Page 128 of Just (Fake) Married
Would I miss the adrenaline? The money? The fame?
Would I miss it more than I would miss Harmony if I left?
The answer made it all clear. Crystal clear. Like the sunlight in this old familiar place. I sucked in a big lungful of air and let all the bullshit float away.
Nothing was worth more than Harmony.
“Breaking a woman’s heart changes a man,” Mac said, quietly. “Ruins a piece of you. I’d say you better fix this before she decides you’re not worth it.”
“How?” I said, and they all turned to look at me.
“You’re thinking about staying?” Tag asked. I nodded. “For real?”
“For real,” I said.
“Do you love her?” Carter asked. “Because she doesn’t deserve to be fucked around by you anymore. She’s good people.”
“I love her,” I said, and laughed. The joy of finally letting myself feel what I wanted to feel was exhilarating. “I really love being back home. I love you three idiots. I love the work at the clinic and I am fake married to the woman of my dreams. I love that she saves oddball animals, and can’t remember the days of the week and wears her sweaters backwards half the time. I love that she’s gonna be mayor of this place one day. And I’m going to give her babies and watch her be an amazing mom. I love her with all my heart. But she broke up with me, so tell me how I fix this.”
“Have you tried sex?” Carter said, and all of us laughed. “I’m serious, when Lilly was pissed, I’d get her naked and that usually fixed things right up. Or margaritas. Have you tried those?”
“I don’t know if margaritas are enough,” I said. “We’ve made a mess of things with this fake relationship and she says she doesn’t know what’s real and what’s fake anymore.”
“You need to do something big,” Mac said, and Tag nodded.
“Grand gesture,” he said.
“I am not taking love advice from a bachelor like you,” I said to my old friend.
“Suit yourself, but it’s what they do in the movies,” he said.
“This is easy, you’re overthinking it,” Mac said. “What does she want more than anything else? Figure that out and give it to her. Problem solved.”
Mac looked around like he’d cured cancer and Carter reached into the river and splashed him.
“Fuck, that’s cold!” Mac cried, and splashed his brother back.
“Watch it!” Tag shouted, jumping away from the spray zone.
What did Harmony want more than anything else? The answer was so easy. So obvious. I clapped my hands together, pulling the soaking wet men away from their childish water fight.
“I got it,” I said. “But I’m going to need your help.”
“Of course,” Carter said. Tag and Mac nodded. “Whatever you need.”
“But we’re fishing now, right?” Tag said. “You know, because we just got here?”
“Yeah,” I said. I had my phone and cell reception was pretty good out here. I could get the ball rolling on my big plan. “We can fish today, but tomorrow we’re going to make some Last Hope Gulch history. Tomorrow, we ride.”
THIRTY-ONE
HARMONY
Harmony: Remember when you told me not to sleep with him?
Sunshine: Fuck, Harmony! Please tell me you didn’t.
Harmony: I didn’t. (I so did) But that’s not the worst part.
