Page 114 of Just (Fake) Married
Fortunately, we’d managed to handle the fallout from the latest Wanted Poster by continuing to present a united McGraw/Calloway front.
Like Ethan suggested: we doubled down instead of coming clean.
Which led to thoughts. Stray thoughts that slithered into my brain that I couldn’t keep out. Thoughts like;I want us to be real.I want us to have a future we could talk about.
I hated myself because this was exactly what I’d been afraid would happen. That I would fall for the act we were putting on.
That I would fall for him.
Ethan and I walked into the café for our third dinner that week. We’d swapped out our winter coats for lighter spring jackets and I could feel his hand on my back.
“Hey!” Amity called out. “If it isn’t the lovebirds.” While I couldn’t say Amity had lost all her disdain and suspicion toward Ethan, at least she was making him real food.
“You two are becoming my most regular regulars,” she said, as we sat down at what was quickly becomingourtable.
“It’s good for folks to see us out,” Ethan said, looking at the menu.
“Of course,” Amity said, and gave me an expression that reminded me I still needed to keep my walls up around this man. Did she see them slipping?
“Oh, also, I was hoping I could order something for later,” Ethan said, still looking at the menu. “You know, a late-night snack. For those times when you wake up and just can’t fall back asleep.”
“You have zero problems falling asleep,” I said, wondering what the heck he was talking about. The second we decided the fun and games were done for the night, he was out like a light.
He just kept looking at the menu. “You never know. So, I was thinking, maybe if you could make me a turkey gobbler sandwich, but instead of the cranberry sauce, use your homemade mac and cheese. Then an extra slice of cheese on top of that and then just a light dribble of honey mustard. That sounds like it might be delicious together. What do you think?”
Amity’s eyes immediately narrowed on Ethan. “I think you can tell Mac McGraw if he wants that bullshit sandwich he can come here and order it himself.”
“You didn’t!” I hissed at Ethan.
He looked guilty. “We’re all family now. I’m trying to bring…harmony to the group.”
“Did you just use my name in vain?” I asked him, horrified.
“If I promise to apologize, will you please not give me the garnish plate again?” Ethan begged Amity.
“Oh, I’m going to give you what you ordered. For dinner. Then you can tell Mac how absolutely delicious it was.”
Amity took our menus, she knew my regular order, so there was no point even looking at it.
Ethan, however, looked a little worried. “Mac and cheese on a sandwich? With an extra slice of cheese? Why is Mac ordering that? Does he have a death wish?”
The front door of the café opened and Marion beelined to our table. “Harmony,” she said, like the world was coming to an end.
“Hey, Marion,” Ethan said. “We were just about to eat, do you want to join us?”
Marion looked at him like he’d grown another head, but I looked at him like he was the sweetest guy in the world.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“I was interviewing Mayor Gallup for the high school paper and I specifically asked him if he had a guarantee from the state that someone from the Blue Ribbon Committee would be attending the festival, and his answer was…not yet.” She looked at us, aghast. “Can you believe that? Like, what is the point of all of this if the Blue Ribbon person isn’t actually at the festival?”
“Well, it’s disappointing, but we can’t force anyone to come to the festival.”
“Maybe the mayor isn’t pushing hard enough,” Ethan said, and Marion pointed at him.
“Yes. That.”
Ethan beamed, like having a teenager’s approval was amazing.
