Page 57 of Faking Summer
“Even I can’t deny the cuteness of Goldilocks, I’ll give you that,” she replied with a smirk. “But unfortunately, marrying an animal is outside the scope of legally recognized marriages.”
“Typical,” I sighed dramatically. “This country's progress is truly disappointing.”
I pulled my phone from my back pocket, feeling it vibrate. "Bridezilla's calling," I murmured to Sam, a wry smile tugging at the corner of my lips as I stood up. The phone continued its insistent buzzing, demanding, just like my sister. With a resigned sigh, I slipped out the back door, finding a quiet hidden area outside.
The dim glow from the bar's windows stretched across the gravel, reaching towards the darkness that led to the alleyway.
"Caroline, have you tried on your bridesmaid dress yet?" Her voice crackled through the speaker. I leaned against a brick wall, realizing I should have never picked up her call.
"Not yet," I confessed, tracing my fingers along the rough brick. "But I'm sure it fits."
"Well, you better hope it does because there's no time to get another one. You should have made sure it fit last week," she snapped.
"It’ll be fine," I said, brushing it off.
"Caroline, you're so insensitive. Can't you do even one thing right?"
"Insensitive?" I echoed with disbelief. "You're the one inconveniencing everyone by rushing this wedding."
There was silence, but I could feel the weight of her scorn. "Amazing, Caroline. So sorry my wedding is an inconvenience for you," she spat out before the line went dead,
A long exhale escaped me as I tried to shove away my annoyance.With a flick of my wrist, I slid my phone into the sanctuary of my back pocket.
“That didn’t sound good.”
Startled, I spun on my heel, the soles of my boots scraping against the pavement as if trying to ground me back to reality.
Wells Clark emerged from the shadowy threshold between two buildings, his figure outlined by the weak light that spilled from an overhead street lamp.
“No, it's never good with my sister,” I replied.
"Well, things don’t seem too good with us either," he said, inching closer.
I crossed my arms over my chest. "What do you mean?"
"I've heard some rumors," he murmured. "Please tell me they aren't true."
"Well, depends on what those rumors are, Wells."
"Heard you're hooking up with Carrington," he said. I remembered then why I hated this small town.
"Who is saying this?" I asked, trying my best to avoid answering that question.
"It doesn't matter… but I know that can't be true because you’ve been leading me on for how long now?"
Did he just say leading him on? I never knew what to expect out of his mouth, but certainly not that. I never promised him anything, and didn’t owe him any explanation.
"And what if I was?" The words tumbled out from my frustration.
"Then I’d say that’s pretty slutty," he spat out. His eyes darkened in a way that made it seem like there was nothing behind them at all. "I’ve been at this for months now, and he comes out of nowhere, and you just give it up to him?"
I swallowed hard against the tightness in my throat.
"That’s uncalled for. I wasn’t leading you on," I told him.
"You were," Wells declared with entitlement. "I deserve something... and you're not leaving here until I get it."
"Not a chance." The words left my lips without thought, as I tried not to let him see the panic I was feeling.
