by Jillian Dodd
I wish I could stay in bed all day. To hide from Carter more than anything.
I should have told him more about Trent.
Prepared him.
But it’s been years, and even I didn’t know what to expect.
I just knew that Trent would be the best man. That he and AJ were still close.
And that he was still single.
Carter doesn’t waste any time in getting ready. It feels like moments later, and he’s coming out of the bathroom, dressed, freshly shaven, and looking incredibly handsome.
“Come on, Vale. Time to rise and shine. Lots of family fun planned for today. And I just can’t wait.” He says all of this in a mock happy tone.
He’s mad at me. And I need to make things right.
“Just for the record, Carter, I was a little tipsy last night, but I wasn’t drunk.” What I should have done was kept my mouth shut, waited until he got into bed, and then kissed him. I know that’s all it would have taken. “I’m sorry if I acted, you know, inappropriately.”
Carter chuckles and then licks his lips, and somehow, I know exactly what he is thinking—about just how many inappropriate things he used to do to me.
Well, not inappropriate—unless you’re sleeping down the hall from your parents.
“Last night was rough,” he says, running his hand through his hair in frustration. “Everyone was trying to get AJ as drunk as possible. I had to be the responsible one for people I barely knew. Trent was hurting. He told me that he proposed. Then, I came back to find you …” He waves his hand through the air. “Let’s just try to get through the next couple of days and pretend like we like each other.”
“Love,” I say.
“What?” His eyes go wide.
“We’re supposed to love each other.”
His shoulders slump down, and he lets out a sigh. “That’s not hard to pretend, Vale. I did love you.”
“But then … why?” I ask.
He shakes his head.
I hop out of bed, irritated again. “Plus, you haven’t signed AJ yet.”
He rolls his eyes at me before opening the bedroom door. “I did this for you, Vale. And no other reason.”
After he walks out the door, I plop back down on the bed. Because … he loved me?
The shower perks me up, but I’m still reeling from Carter’s statement. And I’m confused as hell. He loved me. But then told me that I wasn’t the girl for him?
I braid my wet hair, get dressed, and then pad barefoot downstairs, following the aroma of bacon and, if memory serves me right, chocolate chip pancakes. Lakelyn’s favorite.
When I make my way into the kitchen, I’m surprised to discover that I’m one of the last people to arrive. And it’s barely eight o’clock. I’m fine with getting up for early call times, but after rolling in at two this morning, I didn’t expect this.
“Mmm, pancakes.” I help myself to a couple stacked on a platter before adding some bacon. When on the farm. “Pancakes happen to be one of Carter’s specialties,” I blurt out before I think better of it.
He shoots me a look from his seat at the table.
Mom turns from the stove. “I wish I had known. I could’ve used some help.”
“Next time,” he promises my mom as he shoots daggers at me.
Carter always made me pancakes for breakfast. And one time, when his younger brother, Cash, was over with his now-wife Ashlyn, they told me that he only made them for girls he really liked. It made me feel giddy, knowing he did that for me.
He loved me?
Why didn’t he tell me?
Although I suppose I should ask myself the same question. I never told him how I felt either.
Raine comes in through the kitchen door, followed by Seth. They’re each carrying a child on their hip.
“Hey, how’s Trent?” Carter asks.
Seth winces. “It was his appendix. He had surgery to remove it.”
“Oh no!” Mom gasps, a hand to her chest.
“He’s lucky actually. Thank goodness for Carter,” Seth says.
“Why thank goodness for Carter?” I ask.
“Because if he hadn’t paid attention to how much BTO was hurting and called an ambulance—heck, we were all drinking too much. None of the rest of us noticed. The doctors say it was close to rupturing, and that would have been life-threatening.”
“Is he doing okay now?” my mother asks. “Did you stay with him?”
“No, I rode to the hospital with him and then called his mom. She came to the hospital and texted me early this morning. I would have updated you all, but I didn’t want to wake anyone.”
Lakelyn hugs Carter from behind. “You’re practically a hero.”
Carter tries to wave it off, but I can see the slight flush on his cheeks. “It was nothing.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Seth insists, patting his shoulder on the way to the feast spread out across the island. “He’s a stubborn son of a bitch.”
“Language, please,” Mom murmurs, sliding fresh pancakes onto the platter.
“I’m just saying, he was determined to stick it out last night and be a good best man. If I had called an ambulance, he would’ve knocked me flat on my … backside.” He glances at Mom, who gives him an approving smile.
“I doubt he had it in him to knock anyone on their backside last night,” Carter says, looking thoughtful as he eats a piece of bacon.
“Thank you regardless, Carter.” Mom pours him some fresh coffee and kisses his cheek before moving on to the next cup.
The gesture pulls at my heart. Because Carter fits here.
With my family. With me.
And I have to remind myself that it’s not real.
“I hear we’re down a best man,” my father announces, walking into the room and pouring what’s probably his third cup of the day.
I’ve never seen anyone drink as much coffee as he does.
When AJ follows behind him, I can only assume they’ve been discussing the situation.
“Trent will be okay,” I offer.
“I know. It’s just a shame this had to happen now,” AJ says. “I’m sure he’ll feel bad about missing the wedding.”
He takes a plate, filling it with food, and then sits down next to Lakelyn. Lakelyn finishes eating and then pulls the pink purse from last night up from her lap and onto the table, where she starts taking out and then counting dollar bills.
“Dollars?” AJ says with a laugh. “Were those supposed to be for the male strippers last night?”
“If you must know,” Lakelyn says, her eyebrows raised in delight and a goofy smile on her face, “while you were out spending all your dollars last night, I was out, making them.”
AJ’s eyes go wide, and it’s obvious he’s trying to imagine his future bride pole dancing. Finally, he just looks confused. “How did you make them?”
“Guys lined up in the bars we were at to kiss her,” I offer with a smirk.
“Yeah,” Lakelyn says, pulling out the little badge she wore.
“Kiss the Miss Good-Bye?” AJ says, reading it. “Wait. You kissed guys last night?”
“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” my father offers with a chuckle. “You were at a strip club last night.”
AJ ignores him, asking Lakelyn, “How many guys did you kiss?”
She holds up a finger at him and continues counting her money. “Forty-two. And they kissed me.” AJ’s jaw tightens before Lakelyn says, “Only on the cheek.”
AJ lets out a sigh of relief, and everyone else starts laughing.
The right fit.
Carter
I’m standing out on the front porch with AJ. There isn’t a lot that shocks me, but this does.
“You want me to step in?” I say unbelievably.
Why would he ask me when he has Blake? Seth? Jake?
Literally anyone else?
AJ chuckles. “Yeah, man. I would love it if you did.”
“I’m honored you woul
d ask. Don’t get me wrong.”
He jams his hands into his pockets. “You did a great job last night. You looked after me. You really stepped up, even before Trent left. You feel like the right guy, and my instincts are never wrong.” He chuckles. “And Lakelyn thinks it’s perfect, with Vale being the MOH.”
“What’s MOH?”
“Maid Of Honor. You’d better learn the lingo if you’re gonna do this. Though seriously, I’m asking mostly because you’re the right fit.”
The right fit. I can’t help but think how we’re the right fit in a professional sense. He’s a good kid.
Lots of thoughts are running through my head. One being how I will be in the photos that this family will cherish for the rest of their lives. Another about how I pride myself on being an honest person but that I’m lying to everyone here. I glance at Vale, wondering how I got myself into this mess but knowing it’s because I couldn’t say no to her. That I wouldn’t say no to spending time with her even if it meant lying to the world.
I realize that I’m still hurt over what happened—or didn’t happen—between us. Because even though my true thoughts occasionally sneak out of my mouth, for the most part, I’m kind of acting like a little bitch to her. Trying to make her pay for kissing another guy instead of what I should be doing—trying to win her back.
Wait. Win her back?
No.
No. No. No.
Definitely don’t want her back. At least, not the way things were before.
My sister was right. Sex is not the way to a girl’s heart, and neither is apathy.
AJ continues, “Just stand up there next to me. Make sure I have the ring. Maybe keep an eye on me if I have a little too much to drink tonight at the rehearsal dinner—you’ve seen how Blake tries to make sure everyone’s keeping up with him.”
“Yes, I have.” And I played interference for much of last night.
“It would mean a lot. Besides, you’re practically part of the family now. Might as well jump in, right?”
I force a smile. Yes. Part of the family.
“Sure. I’d be honored, truly.”
We shake hands to seal the deal before he goes back into the house.
Which is good because I need a minute.
Who would’ve thought I’d not only be a fake fiancé this weekend, but now a best man too?
Vale joins me on the porch and stands next to me at the railing overlooking lush rose bushes. “He asked you to fill in as best man?”
“How did you know?”
“I had a feeling. You did come through for him in a big way last night. You kept the night on track when Trent’s appendix could’ve ruined everything.” She nudges me a little. “And don’t pretend you don’t like it just a little bit. Taking his place. You’ve been here for less than twenty-four hours, and you’re the hero of the family.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Come on. Just a little?” She holds her thumb and forefinger maybe an inch apart.
“No, Vale, I don’t. It’s nice to be appreciated, but I hate lying to your family. I really, truly hate it. But I’m doing it for you.”
“Well, if we’re being truthful, I’m not sorry about trying to seduce you last night.”
“Truce?” I ask because I don’t want to fight with her anymore or push her away. Or talk about last night.
“Let’s blame it on the alcohol,” she says. “Although it’s too bad you weren’t drunk too. Remember that night we did the tequila—”
“You told me you were only a little tipsy.”
“Whatever. I don’t want to fight with you. We can’t. We’re both fish out of water here.”
“You aren’t.”
“You sure about that? I could barely eat my breakfast once my father entered the room.”
“He does have an imposing presence,” I agree.
“You’re putting it mildly.”
“Okay, so we’re friends.” I jerk my chin in the direction of the wide green lawn, where hay bales are being put to use as goal markers. “You’ll be cheering me on out there while we’re playing?”
“I sure will. I want to see you wipe the grass with them.”
“They’re your family and longtime friends.”
“Even better.” She winks. “They still think you’re just a city slicker. I think they might need to be taught a lesson.”
As she strolls away, she adds over her shoulder, “Just don’t be surprised when I reward you with a great, big kiss for making me so proud.”
And that alone makes me want to win.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
A little cooling off.
Vale
“Whew!” Brooke says to me as Carter takes off his shirt.
“Hush!” I stop short of clamping a hand over her mouth.
“I just want to know why he didn’t take his shirt off the second he got here. I would’ve had a completely different opinion of him,” she says, fanning her face.
“You’re terrible,” I say with a laugh.
“Sorry,” she says, but she really doesn’t look sorry as she hands me a glass of iced tea from the picnic table.
Not that she’s wrong. AJ and Carter have been dominating the wedding games all day long—from hay-baling to cornhole to wood chopping and now football. He’s going to walk out of this weekend a living legend by the time all is said and done.
The men are well into their flag football game—the last big event of the day. It’s like a carnival out here with everyone laughing and cheering and trash-talking. All in good fun, of course.
At least, I think it is.
“Come on, AJ! Show that city boy what you’re made of, son!”
I have to turn my head and roll my eyes at my father’s outburst. Clearly, there’s only one city boy on the field. Carter is the quarterback, and his team is just short of the goal. The score is 24 to 20, in favor of AJ’s side.
I can’t believe I’m so invested in this silly game, but I am. If for no other reason than to prove some kind of point to my father.
“Come on, Carter!” I shout, jumping up and down with my arms over my head. “You can do it, baby!”
I’m shocked when he turns and winks at me before taking his stance. And I about melt into a little puddle.
AJ is directly across from him.
“AJ will go for the sack,” Lakelyn predicts.
“He’s very fast for a man of his size,” I admit. Really, he’s going to kill it in the pros, no matter where he signs. “But Carter will get it away before he has the chance. Wait and see.”
“You feel like putting money on it?”
“You got it. Ten bucks.”
We pinkie-swear as Carter makes his calls and then takes the snap.
AJ bursts into motion, rolling through the offensive line.
“There you go!” Lakelyn squeals.
But her joy is premature because Carter fakes right and then goes left, spinning away from AJ. He cuts up the middle and practically walks into the end zone.
“Yes! That’s what I’m talking about!” Not only am I excited to beat the team my dad was cheering for, but I also can’t help but sit here and drool over Carter.
My fake fiancé is damn fine.
And he kicked ass in all the events. Even hay-baling, which he had never done before today, seemed to come naturally to him. I know better than anyone here how he takes care of his body, and even I was impressed.
“My champion.” I take Carter’s face between my hands, plant a big smacker of a kiss on his lips, and then throw my arms around his neck.
“Oh my gosh, get me out of here,” he whispers in my ear as he hugs me. “I feel like I need to curl up in the fetal position and sleep for three days.”
“So, there’s being in shape, and there’s killing oneself to look good in front of strangers. I see. I know just what to do.” I take him by the hand and lead him to the shed, where we used to keep all the bicycles. Sure enough, they’re still there, and it looks
like they’ve been used recently.
“What are we doing?” Carter asks. “Don’t tell me there are bike races next.”
“Games are over. I was thinking you might be in the mood for a swim.” I straddle my bike and tuck my long, flowing skirt around my legs before settling in on the seat. “I know I could use a little cooling off.”
“You sure we shouldn’t hang around?”
“So you can be adored and congratulated?” I stick my tongue out at him and take off, leaving him scrambling to catch up.
I loved riding bikes as a kid. Still do. It feels so freeing. My hair blowing back in the breeze. I could ride around here all day. But I have somewhere special I want to take Carter. Someplace I can’t wait to show him.
Carter falls in beside me. “You know something?”
“What?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look this happy.”
Am I happy right now?
Strangely enough, yes, I am. The last thing I expected was to feel happy during my first visit home in so long, but then again, I didn’t expect to be here with Carter.
Your timing sucks.
Carter
“So, this is a swimming hole.” I prop the bike up with the kickstand, next to Vale’s.
“Mmhmm.” She’s already sliding out of her sandals.
“Are you serious?”
“About what?” she asks as she unbuttons her blouse.
“About taking all your clothes off and jumping into the water.”
“We did it as kids all the time. I’m only stripping down to my undies,” she assures me as she keeps unbuttoning. “What, are you chicken?”
“Chicken?” I jerk a thumb toward where we just came from. “After what I did today? It’s been a long time since I’ve had a man of AJ’s size barreling toward me.”
She throws her head back and laughs, and what a sound it is. I wasn’t kidding when I said I’d never seen her look so happy.
“For what it’s worth, you looked cool as a cucumber.” Before I can thank her for that, she slides out of her skirt, leaving herself wearing nothing but skimpy white panties and a matching bra.