Page 22 of Somehow You Knew

Relenting to her intent to stand up for herself, I nod. “You’re right. I’m sorry. You don’t deserve that. I guess I just don’t know what to think about all of this still.”

She chuckles nervously. “Yeah, you and me both.”

“Look, I think the next few days will be critical for us both to get our heads on straight, then once we talk to Timothy, we can get this going. Because the sooner we do, the sooner we get our payday and can move on with our lives.”

She rolls her eyes again before taking a step back. “Just text me if you think of anything between now and then.”

“Okay.”

Sheheads toward the door, and for a second, watching her leave does something to me. An ache builds in my chest and my heart starts to race, but then I remember that my heart tends to do that for other reasons—reasons Hazel can never find out about.

Six months.

That’s all I have to get through, and then I can open up my own tattoo shop down in Florida, have financial freedom I could have only dreamed of thanks to my aunt, and get back to my life of solitude the way I like it—the way it has to be.

Because even though Hazel does something to me—makes my body react and my heart feel things I’ve pushed away for years—she can’t ever be a permanent part of my life.

I gave up on that idea a long time ago, and even a girl like her can’t change that.

Chapter five

Hazel

“I’m sorry. You’re gettingmarried?” My mother blinks at me from her place at the stove, where she’s making dinner.

“Yes.”

She exhales sharply, shaking her head, then returns to stirring the pasta. “Care to explain how this came to be? The last I heard, you were swearing off all men forever.” She flashes me a teasing grin.

“I still am.”

“Then how—”

“It’s Diane’s nephew,” I reply before she can get any further, and then launch into the meeting with Timothy MacDonald and what has transpired since.

“Well, I can’t deny that’s a lot of money, but are you sure about this, Hazel?” My mother’s eyes are laced with concern. “We’re talking about marriage here. At the end of the six months, the only way out is through a divorce.”

I stare down at the counter, hating that she’s right. I know this decision comes with consequences—I’ve accepted that. But it’s still a hard pill to swallow. “I’m aware, Mom. I just need you to trust me on this, okay?”

It’s the first Sunday of the month, which means family dinner Sunday with Mom, our once-a-month tradition. My brothers and their significant others haven’t arrived yet, which is why I’m having this conversation now. I wanted to break the news to her before facing the inevitable inquisition from my brothers.

She sighs. “Of course I trust you, Hazel. But it’s my job as your mother to question you. Ultimately, you’re a grown woman and you’re going to do what you’re going to do, regardless of how I feel about it.”

“I’m scared, Mom,” I admit. “But I also know that if I pass up this opportunity out of fear, I’ll regret it. Diane wanted us to have this money, obviously, but she was also hell-bent on setting us up. She has been for years. Gage and I agreed to keep this strictly a business arrangement. We both will benefit from it, change the trajectory of our lives, and then move on to our own paths. Simple as that.” I brush my hands together, hoping that the next six months do in fact go that smoothly.

But after our meeting a few days ago, I’m doubtful that will be the case.

Sitting across from the man who’s about to be my husband and truly engaging with him for the first time was quite the experience. My body betrayed me—forgetting that we’re not allowed to give in to our attraction to him—while my mind kept buzzing with so many questions that half the time, all I could do was stare at him blankly.

Gage is jaded about love—that was clear from a few of his declarations on the matter. But he’s also full of contradictions. He loved his aunt, but wasn’t there at the end? He claimed he doesn’t do feelings, yet seemed to care about mine—especially after I called him out on his behavior. I don’t know how he usually communicates with women, but the last thing I’m going to put up with is his surly attitude. If we have to live together and endure this timeline, I want it to be as painless as possible.

And denying that you find him incredibly attractive is painful enough, isn’t it, Hazel?

“So, are you planning on telling your brothers tonight?” my mother asks, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Yes. No sense in delaying the inevitable. But I wanted you to hear it from me first, and the truth about why.”

My mother rounds the counter and places her hands on my shoulders. “I’m not sure what to think about this.” She folds her lips in as tears well in her eyes. “I always imagined your wedding day and what that would be like. And this certainly isn’t it.”