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I hate being angry at them, especially when I know they mean well. But at the same time, they’re so damnstubborn. They don’t seem to even care that their pushing is part of why I put up with hell in my last relationship.
I start up my car. Mom and Dad are standing in the doorway on the porch, their expressions concerned. I shake them off and pull out of the driveway before my guilt gets the best of me.
I don’t want to marry some random man just to make them happy. I know that’ll just lead to another miserable, failed commitment. But I also don’t want my parents to keep worrying about me so much. And Idefinitelydon’t want to have to stop visiting them altogether. Annoying as they might be, they’re still my family, and I don’t love them any less.
It seems like the only way out of this is to give them what they want. To find a man I want to marry. But that’s easier said than done.
Maybe I don’t have to get married for real, a voice inside me whispers. Maybe I can just convince my parents that I’ve found someone. Someone I don’t mind being tied to, just for now, to satisfy them.
The idea rises up again. Raven had nearly convinced me it was ridiculous. And she was completely right. Who on Earth would do such a stupid thing?
But now, I’m starting to wonder if it really is so silly. If me and Carter did get married, his mother could die happy, and I could get my parents off my back – at least for a while. They would see that I have given marriage a shot, and maybe they’d finally understand that I’m a grown woman who can make my own decisions.
And if I had to be in a fake marriage with anyone, well… Carter isn’t the worst person to be stuck with. He’s incredibly kind, but not a huge pushover, either. He’s Heidi’s brother, and she’s a good friend of mine, so I feel like I can trust him. He makes me laugh. Plus, I know he’s loaded, so it’s not like he’s trying to mooch off my bartender’s salary.
Not to mention, he isn’t a bad-looking guy. He’s tall, has tanned olive skin, and super pretty green eyes. I wouldn’t feel embarrassed telling anyone I’m his wife.
But the more I think about it, the more I realize the idea is stupid. Just because Carter is pretty doesn’t mean I need to straight upmarryhim. It’d be too impulsive, anyway. I’m just feeling desperate to please my parents, that’s all.
Besides, Carter wouldn’t ever agree to a fake marriage. We were just kidding the other day. Weren’t we?
9
CARTER
Iclose the door to my car and look around, trying not to look so eager to walk into the resort to talk to Jada. I’ll just go talk to Heidi at On the Rocks, get a few drinks, and then casually find a way to chat with Jada about everything. I don’t know if she’ll be here, but it’s definitely gonna be creepy if I just come out and say, “Let’s get married!”
As I get closer to the bar on the beach, I realize Jada’s not there. Maybe she’s off work today? Or maybe she had another difficult time dealing with another crappy date? I don’t know.
I’ll ask Heidi when I get the chance.
I take a seat, my sister smiling, throwing down a coaster and putting a bottle of water in front of me. “What’s a nice kid like you doing in a joint like this?” she teases, winking.
“Why are you winking at me?” I cock my head.
“Because I highly doubt you came to the resort just to sit with your beautiful, amazing, talented sister and have a drink?”
“Is there someone else you think I might have come here to visit?” I cross my arms, seeing how far I can take this. I hope she doesn’t think this is shallow or judge me. I can tell she knows what I’m looking for in being here.
She rolls her eyes, so I decide to change the subject. “I saw Mom.”
Heidi turns halfway from facing the back of the bar to look back at me. “How was that?” she asks.
I shake my head. “Difficult. She keeps saying how much she wants me to get married, and it’s hard to act like that’s all I want, too. Not to mention the fact she’s turning into a ghost.”
“Yeah.” Heidi’s head hangs at my words. “I wish there was something to do for her, but we can only do so much. You can’t just make someone to marry appear out of nowhere.”
The perfect way to ask about where Jada is. “Speaking of someone to marry and your sense of humor, where’s Jada at?”
Heidi smiles, and she goes to the computer to punch something in. “You’re so predictable, you know that? I knew you were looking for her.”
I put my hands up in a surrender. “Me? No.” I put them down. “You just reminded me of her and our ‘not-date’ so I thought I’d ask if she’s here and how she’s doing.”
Heidi waves her hand around. “Carter, it’s fine. I’m teasing you.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re so much.”
“Maybe,” Heidi shrugs. “She’s here, just at a different bar. She’s at Pisco on the third floor. It’s the speakeasy bar?”
