 5K run we can put up on the community board in town. You have that ready, yet?” she asked, looking over at Ethan.
“I…uh…no?”
Marion frowned, clearly not happy with Ethan’s lack of attention, which made me smile. The surgeon being called out by the hyper-achieving high school student.
“The official committee meets tomorrow night,” I said, stepping in to save Ethan. “We’ll make sure we handle all the details.”
“Yes, but it’s important that we have participation from the McGraws,” Marion said, looking at Ethan. “All. Of. Them.”
“We’re in,” Ethan said. “I promise.”
“Because April comes up fast,” Marion told him. Her phone buzzed. “I have to get back to school.” She tucked her phone back in her pocket and then seemed to take a good long look at us. “What are you doing with all this stuff, anyway?”
“Cleaning out the apartment,” I said.
“Why?” she asked.
“I might move in here,” I said, and the instant it was out of my mouth I knew I’d said the wrong thing. Oh shit. I was so bad at lying.
Marion looked at me. “Don’t you live with him?” she asked, pointing at Ethan. “Your husband.”
“Yes. Of course. But we might…both might move in here.” I said with a bright smile. “Like a second home.”
“A second home? In Last Hope Gulch? When you already live on the Swinging D?” she asked me like I was nuts.
“I like the commute?” I said, without much conviction.
Marion shifted her weight to one hip and gave us both the stink eye. “You know, whether we like it or not, this town is allabout your families,” she said, her eyes flashing. “It could be about other things, but it’s not. So you two being married, that’s like a big deal for everyone. But if you’re lying to us about any of this…that would be really shitty.”
Shot right through the heart by a teenager. Every word she said was true and the responsibility and the guilt were heaped back on my shoulders.
Marion took the steps back down and we both heard the door to the store close behind her.
“I really don’t like lying to everyone,” I muttered.
But Ethan wasn’t paying attention, instead he was looking thoughtfully at the steps.
“She reminds me of you at that age. Marion,” he said. “Headstrong, opinionated. Organized. That was you in high school.”
“I didn’t think you ever really noticed me back then. Except for that one night.”
“Oh, I noticed you,” he said. “I noticed you plenty when all anyone could talk about was how you punched me in the pantry. Did I ever say I was sorry?”
“A million times,” I groaned.
“No. Did I ever apologize for not remembering that night? For being so drunk I forgot what had to be an epic kiss?”
