Page 202 of The Friend Situation

“It’s okay,” I say, interlocking our fingers, hoping to ground him. “We have nothing to hide.”

He smiles. “No, we don’t.”

32

WESTON

“Can you drop us off at JJ’s?” Carlee asks as we turn onto the Christmas tree farm.

“Sure, honey,” Mawmaw tells her, steering in the opposite direction from her house.

“Does this road make a big loop around the property?” I ask, glancing out the window.

“That’s right. You can’t get lost as long as you’re on the gravel road. Just follow it, and it’ll always lead you home. Eventually, you’ll have the land memorized like the rest of us,” she replies as we curve deeper into the woods.

Trees surround us on both sides until the sky opens up and reveals a grassy clearing. Mawmaw rolls to a stop in front of a log cabin with a wraparound porch. It’s rustic and charming. In front is an oversized fire pit that crackles with fresh wood. Everyone I adore is gathered around it, chatting and sipping drinks. Seeing my friends mingling with Carlee’s family feels surreal. I glance at her, noticing she wears a similar expression of disbelief.

I smile to myself. More proof that our worlds are colliding.

“Seeing everyone here tells me small-town rumors travel fast,” Mawmaw teases.

“What’s the rumor?” I ask, intrigued.

“That you two came to Merryville to get hitched. I knew it wasn’t just gossip when I saw you two on the porch together.”

“What? That isnotwhy we’re here,” Carlee insists, her cheeks flushed.

Mawmaw looks at her, puzzled. “But you’re getting married tomorrow.”

“Yes, but it wasn’t planned,” Carlee explains, turning to me with a questioning glance. “Or was it?”

“I havenothingto do with this other than sliding that ring on your finger,” I say, glancing at the bracelet tied around our wrists. “Lucky guess from my family.”

Carlee unlocks her phone and types in the website where the blind items are posted. Right at the top, the latest one was uploaded three hours ago.

Blind Item #83

Mr. Playboy Billionaire and his secret girlfriend have escaped to her hometown to get married now that his divorce from that demon was finalized earlier today. He was spotted leaving New York in one of his private jets directly after being seen at the courthouse. His plane was tracked at the airport close to her hometown. He’s not wasting any time to be with this woman. Wedding bells will ring before the weekend ends.

She gasps. “Who posted this?”

“I have no idea,” I say, placing my hand on her thigh and feeling the warmth radiate from her skin. “Don’t worry about it, gorgeous.”

Mawmaw chuckles. “What’s it say?”

Carlee reads it out loud.

“And? Someone must know how serious you two are.” Mawmaw shrugs.

Carlee types my name into her internet browser, and pictures from the night I proposed flood the screen.

Weston Calloway finds love at last.

Weston Calloway’s friends say he’s a new man.

Weston Calloway and his secret girlfriend, Carlee Jolly.

Carlee Jolly … her exes wish they had more chances.