Page 72 of Faking I Do
“And a cookie couplet for the happy couple.” The guy produced a cookie in the shape of a heart. Red frosting across the center read Congrats on your engagement! Mayor Little.
Dammit. Buck was mocking me.
“Why would Mayor Little send us a singing telegram?” Lacey asked.
“I’m sorry, it’s not a telegram, it’s a sing-a-gram,” the man corrected. He didn’t move from the stoop.
I grabbed the cookie and shut the door.
“Didn’t you tip him?” Lacey asked.
“For what?” I shook my head. “I’ve owned dogs who could sing better than that.” To prove my point, Shotgun sat down, her tail wagging like a broom, and let out a half howl. “See?”
“Why aren’t you answering my calls?” Lacey barreled into the room, toting the ugly orange wreath with her.
“Do you have to bring that here?” I eyed the monstrosity. It was like a giant jack-o'-lantern but seven months too early.
“Why didn’t you answer my question?” She set the easel in the corner of my living room, blocking my view of the classic football game I’d been watching.
“What was the question again?” I smirked. At least I still enjoyed giving her shit, even though I couldn’t leave my house without being assaulted by well-wishers.
Lacey snagged the beer bottle out of my grip. Didn’t matter, it was almost empty anyway. “What’s going on with you? You said you were all in on this and you’re practically ghosting me.”
I padded to the kitchen on bare feet to grab another beer from the fridge. Based on how the conversation was going, I might need two. I pulled out another and popped the top.
“Bodie?” She’d followed me into the kitchen and stood next to the counter, her hip cocked, arms crossed over her chest.
I handed her the beer I’d just opened and popped the top off the other. “I didn’t realize what a splash news of our engagement would make.” I made air quotes around the word engagement.
“I told my dad.” Lacey took a deep swallow from the bottle.
My heart stalled. “You told him the truth?”
She shook her head. “No. You know what a big mouth he has when he drinks, even if he is housebound. I figured it would be best to string him along like everyone else until the wedding. If word got out that this wasn’t for real we’d probably lose the publicity, don’t you think?”
No, I didn’t think. I hadn’t thought this through at all. Playing along with Lacey’s idea to secure publicity seemed like a no-brainer at the time. But now that I was living through the repercussions, I’d begun to regret being so flippant about it in the first place.
“Everyone seems really excited for us.” Her lips curved up in a smile.
“That’s fantastic.” I wanted to kick myself in the nuts for the way the bitterness in my tone caused her mouth to turn down until that smile had morphed into an unsure frown.
“I talked to Helmut today. He said he’ll do the catering.” She set her bottle down on the edge of the table.
“Banzai Shakes for everyone,” I joked.
“You know, he hasn’t been slinging burgers his whole life. He used to be a real chef up in Seattle once upon a time.”
I knew I was being an asshole. And I really didn’t intend to be. It was just, all this hubbub with Lacey on top of the threats from Buck, it had been rolling around like a tumbleweedin west Texas, gathering momentum, picking up dirt and dust and getting bigger and bigger. “I’m sure the food will be terrific. Thanks for handling everything.” I tipped my beer in her direction then headed back to the living room.
“Bodie . . .” She trailed behind me, reminding me of yesteryear, of times I’d walk away from her just like that and she’d follow behind. Even then she hadn’t given up on me.
“What do you want?” I whirled around, almost knocking her off her feet.
Her hands wrapped around my biceps to steady herself. Taking in a long, slow breath, I raised my gaze to meet hers.
She worried her lower lip with her teeth, her fingers tightening around my arms. “I know you didn’t want to pretend. I’m sorry for asking you to lie about it.” Her words came out soft, almost a whisper.
Dammit. How could I tell her how right she was? I didn’t want to pretend. But it didn’t piss me off, it scared the shit out of me. I didn’t want to pretend anymore because the feelings I’d been faking had become all too real. What was I going to do when the fake minister pronounced us husband and wife and I had to lean down and kiss her?
