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“I don’t see any ring on your finger mister only one year younger than me.” He picks at a scab I’ve carried since the calendar flipped on my thirtieth birthday.
I was content to focus on school, my advanced degrees, and learning the business in my twenties. But by now I thought I would have met the right girl. The one that would take my breath away and be the yin to my yang. The two of us building an empire together. Every day since that birthday, that dream seems to be more and more a pipe dream. Yet I still hold out hope.
“Give Dad the update for me,” I say, knowing Xavier has a daily meeting with Dad for the three properties they jointly manage. “Talk to you next week.”
“Yes. You know how to reach us if you need anything, and bro….” Xavier pauses, I recognize his tone and give him my undivided attention. “We’re all proud of what you’re doing. Be amazing, be a Farro.”
I snicker at his corny rendition of the motto Dad would tell us every morning when he dropped us off for elementary school.
The laugh bubbles out of my chest, both of us aware of what comes next. “That ain’t rice.” Our seven-year-old wise guy retort to Dad every morning. The one that put a sparkle in his eye and a smile on his face. The perfect way to start every morning.
I disconnect and my mind immediately returns to thoughts of Catherine. What would Dad think of me being involved in a very public fake relationship? He would not be happy. It’s not a smart move. Especially since this wedding will be, in many ways, my introduction to a lot of the townspeople that I’m hoping become future customers.
What we’re planning is not the smart move. Far from it. And Catherine is right. On our walk from her sister’s flower shop she explained how poorly we’ve thought things through. The impulsive kiss clouding two brains that have a track record of thinking strategically. As much as she would love to have the fake relationship to flick in Palmer’s face to keep him in line, it would lead to complications. Like her sister and family keeping tabs on me after she leaves town. Or her adorable sister looking to hang out with me in search of updates on a relationship that doesn’t exist. The lies would continue to pile up every day until eventually they would crumble from their own weight.
Catherine’s right. We do need to break up. It’s the smart move. It’s the right thing. So why does it feel so wrong?
