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Carlie froze and looked up from her vegetables. “I wasn’t going to tell him. I was going to sacrifice and marry him because I thought I owed him. Andyou’rethe one who made me think I needed to make up for the past, so don’t go getting on your high horse.”
“Then you aren’t upset that Jarrett and I have to stay married for at least a year?”
“Actually, I’m relieved.” Carlie sliced a bell pepper, pushing the seeds to the side. “But I thought it would hurt his feelings if he knew.”
“It would,” Rylie said. “I’m afraid he already figured it out from the way you were flirting with Matthew.”
“I wasn’t flirting.” Her cheeks pinked at the lie, and Rylie wondered if she blushed when she was acting. After all, wasn’t acting just telling an elaborate fabrication? “Do you want some salad?” Carlie tipped her chin toward the pile of sliced veggies. “I’ve got plenty.”
“No, thanks,” Rylie said. “I’ve got some fried mac and cheese balls about to come out of the oven. Gotta love Trader Joe’s.”
“You could also buy healthy food at Trader Joe’s,” Carlie said, looking down her nose.
“Yeah, but why bother.” Rylie’s stomach growled as she stared through the oven glass, the delicious smell making her impatient. Her stress was off the charts. If she couldn’t go for a run, what could be better than deep-fried starch?
* * *
To his credit,though Finn’s eye’s watered with his laughter, he stopped short of actually rolling on the floor, probably because Jarrett warned him in advance of Rylie’s threat.
“I don’t see anything funny about it.” Rylie’s huge blue eyes glinted steel at Finn, and she didn’t crack a smile.
“I’m sorry you ended up stuck with him, Rylie. You must be a saint to do it,” Finn said, his eyes crinkled above the mask. “It’s just that of the four of us, Jarrett is the absolute last person this should’ve happened to. Random errors don’t happen with Jarrett. He’s never even bought a box of cereal without planning it on a spreadsheet.”
“You shouldn’t be laughing at him.” She shook her finger in Finn’s face. “If you’re his friend, you should realize how unfair this is. Jarrett’s been completely unselfish this whole time. He’s sacrificed himself to make sure Gabe gets the best possible treatment. And he’s willing to do anything to give Gabe the home he deserves—even giving up his big chance with Carlie.”
Jarrett probably should’ve stood up for Finn, who was merely teasing, as he often did. But Rylie’s bragging stroked his ego, which was a bit tattered from her sister’s response to the news. Carlie’s only objection appeared to have been losing out on a great publicity opportunity. He wondered when Rylie had developed such loyalty toward him and only wished he deserved the impassioned speech.
Finn’s head tilted to the side, his English lilt more pronounced than usual. “I had no idea Jarrett was so perfect. Here I thought he was flesh and blood like the rest of us.”
“If you want my opinion,” Juanita said, from her seat beside Gabe’s bed, “Jarrett’s brought this on himself. If he’d taken my advice he’d already be married to my niece, and none of this would’ve happened.”
“Jarrett’s not great at taking advice,” said Finn, with an exaggerated wink at Rylie. “It’s one of several noticeable faults, in my opinion.”
“Really?” Rylie perked up, rummaging in her purse until she found her cell phone. “What other faults does he have?”
Jarrett lost track of their conversation, suddenly mesmerized by Rylie’s eyes. Had they always been so blue?
“Let’s see… Jarrett’s faults…” Finn locked his fingers together and stretched them backwards, cracking his knuckles. “He’s used the same aftershave the last twenty years.”
Jarrett shook his head to clear it. “Hey! That’s not true!”
“Fifteen years, then,” Finn said.
“Got it,” Rylie typed on her phone. “What else?”
“He’s very stubborn,” said Juanita. “And he doesn’t like parties.”
“Stubborn… got it. Hmmm… I don’t like parties, either. Is that a fault?”
“Excuse me,” Jarrett said. “Don’t you have something better to do than discuss my faults?”
Humor played at Finn’s lips, though he responded in deadpan voice. “Nope.”
“We could talk about the wedding plans,” Juanita said.
“Wedding plans?” Rylie’s deer-in-the-headlights look was exactly how he felt. “We’re already married. We don’t need another wedding.”
“That wasn’t a proper wedding,” Juanita said. “You need a real one. With a priest.”
