Trevor looked at me, eyes wide with uneasiness. I could understand his anxiousness, but the way he’d spoken with Vernon earlier made it clear that he should be the one to take over the family business.
“Are either of you pharmacists?”
“No,” both men answered.
Mr. Randolph pulled at the tie around his neck. “Are either of you married?” he asked, glancing at me and the wedding rings on my and Trevor’s fingers.
“I am,” Trevor said.
The attorney looked at Kevin, who was to his left. “I apologize.” He turned back to the three of us. “With that, Nelson Pharmacy is to be inherited by Trevor Nelson.”
And just like that, the reason Trevor and I had gotten married was gone.
Chapter Thirty-One
TREVOR
Alexis knocked on the door to my office. “I’m just letting you know I’m home.”
I looked up from the paperwork in front of me.
She had a wary smile on her face. The last few days, she’d been walking around like she was waiting for something bad to happen.
I pushed my chair away from my desk. “Come over here.”
She stepped into the room, and when she was close enough, I grabbed her hand and pulled her over to me, between my legs.
“I’m sorry I haven’t paid us much attention lately. I’ve been so busy with the funeral and now the pharmacy.”
“It’s fine. I know you have a lot on your plate,” she said, and I could tell she meant it, but something was still bothering her.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, because I’m going to need to leave town in a couple days.”
“Why?”
“So, my brother wasn’t wrong about the pharmacy making less money than it used to. It had definitely been a good investment when my grandparents opened it.”
“Oh, you mean, back when a man with a stay-at-home wife and six kids could live off minimum wage?”
“Uh…yeah.”
She’d made a good point.
“The money netted each year is getting smaller and smaller, and soon, it’s going to cost more to keep it open than the pharmacy makes.”
“It doesn’t surprise me that things have changed.”
“One of those things is pharmacy brokers, and after doing some research, I found small, independent pharmacies simply can’t compete with chain stores.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that I might have to sell Nelson Pharmacy after all, but instead of selling it to some developer who’s going to close it and tear it down, I can sell it to a different pharmacy.” It sounded like the perfect plan on paper, but there were definite flaws. “The downside: while most employees will probably be able to stay employed, it’ll be like starting over. They’ll have to interview, and they might not get a job.” Saying it out loud sounded depressing. I fell against the back of my chair and rubbed my hands over my face. “I wish things were different.”
Alexis leaned over, putting her hands on the arms of my chair. “Hey, you are doing the best you can. I know it sucks, but you are making do with the circumstances of reality. You could give up and tear the place down, but you’re trying to save jobs and health care in that area.”
I grinned at her. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, but I didn’t do much.”
I cupped the back of her head. “I’m going to take you to bed now.”
Alexis
I lay next to Trevor with my hand on his chest. The steady beat of his heart thumped under my palm as he rested in bed, and I wanted to memorize this moment forever.
I knew our time together was coming to an end. I had my money, and Trevor had his pharmacy. And now that he didn’t have to fight Kevin in court, there was no reason for us to be together. No financial reason anyway.
Every day I came home, part of me expected Trevor to tell me it was time to move out, and the rest of me hoped he’d ask me to stay. But he hadn’t said anything so far, and I hadn’t wanted to add any more stress to his plate.
But now that he was going out of town, I thought maybe it was a good time.
“When are you leaving?” I asked.
“Two days from now.”
While Trevor’s heart was slowly beating, my own began to speed up. Fear of rejection was the worst.
“So, I was thinking…”
He lifted an eyelid and peeked at me. “Oh? About what?” he said with a coy smile.
I chuckled. “Not about sex.”
“What nonsexual thing were you thinking about?”
I rolled onto my back. I couldn’t look at him when I told him my idea.
“I was thinking, when you get back from your trip, we should start dating for real.” I’d deliberately chosen confident wording to let him know I was serious. And I was about to tell him all the reasons we should give a real relationship a try.
But a bubble of laughter came out of him before I could speak.
I quickly looked at him, but I wished I hadn’t because he started laughing harder.
“Oh, Alexis, that’s a good one.”
He thought it was funny.
My heart shattered into pieces, and my pride crumbled to dust.
I tried to come up with a witty response, as if I didn’t care, like, I didn’t know dating me would be that horrible, but when I opened my mouth, nothing came out.
I didn’t think Trevor would purposely be cruel, and I quickly realized he must have no clue how I felt about him. But maybe I should have known that since he never figured out I’d liked him all those years ago when we met.
I turned away from him on the bed and willed myself not to cry. Because Trevor wasn’t a bad guy. If I burst into tears, he’d probably feel awful and change his mind about dating me just to make me feel better.
Unlike some people, I didn’t want to be with someone who didn’t want to be with me.
Trevor put his arm around me. “Hey, are you okay?”
My stomach rumbled at that moment, and if I could have kissed it, I would have.
“I haven’t eaten since lunch. I was thinking about dinner, is all.”
“How about we order pizza?”
“Sure.”
He kissed me on the cheek and got out of bed. “I’ll go put an order in.”
“Okay.”
After he left, I closed my eyes and counted to ten.
I’d had a marriage end before. I could handle this. I needed to make a game plan, was all. I could do this.
But I needed to do something else first.
I pushed back the covers, got dressed, and headed for the kitchen. Once there, I pulled out ingredients and other items from the fridge, the pantry, and the cupboards.
“Pizza’s on its way,” Trevor said when he walked in. “What’s going on here?” he asked, scanning the counter.
“I’m going to try to make cheesecake.”
“Ooh, what’s the occasion?”
“I’m thinking of adding it to the menu at The Purrfect Café.” That was what I told him anyway, and maybe it would end up being true.
But what I was really thinking was that baking had gotten me through my divorce from Kevin, and it would get me through my heartbreak with Trevor too. At least I had money this time. But while the financial security felt good, it wouldn’t mend my broken heart.
Two days later, after he left town, I packed up what few things I had and moved out.
Chapter Thirty-Two
TREVOR
I got home after being gone for five days, feeling good about the decisions I was about to make. It wasn’t perfect, but it was the best choice I could make in a difficult situation. I was making the right decision for everyone involved.
It was late in the day, and I walked into a dark house. Alexis must not have come home from work yet. But it seemed like more than her presence was missing. When I looked around, I found a box of cupcakes and her wedding ring along with a note on the
counter.
Dear Trevor,
Thank you for everything. I know you got your inheritance out of this marriage, but I can never truly repay you for getting the money that was owed to me.
Many people have asked what I’m going to do with it, and first things first. I’m going to get a house. No more crappy apartments for me. And I have you to thank.
I hope everything works out with the pharmacy. Whatever you do, I’m sure you will make the right choice.
I didn’t know how we should go about doing the divorce, so if you need me, I’ll be at my parents’ for now.
All my thanks,
Alexis
I put the letter down before picking it up and reading it again. Then, I flew up the stairs to look in the guest room.
Her things were all gone. No wonder my house felt empty.
I ran back downstairs, grabbed my keys and her ring, and bolted for my car.
I made it to Alexis’s parents’ house as fast as I could. And when her father answered the door, I waited for him to punch me in the face.
I must have had some kind of expression on my face that told him I was waiting for him to hit me because he said, “Alexis explained everything. Thank you for getting that money for her future.”
“Oh. It’s the least I could do. Is Alexis here?”
“Come in. I’ll get her for you.”
I waited by the front door as Pat went to look for his daughter.
“Alexis, Trevor’s here.”
“What?”
“Trevor’s here.” Pat walked back into the living room with keys in his hand. “She’ll be out in a minute.”
“Thank you,” I said as he headed out the front door.
“Mom, can you tell him I’m not here?”
“Your father already let him know you were.”
“Then, tell him I’m sick.” She faked a cough, and I wondered if they knew I could hear everything they said.
But more than that, I wondered why Alexis didn’t want to talk to me.
“Honey, you’re going to have to talk to him.”
“I know. I wasn’t expecting it to be today though. I thought he’d wait a few weeks, after he had the divorce papers. I was hoping I’d have a few weeks to stop thinking about him.”
“Oh, honey.”
“I’m so stupid, Mom. I fell in love with him.”
“I’m not surprised. Trevor was the one you liked in the first place. Kevin was a consolation prize.”
I took a step back and hit the door behind me. I’d had no idea Alexis had liked me back in the day.
“A horrible one at that.”
Angie laughed at her daughter’s joke. “Okay, but how do you know Trevor doesn’t feel the same?”
“I don’t want to tell you.”
“You know I’ll never judge you.”
“I know, but it’s embarrassing. I put out the idea that we start dating, and he laughed in my face. I know he thought I was joking, but, oof, that one hurt.”
“Oh, Alexis, I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, Mom, but thank you. And now that you know, will you please tell him I’m sick?”
“No.”
“Mom.”
“Honey, the longer you wait to face him, the harder it’s going to be. Just go out there and see what he wants. Rip the bandage off. If you need me, I’ll be right here.”
I was still in shock over the news that Alexis had liked me all those years ago that I almost missed the fake smile she had plastered on her face.
“Hi, Trevor. My dad said you wanted to see me.”
When she reached me, I grabbed her wrist and yanked her close.
“I have a question, and I want the truth.”
She looked up at me and swallowed. “Okay.”
“Years ago, when we met, you liked me?”
She rolled her eyes. “Really?”
“I want the truth.”
“Jeez. Okay. Yes, I did. But Kevin told me you didn’t like me back, so I left you alone.”
“That asshole.”
“Why? What did he do?”
I grabbed ahold of Alexis’s face and kissed her. “I liked you too. And I like you now. I love you now. This marriage hasn’t been fake for me for a long time.”
“Why did you laugh at me then?” she whispered.
“Because I thought you were making a joke. Who wants to go backward to dating when we’re already happily married?”
“When you put it like that, it makes perfect sense.”
I pulled her wedding ring from my pocket and got down on one knee. “Alexis, will you make me the happiest man in the world and continue to be my wife?”
“Say yes,” her mom shouted from the other room, where she was peeking around the corner.
Alexis laughed. “Yes.”
I stood, picked her up in my arms, and kissed her.
Epilogue
ALEXIS
“Alexis, are you okay?” Bree asked.
It was our monthly friends’ dinner, and I looked up as everyone stared at me.
“What do you mean?”
“You love that pasta, but you’ve barely touched it,” Bree said.
“Oh. Yeah, I’m fine. It doesn’t sound good tonight for some reason. I shouldn’t have ordered it.”
“Order something else,” Paisley suggested.
“Nah. Nothing really sounds good.”
“She’s been like this all week,” Tessa said. “She hasn’t touched a chocolate cupcake. The good thing is, our inventory has doubled.”
“Ha-ha. I don’t eat that many.”
Pru smacked her lips together. “I hate to point out the obvious here, but are you and Trevor using protection?”
Isabelle had just taken a bite of food and almost choked on it.
After I made sure our friend could breathe, I looked at Pru. “Weird question to ask, but no.”
“And after everything that happened with Kevin and Candace, you didn’t want to rethink that?”
“What are you—”
Tessa gasped. “Oh my God. You’re pregnant.”
“I can’t get pregnant. Besides, I just brought a cat home from the café. I’m okay with only having fur babies.” I had Trevor now.
“You couldn’t get pregnant with Kevin,” Pru said. “And now that you know he didn’t get Candace pregnant, there is a chance that he was the problem.”
A part of me wanted to believe them, but I couldn’t let myself.
Elizabeth jumped up from the table. “I’ll go buy a test.” And before I could stop her, she was hurrying out the front door.
“I think you all are imagining things,” I told them as we waited.
“I think Pru’s right,” Bree said.
I looked around for someone to be on my side, but no one looked like they were going to agree with me.
Elizabeth was back in ten minutes and shoved the bag at me. “Take it now.”
“No,” I said with a laugh but stopped when six sets of serious eyes looked back at me. “Okay, fine, I’ll go take a test.”
I went to the bathroom, pulled out a test, and read the directions. I managed to get it done without peeing on my hand, but I wasn’t sure what to do with it for the next three minutes.
Turned out, nothing. The plus sign turned pink as soon as my urine traveled down the stick.
Holy fucking shit, I’m pregnant.
I walked back to the table in a daze and sat down with a thump.
Pru looked at her watch. “You’re done already?”
“It’s positive.”
My friends started clapping and giving me hugs.
Tessa grinned at me. “You’d better call Trevor.”
I grinned back, still in awe. “I think I’m going to wait until I get home.” I wanted to see his face.
But I did pick up my phone and text him.
Me: I have a surprise for you when I get home.
Trevor: Dessert?
Me: Something better.
Trevor: You?
Me: Something even better than that.
Trevor: Nothing’s better than you.
I smiled. I so loved this man.
Me: I guess we’ll find out when I get home.
“Sebastian,” Bree shouted.
I raised my head to see her waving her arm to someone across the room, and when I looked over, I saw her cousin walking over.
“Hey, coz,” Bree said, giving him a hug. “What are you doing here?”
“Getting some dinner with a couple of guys from work.” Sebastian looked around. “Good evening, ladies.”
We all smiled and said hello because how could we not? Sebastian was tall, dark, and handsome.
Except for Pru. She gave a single wave and looked away.
“You’re with colleagues. Are you here on business or pleasure?” Bree asked.
“A little bit of both. I’m the new guy at work, so everyone nominated me to plan the annual charity event.” He smiled a fake smile. “Aren’t I a lucky guy?”
“Oh my God,” Bree said. “Pru is an event planner. I bet she’d give you the friends and family discount.”
Pru jumped off her chair. “No, I will not.”
Sebastian eyed Pru and smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Did you hear me? I already said no.”
“Come on, Pru. It’s a charity event,” Bree said.
“Yeah, Pru,” Paisley agreed.
“I don’t even know what the event is.”
“It’s the Annual Golden Prairie Firefighters Charity Event. This year, we’re giving the proceeds away to…” He winced. “I’ll have to get back to you on that one.”
“I’ve been to this event, Pru,” I said. “They always pick excellent charities.” In the past, I had gone with Kevin, but maybe this year, I could go with my new husband.
Not Another Fake Marriage (Not Another Romance) Page 13