Page 34 of Just (Fake) Married
“It means, I’ve got some time. You let me worry about my schedule.”
“I don’t think that’s how marriages work,” I said.
“I wouldn’t know how marriages work,” he said honestly. “I haven’t been married and my parents’ marriage was…” he stopped.
I leaned forward, eager to hear his answer, because truthfully, I’ve always wondered. I had vague memories of Sasha McGraw. I remember she’d been a character. From Texas, and the daughter of an oil guy. She had not liked this town. Or the cold winters. But she liked spending Mr. McGraw’s money.
It had always seemed like she’d been imported, just for Leroy.
“Tell me. I’m curious. What was their marriage like?” I asked him.
“Theirs was more like a merger than a marriage. A business agreement from the start. And maybe…well, if my dad really was in love with your mom all those years ago, maybe it was doomed from the start.”
“Together they had the five of you, so there had to be something there.”
“That was Leroy. I think he had this idea that the more sons he had, the more chances they’d become cowboys. What about your parents? You think your mom was pining for my dad the whole time?”
“No,” I said, without really thinking about it. “My parents were lovely together. My dad worshiped my mom. But my momis a worrier. She worries about everything like it’s her job. She’s probably worried about what we’re talking about right now.”
“I promise,” he said. “I will try not to give you anything to worry about.”
I laughed and ran my hand along the windowsill, catching the old indigo velvet curtains and letting them trail out of my grip very slowly.
“Let’s go tell our families the good news,” he said.
We walked back into a room full of wide eyes and curious faces.
“Everyone, we’ve got some exciting news. Turns out, Ethan and I are in love and we’re getting married!”
I squealed and threw my arms in the air like I was actually announcing my engagement.
When everyone stilled looked like they were at a funeral, I turned to Ethan. “I don’t think they bought it. I’m going to need to be a better actress.”
“We’ll go get the license tomorrow,” Ethan said to Mr. Prescott.
Bliss and Amity took one look at each other and stood up. My gorgeous sisters, I would do anything for them, including fake marrying Ethan McGraw.
My mom, though. It looked like she was still lost in the past. I couldn’t blame her. This was some heavy shit Leroy McGraw had dumped on all of us.
“Well, if we’re going to convince the town you two are a legit couple,” Bliss announced, “We’re going to need to do this right.”
“You know what that means,” Amity said, reaching for my hand.
“I don’t have any idea what that means.”
“Bachelorette party,” Bliss said. “Tonight. At The Last Stand. Ethan, you wait the appropriate amount of time until everyone’s drunk, and then make an appearance to claim your fiancé.”
“How would I possibly know when that is?”
Carter clapped him on the shoulder. “Mac and I will take you out to eat. Make it all look intentional.”
I shrugged. “Well, here we go.”
Ethan sighed. “Here we go, indeed.”
EIGHT
ETHAN
