Page 118 of The Fake Out

“He will be. Later. He’s got something going on he couldn’t tell me about.”

She shoulder-bumped me. “Maybe he’s going to surprise you with something amazing. Oh, I know. A surprise wedding. He’s gathering up everything you’ll need. You’ll get married in a little ceremony under the stars. No big muss or fuss. Just a quiet little wedding.”

I stared at her. “That is very… specific.”

“Eh. I’ve been watching that show again. The one where they spend a bazillion dollars on one stupid wedding? Gives me the hives just thinking about it.” She waved a hand. “Just put a ring on it and be done.”

I laughed. “Sorry to burst your bubble. I’m positive Chris isn’t planning a secret wedding.”

“You never know. He could surprise you.”

She had no idea how true that was. Chris Sterns was the biggest surprise of my life. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was supposed to do about that though.

The rest of the afternoon was a blur. I sent Iris and Aidan over to the Sit-n-Eat to help Ollie decorate for the dance. Or rather, do all the decorating.

“You can have the dance here,” Ollie had said. “But I ain’t making it pretty or nothing.”

At the library, we arranged all the auction items we’d spent weeks procuring. Aidan’s idea had been a good one and we’d gotten several donations from wedding vendors. I had to imply I’d be using their services for my future wedding; I only felt a pinch of guilt. Once the engagement was called off, there wouldn’t be a wedding to service anyway.

The doors opened at 6 p.m. and we all stood around with bated breath.

And waited.

And waited.

By 6:30 p.m., only three people had shown up, Mama and Sue, and Cody Spear, who had a reputation for being a tightwad. Which we found to be true when he’d tried to bid on a two-night bed-and-breakfast package well under the minimum bid, and argued with Mrs. Katz for fifteen minutes about the unconstitutionality of minimum bids.

“Where is everyone?” Ali asked, frowning.

“I don’t know. We’d heard Peter was threatening people not to come but I didn’t think they’d listen to him.” I sat down, feeling sorrier for myself than I had in a long time. “I don’t know what I’m going to do if this doesn’t work. We don’t have much more time until the council vote.”

“Hey.” She patted my shoulder. “It’s going to work out. Have you heard from Chris?”

I shook my head. “Not since this morning.”

The last week we’d barely had time to text, let alone see each other. Piper kept him busy doing as many things as he could to take the attention off the latest drama. He’d had to fly to Nashville midweek to talk with the board of the Children’s Heart Fund. They were still waffling on whether they’d like to continue their relationship with him, given the recent events.

More than that, I think both of us were ignoring the real question: if two people make out in a barn, does it really count?

How had my life gotten so complicated?

“He’ll be here,” Ali said with confidence. “Chris has always come through for you before.”

“Hmm?”

“Well, it’s true, isn’t it? Has he ever let you down yet?”

Had he? We hadn’t known each other that long but I couldn’t think of a time he hadn’t done exactly what he said he was going to do. And some things I hadn’t expected at all.

“I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone try to take care of you as much as he has and you do not make it easy,” Ali said.

My face must have shown my surprise. “What?”

Ali shrugged. “Don’t give me that look. Do you know how hard it is to be your friend sometimes? You never call me for help. It’s always the other way around. You take care of your mom and your sister, the library, and probably a whole passel of woodland creatures I don’t know about because you’re just that good. Who gets to take care of you?”

I stared at her, a little in disbelief. “That’s not true.”

“Totally true. I love you and hate you for it. You have your life together. I can’t even keep a cactus alive.”