Page 61 of Fa-La-La-La Faking It
Close enough, though. If Adaline could trust anyone, it was Ford.
“Jace and I weren’t really dating. The whole thing was just pretend,” she blurted and then braced herself for him to be appropriately appalled.
Ford simply shrugged. “I know.”
Adaline narrowed her gaze at her brother while Fuzzy snored on Ford’s lap, oblivious to the drama going on around him. Dogs were so great. Sometimes Adaline wished she was one, but then she remembered that dogs couldn’t bake and she took the wish back.
“What do you mean ‘I know’?” Adaline tossed her arms in the air. “Have you known this whole entire time?”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
Would it kill him to elaborate? Adaline didn’t know how Maple put up with him. “How did you know?”
“It was obvious. For starters, Gram told me about the matchmaker thing, and knowing you, you’d do just about anything to get out of that.” Ford polished off his last bite of pie. “Also, you’re a terrible liar.”
Adaline blew out a breath. “Fair. Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I figured you had your reasons, and once you set your mind on something, there’s typically no talking you out of it,” Ford said.
Her brother really did know her, didn’t he?
She drummed her fingernails on the countertop. “Do you want more pie?”
“Always.” He nudged his plate toward her and she loaded it up with gigantic slice of eggnog spice pie.
“Thanks. Breakfast of champions.” Ford waggled his eyebrows.
“You’re welcome.” Adaline gnawed on her bottom lip as she contemplated the fact that Ford knew she was faking things with Jace all along. She wanted to curl up in shame. How had she ever thought a pretend Christmas romance was a good idea? “I hate to even ask this, but doeseveryoneknow?”
He shook his head. “No, just me.”
She wanted to embrace the flicker of relief that coursed through her, but his answer seemed suspect. “Are you sure? How is that even possible? You just said I’m a terrible liar.”
“It’s possible because the people who care about you want you to be happy. They believed in the fairy tale because theywantedto believe it. And whether or not the relationship was real, the two of you are obviously in love. Everyone can see it.” He arched a brow and pointed at her with his fork. “Can’t you?”
Tears sprang instantly to Adaline’s eyes. She shook her head. “We’re not.”
“Oh, sis,” Ford said with a gentleness she hadn’t heard from him since they were kids. “You’re a terrible liar, remember?”
Maybe she did love Jace, but it clearly wasn’t enough. Something had happened when he’d gone to the senior center to talk to Gus about the photograph. That much was obvious. She didn’t know why he didn’t just tell her what happened so she could help.
He didn’t tell you because you never asked. You closed yourself up like a book, too afraid to know what really happened. Meanwhile, the man you loved was suffering.
Alone.
At Christmas.
He’d been there for her every step of the way, and when it was time for her to do the same, she’d let him down. Was it any wonder he’d wanted to go home?
She grabbed the towel and dabbed at the corners of her eyes. Would there ever come a day when she stopped crying over Jace Martin? “It does matter how we feel. It’s over. I learned my lesson. I got carried away, and everything ended in disaster. Don’t worry—I’ll never make that mistake again.”
“Yes, you will. Because it’s who you are, and you’re perfect just the way God made you.” Ford gave her a crooked smile. “Besides, I love it when you get carried away.”
For one bittersweet moment, Adaline forgot how to breathe. “What did you just say?”
“I said I love it when you get carried away.”
It was the exact same thing Jace had told her in the barn when they’d held hands while the world froze and ice fell around them like diamonds. At first, she’d thought he was teasing her. But then he’d said more, and she knew in her heart that he meant it.
