Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 132097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Flowers.
For a fake wedding.
Before, planning a Potemkin wedding sounded like fun, but now I’m just stressing over everything.
What if we screw up and people see right through it?
And if I’m not good enough for him to trust me?
“Sure, let’s keep moving.” I try to keep my voice casual.
Margot throws me another suspicious look, like she knows I’m hiding something, but she goes back to scanning pretty flowers.
I want to ask her about Ethan’s past so badly without sounding like I’m weird or prying. Trouble is, with Margot, there’s no subtlety.
She drags any hint of it out by its feet, kicking and screaming.
Still, I have to try.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” I say. “Remember when we were kids? Imagine me being fake-engaged to Ethan.”
“And going at it like rabbits!” Margot reminds me with a feral grin.
“Yes. And that.” I try to be brave but my cheeks flush anyway.
“I didn’t see it coming,” she says, pursing her lips. “I mean, I obviously always figured you’d get married, but not to my brother.”
Ah, the opening I hoped for.
“Surprise. Pretty crazy considering what it was like when we were kids,” I say, hoping my voice seems calm. “And he was always dating around.”
“Yeah.” Margot laughs.
“I wonder…” I hesitate. “Did he ever say much about his summer dates? Just curious.”
Real smooth, Hattie. Why are you really probing?
“Not really.” Margot leads us down another aisle, bursting with more colorful premade arrangements. “He kept things pretty low-key. I don’t think he wanted me knowing who he was boning, you know? I’m his sister. It’s weird.”
That’s not what I was looking for, but I nod, touching the bouquets absently to pretend I’m interested.
“That makes sense.”
“The flings never went anywhere.” She shrugs. “I think he always ghosted the girls or self-sabotaged. It was easy with his looks and his name to leave girls flapping in the breeze. I guess he never wanted to commit or let things get too serious. He’d cut off pretty ruthlessly. Same crap he still pulls as an adult, I’m sure.”
“You think?” I hate the way I gasp.
She stops and looks at me.
“I mean, whenever I asked him about it, there was always something ‘wrong’ with the girls, you know? Like, the kind of BS that’s only an excuse.” Margot rolls her eyes. “Too boring, too plain, too skinny, too tanned. I think he complained about a gap in some lady’s teeth once.”
All superficial stuff.
That shouldn’t surprise me, knowing what Ethan was like back then, but for some reason it slams me in the gut.
Surely, he’s grown up, right?
I catch a glimpse of myself in the window.
It’s just a smudge of reflection really, distorted by dusty glass and light, but it makes my thighs look enormous.
Hello, insecurity.
I stiffen, fighting to chase the intrusive thought away.
None of this should matter.
Ethan told me repeatedly he likes me just the way I am.
Why can’t that be enough?
“You don’t need to worry, though, as long as you don’t start taking anything too seriously. Don’t let it go to your head and get attached. Best way to not get burned.” Margot smiles at me.
“I’m sure he’s changed,” I rush out.
Ouch. Too defensive.
She looks at me with a frown wilting in her blue eyes.
“You’re sure, huh? Why would that be?”
Shit, shit, shit.
I look away, pretending to smell a flower—I don’t even know what it is—way too intently.
My face is burning so hot it makes me sneeze.
“Nothing! No reason. I just… I don’t think he’ll continue the same pattern he had when he was eighteen, y’know? That was a long time ago.”
“You’re giving him a lot of credit.” Margot leans in, filling my field of vision. “What is it really, Hattie? Oh no. Is this because you guys are sleeping together? Pleaaase don’t let him get in your head!”
“Absolutely not,” I lie.
She hesitates.
“You seem kinda worked up about him today. Is there another reason?” Margot chews her lip. “Look, I know I said all that, but you’re a special case, you know? Hardly just another fling. He’s not out for a quickie or to break your heart.”
“Nice save.” I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
“I mean it! Fake engaged or not, he never would’ve hooked up with you if he thought you had some terrible flaw he couldn’t deal with.”
“Wow, thanks. You’re making me feel so much better.”
“Well, my brother is a ginormous asshole player. I don’t want you getting hurt, and that means no getting your hopes up,” she says gently. “But he’s not that much of an idiot to leave my bestie in shambles. I hope.”
“Okay, never mind. Can we drop it?”
“Not a chance. I’d love to know what has you fixated on Ethan’s dating life.” She gives me a long look until I wince. I know she can see right through me because her lips curl into a smile. “You’re sitting on something juicy. What’s the big secret?”