Reed’s gaze cuts to me, but it doesn’t stick. “Wasn’t your business.”
Jovie rolls her eyes. “Uh, we’re family.Everythingis our business.”
“She’s got a point.” Nathan holds up his hand for a high-five. She gives it a smack, releasing another happy squeal.
“Are you going to order?” Reed asks Luke. “We’ve got a line.”
“I want a strawberry milk Frappuccino, please.” Jovie smiles up at me with pure devotion in her eyes. I get a tiny taste of what life must be like for Taylor Swift. A little girl’s adoration and a big, hulking man to hold her close.
Temporarily. Probably never again. Best not to think about the holding close part.
“I’ll have an iced brown sugar espresso.” Luke keeps his curiosity pinned on his brother, but Reed doesn’t fold.
We serve their drinks, but nobody leaves. They move out of line but stay right here, each one with a different question in their eyes. I must be reflecting questions of my own right back.
Is this really happening? How are we going to explain it? Am I living a romcom plot right now?But mostly,Why would Reed go along with my insane lie?
“When did this gorgeous but unlikely match-up happen?” Nathan’s got a massive grin on his face, but that’s pretty normal for him. Maybe it’s not usually cranked up to this degree, but somewhere close.
“Uh, well…” I scramble for a believable timeline.
“Don’t you have a medic table to go back to?” Reed retorts.
His brother jolts upright, lazy smile gone. “Oh, crap. You’re right. We’re talking later.”
“Nope.”
Nathan turns to me. “Lovely to see you again, Rose. We’ll talk later, too.”
“Nope,” Reed says again.
Nathan waves at me and power-walks away.
“We should go, too.” Luke puts a hand on his daughter’s shoulder to steer her back toward the lawn chairs and picnic blankets spread across the park. The sun is starting to set, casting the crowd in hints of gold and pink.
Jovie sputters on her strawberry milk. “Dad, no. I have so many questions to ask them.”
“That’s why we’re leaving.” He gives Reed a meaningful lookbefore sending a softer one my way. “I hope we’ll see you later, Rose.”
They get three steps away before Jovie turns back. “At least bring Rose to family dinner this week!”
Easily a dozen people turn their heads to see who she’s issuing her boisterous invitation to. Luke takes her hand, tugging her along. I just catch her “Ugh, Dad,” before I lose sight of them in the crowd.
This is all a mistake and about to explode in my face, but Ireallywant to go to that family dinner.
Reed and I work through the last of the concert without talking. He’s never much of a talker, but this quiet feels heavier than normal. The weight of everything he’s not saying presses me down into a pancake. But I can either smile at customers and prepare their orders properly, or I can word-vomit all my bad choices that led us to this awkwardness. I can’t do both.
When the bluegrass band finishes their set, and the crowd starts to disperse, Reed and I pack up our booth. Unsurprisingly, we get more curious looks than usual as people walk by on their way out of the park. Sunshine’s gossip crews never rest.
Oh, holy…I didn’t think about the gossip. People in this town love to talk. Everyone will know about Reed and me within forty-eight hours. My stomach rolls over, but I need to hold it together. I’m not crowning this night in the spotlight by throwing up in the street.
By the time we get everything loaded into Reed’s Bronco, my insides are a disgusting, writhing tangle of worry. He closes up the back and then faces off with me. The streetlight above us flickers on in the deepening twilight. A few people pass us on the sidewalk on their way to their cars, but we’re basically alone.
Time to rip off the bandage.
“I—”
“You told your parents I’m your boyfriend.” It’s not a question, but it’s pretty obvious he wants answers. What normal person wouldn’t?
