Page 30 of Just (Fake) Married
“I’m not…ah…I’m not at liberty to say as of yet.”
Ethan took a deep breath and clapped his hands. “Okay. Who wants to get married?”
No one answered. No one even looked at him, that’s how badly everyone in this room did not want to get married.
“Mac,” Ethan turned to his brother. “Clearly, this is Dad apologizing for what he did to you two,” he said, pointing a finger between Mac and Amity. “And trying to make it right.”
“I can’t marry her,” Mac said with absolute finality, and I watched Amity flinch.
“He’s right,” she added, her chin held up. “We can’t get married.”
I stepped sideways, putting my body in between her and the room full of McGraws who might hurt her.
“Why not?” Ethan asked.
“Ask her,” Mac said, and to everyone’s surprise, he left the room.
I heard Amity suck in a shaking breath. The kind of breath you took when you’d taken a hit and needed to make sure you weren’t bleeding.
Someone had to marry a McGraw to save this town. And that someone was obviously me. It was obviously me, otherwise Leroy wouldn’t have written that letter addressed to me.
“I’ll do it,” I said.
Ethan’s head spun so fast in my direction, I stepped backwards.
“You’re kidding,” he said.
“No, I’m not,” I said, feeling more determined. “Someone has to do it, and you heard from your own father. No one is more invested in the success of this town than me. Now, I assume someone needs to call Seth.”
“Seth?” Ethan shouted. “Why Seth?”
“Because in case you missed it, we’re running out of eligible McGraws. No one is going to force Carter to marry after what he went through with Lilly’s death.”
“Oh God, thank you,” Carter muttered, looking instantly relieved.
“And as much as Amity would deny she had a problem with it, I’m just not marrying her ex-boyfriend. Because, gross.”
“So you want to marry Seth?” Ethan asked me, like an accusation.
I pointed out the logistics. “You said Eli is overseas, so Seth is probably closer, and aren’t you going back to Seattle, Doctor? Oh, sorry, do I call you Doctor Surgeon? Now, I hear you’ve got some pretty nice bathrooms in this big house. Mind if I take a tour of my new temporary digs?”
“Fine,” Ethan said, his jaw clenched tight. “I’ll do it.”
For a second, I didn’t think I’d heard him right.
Him? Ethan? Marry me?
But we were the worst possible combination. We were mortal enemies. After that pantry debacle, we’d never had a conversation that didn’t turn into insults or an argument – ever. Yesterday, case in point.
“No!” I said. “Anyone but you.”
“If I have to do it, to save this place, my kids’ legacy, you know I’ll do it,” Carter said to his brother.
“I feel so wanted,” I muttered.
Ethan cut me off with a glare that told me to stuff it.
“Your kids won’t understand. And…Harmony is right. It’s not fair after everything you’ve been through. This time I have a chance to really be there for you,” Ethan said, resting both his hands on his brother’s shoulders.
