Page 56 of Ropers Can't Tie Knots
“Oh my god, Gabe,” Riley whispers. “You really like him, don’t you?”
“I think I do.”
I know I fucking do. We may have spent a few evenings together since that last epic night, but Hunter still hasn’t spoken about what he went to the lawyer for. Probably because I keep changing the subject. We’re only six months into this fake marriage, and we agreed to a year, but my mind keeps telling me he’s got what he wanted and he’s just waiting to let me down gently.
My eyes burn, and I blink it away quickly. I don’t want to miss seeing him or Mack every day, and I need to be there in the spring to see that stupid groundhog.
Riley’s hand appears with a tissue, and it’s only then that I notice the wetness on my cheeks.
“Sorry. I’m sitting here crying over a man. How fucking pathetic.”
“It’s not pathetic. You care, Gabe. He probably does too, but neither of you wants to take the first step and admit you have feelings.”
That’s half true. I did tell Hunter that night I really liked him. Just like any middle school kid would. Lord, I’m a love-sick loser.
“About six weeks ago, I found Mack sick. She had colic.” Riley grimaces and reaches for his cup. “I was supposed to meet him for dancing that night. He sent me a teddygram to work and everything, Riley. I almost called you to see if he asked what to do.”
“He sent you a teddygram? Like the singing one?” I nod, and Riley’s eyes would have cartoon hearts if it were humanly possible.
Reaching for my crumble, I smile as I remember the little bear with glasses I still keep in my office. “He did. But then I found Mack and panicked, and we spent the night in the barn eating snacks and just talking about everything while we monitored Mack. When we finally went inside, it was…fuck, it was intense.”
“I don’t say this enough about Hunter, because he prefers people think he’s an ass, but the man has a heart of gold, Gabe. He doesn’t show that to many, but it sounds like you’ve seen it several times now.”
“I just wish he’d tell me exactly how he feels, you know? He brought up the lawyer, and when I asked if he needed me there, he took so long to answer, I assumed the worst. I’ve been stuck in a negative space ever since.”
Riley sits back with his coffee, comfortable like its own living room, as he tucks a foot under him. “If his meeting was to start the divorce, and he serves you…Will you fight him on it?”
Divorce.
I’ve drawn dozens, no, probably hundreds, of divorce agreements during my time as a lawyer. I’ve listened to the initiating spouse, and not once did I consider how the receiving spouse would feel. Families broken and spouses blindsided, all because one of them was no longer happy with the union. Now I feel sick and set my apple crumble down with a shaky hand.
“Technically, we agreed it would end after a year, and I’d be an ass to fight it if he wants it sooner.”
“But you weren’t in love when you agreed to that.”
Riley’s words roll off his tongue easier than they do mine, and I turn my head towards my extremely perceptive best friend.
“No, I wasn’t.” Which is as close as I’ll get to saying those words to someone other than Hunter since I’ve not even told him that.
“You need to tell him, Gabe.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be like this, Rye. This was just helping a friend. He scratched mine, and I scratched his.” Puffing out a breath, I lean back on the sofa and turn towards Riley again. The smile on his face is soft, and his eyes carry hurt for me.
“Sometimes people come into our lives when we think we don’t need them, only to learn that they make our lives better by being there.” He shifts forward and grabs my hand. “Look, Gabe, you know I’m a romantic at heart, and I’d love nothing more than to plan a real wedding for you one day, but I’ve never seen you like this. Don’t keep this to yourself.”
“What if he says he doesn’t feel the same way?”
“Do you really think that?”
“No. I think he cares.” My body still remembers how it felt that night. How he lit me up and how he kissed me. The way it felt to wake up his arms. “He feels something. I just don’t know how much.”
My phone pings with a text, and I suck in a breath.
Hunter:Hey, counsellor. Just wondering where you are. A clipper is supposed to move in soon, and I don’t want you stranded somewhere in that shitty car. Let me know when you’re coming home, please?
Turning the phone towards Riley, he pulls his phone out when it pings and laughs.
“Jackson sent something similar. We should probably get going to keep these two from worrying themselves to death.”
