Page 18 of Faking it for Gran's Sake

“Exactly. Gran will love to see the theater. I bet she hasn’t gone since the restoration. She probably grew up watching plays back in the day.”

“I bet she did.”

Tapping on my keyboard, I note to discuss renting the theater with Ethan and Emily. I have another lightbulb moment and jerk my head up, startling Mason. “I could see if Emily would hire actors.” My eyes widen. Am I a genius or what?

Mason waves a finger. “Not just a pretty face.”

I swat at his finger and angle my head toward him. “You know, a fake wedding might cost more than a real one.”

He frowns. “How many actors are we talking about?”

“It’s just an idea. Avoids dragging friends into this mess.”

“Mess? Is that what it is?” His voice barely rises above a whisper as he slinks back into his chair.

I can’t get drawn into Mason’s world again. My gaze flitters about the room and lands on two enlarged prints I had framed. One of them is of Lake Como, Italy. The vacation Mason and I went on last year. Should I take the landscape down? We aren’t in the photo, but it’s a reminder of the good times we had.

“If you were honest with your gran months ago, she might be used to the idea that you haven’t found the one. And it wouldn’t be too close to when she—” I don’t say it. I can’t admit to myself that Gran is leaving planet earth.

Mason’s gaze dips to the carpet. Does he avoid the subject too? He breathes in and lets out a loud exhale. “Gran’s a smart cookie. She knows a lot of people around town. She’ll be expecting to know the guests.” Mason fixes his gaze back on me. “Why don’t we stick to the story that you don’t want a fuss and we have only our closest family members there. My parents will go with the flow. Your mom and sister. An actor for the minister. Maybe that’s it. And Gran, of course.”

“Will she be happy with only a few guests?”

“We’ll explain that it’s our wedding, and you would rather avoid the town spotlight.”

I scoff. “Gran won’t fall for that. She knows I’m in the public eye on social media for Clear Creek Adventures. I’m far from shy.”

A curve to his lips draws me in. Dang it, he’s cute when he does that smirk thing.

“Okay.” He raises a forefinger. “We’ll say you want the money we save on wedding expenses to go to a worthy cause you’re passionate about.” He dips his head and locks eyes with me. “What’s your passion?”

We stare at each other for several beats. He knows how to get my passion ramped to outer space. I pivot my foot under the table, grounding myself to earth. Don’t get lost in those eyes. Repeat, break eye contact immediately.

I scramble for my cell. “I have a few charities I support.” I scroll through my bank app, searching for the full name of the rescue dog association. “Evergreen Dog Haven.”

Mason’s forehead puckers. “I’m surprised it’s not an environmental agency or something.”

I grin. “Gran likes dogs, doesn’t she?”

“She had a faithful friend who kept her company when my grandfather passed away. After Benji was put down, Gran didn’t want another pet. Only a goldfish. She said she wouldn’t cry over cat food.”

I slap a hand to my mouth. “I can imagine her saying that. She’s such a character.”

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