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It'd been so quiet since the events at the bonfire, I'd half convinced myself that we didn't need to worry. Still, that didn't keep me from putting safeguards in place with vendors, ensuring they knew that only phone communications from me were legit. I wasn't taking any chances that someone would try to cancel our caterer last-minute or do something else that put the auction at risk. I figured I had Brady locked down on the location. The only element left to chance were the donors.
"I didn't realize this was bothering you so much."
"I can't help but take it personally. If I'd never become mayor, do you think someone would have tried this bullshit?"
"You can't take the blame for someone else's bad behavior. It'snotyour fault."
"At the end of the day, I'm the public face of the town rebranding effort. If it fails,Ifail."
"How can I help?" I asked, feeling at a loss.
Gwen clasped my hand in hers. "You just did. I needed to vent a bit. Knowing someone has been working against us, when the odds are already not in our favor, has been keeping me up at night. But you've reminded me that I'm not alone. We'll figure it out." Gwen slid me a mischievous glance. "Speaking offiguring things out, rumor is you and Brady have worked out your differences."
I flicked an imaginary speck from my black Metallica tee, not sure how I wanted to respond to her obvious probe for information. Gwen and I had become close, but she'd been Brady's friend first. Just another reminder of the difficulties of dating in a small town.
"We're getting along," I said, not wanting to admit more than she'd heard. At least not yet.
"Well, Mrs. Wise claimed that if you weregetting alongany better outside Fierce Ink last night, she was gonna need a cold shower. Maybe a cigarette. She came in this morning to pick up some centerpieces for Thanksgiving and couldn't wait to share."
That explained Matty's invitation. Mrs. Wise probably claimed we were eating each other's faces off. However fast I thought the Campfire grapevine moved, it was faster than I anticipated.
"Cigarettes are bad for you," I said officiously, picking at another piece of lint on my shirt.
Gwen snorted. "But sex is amazing."
"Thenyoushould have some," I replied, grinning.
She wrinkled her nose. "With Brady? Ew. Again, like a brother to me. You know you have nothing to worry about there, right?"
I bobbed my head. So she'd said. Part of me still struggled to see how she could spend time with Brady andnotlust after the man. Sure, he was a little buttoned-up, but he'd shown me that underneath his stuffy suits beat the heart of a man who knew how to kiss like he meant it. They'd make quite the Campfire power couple, him presiding over the high school, and her over the town.
"Good. Maybe if he's obviously taken with you, others will believe it," she said sourly.
"I've heard that sex is a great way to solve your problems," I said, fake-helpful.
"Tried that," Gwen muttered, taking another sip of her coffee.
I choked on the swallow I'd taken, watching her, trying to gauge if she was serious.
"Did you just say what I think you did?" I whispered.
She flicked her hand in the air. "I figure it's the fastest way to earn your trust and reassure you. I'm not interested in Brady. And while we've been friends for years, I'm used to keeping secrets from him."
"Secrets like…" I started, wanting to hear her say it. Be sure I'd understood.
"Zander and I slept together," she admitted, tipping her coffee mug back until she'd drained it, like she wished it were something stronger.
"When?" I asked, wondering how she'd slipped that past the town busy bodies.
"It was a while back. His dad was in the hospital, and Zander made the oh-so-mature choice to take his grieving to Slice, getting sauced at Izzy's. She called me to cart him home safely. He talked me into drinking with him when I got him home. We got a little carried away, and as they say,mistakes were made."
I didn't remember a time when Gwen and Zander weren't at each other's throats. My move to Campfire had happened after Mr. Nemitz's heart issues. Ivan and Zander had already taken over Nemitz Construction when I moved into my shop. They'd been one of my first calls when I needed new flooring at Fierce Ink. Zander had impressed me at the time with his professionalism. That image of him had suffered when I learned of his sign feud with Gwen. Every time a new slogan went up, the town chattered. I may have been new, but it didn't take long to get drawn into their drama.
"Is it really a mistake if you wanted to make it?" I asked, watching her carefully.
"Said like a woman who's never been the villain in her own story."
Wrong. So wrong. I spent weeks, nomonths, castigating myself for believing Scott. But I'd slowly come to realize that no matter how he'd smeared me, I'd done nothing worse than be optimistic. He was the one who'd lied.
