Page 32 of As They Are (Strawberry Springs #2)

WREN

Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch

Jackie Anne: Does anyone know if any local stores sell raccoon food?

Comments:

Tammy Jane: Jackie, NO.

Jackie Anne: The poor things must be starving!

Tammy Jane: But if you feed them, they’ll never stop coming.

Henry Connor: Jackie, I’m all for animals, but raccoons can carry rabies.

Jackie Anne: You have the shots for that, right?

Tammy Jane: I repeat: JACKIE NO.

I ran into Jade the second I left the clinic. My mind was occupied with the heavy conversation I’d had with Henry, but her bright hair pulled me right out of my thoughts.

“Oh, hey!” She hid her hands behind her back. “Is everything okay?”

“It’s all good. Is everything okay with you ?”

She laughed. “Never better.”

She went around me and walked into Jade’s Goodies. I turned and watched her. Was she carrying ... nails?

I had a lot of questions, but I didn’t have time to follow and ask. Instead, I walked back to the set, only to find Jude talking to Madison.

“I swear , this town is weird!” Jude threw his hands up. “They just disappeared.”

Madison scrubbed her face. “That’s not possible.”

“Well, it happened!”

“We still need the shot. It’s gonna look good when you’re watching Henry talk to Wren?—”

“Like I texted, that’s not happening,” I told the both of them. “Henry’s done for the day.”

“Where is he? I can?—”

“You’re not doing anything,” I interrupted. “He’s not filming today.”

Madison slowly blinked and then she crossed her arms. “After trying to film one scene?”

“It was ridiculously loud.”

She rolled her eyes. “We need the interview today .”

“I can ask someone else from the town,” I offered.

“No, the audience doesn’t know any of them. You can have Jude do it since his nails apparently disappeared .”

“They did!” he said. “I don’t know how to explain it.”

I couldn’t have cared less about Jude’s nails since I was more focused on the way she continuously wanted me to interview with him, even when we could have done it with someone else.

But I wouldn’t fight it. Not when it would give Henry the time he needed.

“Should we stand as close as she did with Henry?” Jude asked.

Was he kidding ? “No. Henry’s my boyfriend. You’re not.”

“But it was a good shot.”

“Stand close!” Madison called as she walked to the camera.

I stood near him, but not close.

“You’re so tense on camera,” Jude said. “What’s with that?”

“I’m a taken woman now,” I replied. “We’re not gonna have the same dynamic as season one. I don’t know why you keep forgetting that.”

“I’m just doing my job.”

“And that now involves charming the audience. Not me.”

“Get ready!” Madison called. “And Jude, get closer!”

“Seriously?” I snapped.

“Your boyfriend could have been here if he didn’t need the day off.”

I let Jude get one inch closer to me, but I wasn’t thrilled about it.

Madison called out a question, asking us how we’ve noticed the increase in tourism. I answered it honestly. I was happy to see the businesses grow and get more customers. They deserved it.

Jude was quiet, but I doubted he knew anything that was going on. When he wasn’t obligated to be here, he was either in Nashville or flying to one of his other houses all around the country.

But at the end of the interview, just when I thought we were wrapping up, he put an arm around me and said, “We’re just so happy to be able to help this small town.”

I was so shocked that I went still, but I saw red.

“Cut!” Madison called.

“What the hell was that?” I snapped, shoving his arm off of me. “Why are you still ?—”

“It was a moment of bonding,” he replied. “We still need those.”

“We’re broken up.”

“The people still like seeing us be friends.”

“Not with your arm around me! Jesus, how clueless can you be?”

“How dramatic can you be?”

I wanted to smack him upside the head.

“I’m done for the day.” That should have been the last thing we needed anyway, but I wasn’t fit to be on camera anymore. If Henry were in a better place, I would have found him, but instead, I stalked to my car.

Jade was waiting for me.

“Want me to tie him up?” she asked.

I blinked. “Wh-what? Why would you tie up Jude?”

“He’s being weird. To you and Henry. And I’m not liking it.”

“Is that why you were acting weird earlier?” I remembered what she’d been holding. “Wait, were you carrying nails?”

“They were so easy to swipe. He’s not very observant, is he?”

“Not at all, but you are. You saw what happened with Henry, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t hear it all since I was inside my shop, but he was mad. It takes a lot to get him mad, so I figured I’d step in. You did better than me, though. He probably needed the break.”

“He’s doing a lot for me.” I blew out a breath. “The least I can do is make him take care of himself.”

“At your own expense?” Jade raised an eyebrow. “Madison seemed really happy to push you and Jude together.”

“Don’t remind me.”

“He’ll be gone once filming is done. We’re all doing our part in making sure he hates it here.”

“You are?” I asked.

“He cheated on you. Of course we are.” She said it like it was obvious, but I’d seen everyone else who watched the show treat me like a commodity. The center of the drama. Not a person.

God, I loved this town.

“Thanks,” I said. “You guys are nicer than the show’s fans.”

“That’s a low bar, but we’ll take it.” Jade leaned forward. “And if you find anything else for me to do to piss off Jude, let me know. Annoying men is very cathartic for me.”

I let out a laugh and thanked her once again before heading to the farmhouse. While I was worried about her and Mollie before, I saw now that Jade was a good friend. Even to me, and she barely knew me.

Mollie was home and more than likely working on dinner with Cain. I thought I was safe to let out the longest sigh known to man the second I walked inside. Jade had helped, but I was exhausted.

Then my best friend came around the corner. “Uh-oh. Bad day?”

“You could say that. Jude’s still acting weird. He put his arm around me in an interview.”

“What?” Her jaw dropped. “In front of Henry?”

“He wasn’t there for the filming today.”

“I thought he came by every day.”

Guilt hit me. He must have added that to his routine when we’d started. And then it all became too much. “Things were different, but it’s fine. He’s fine.”

“Is something going on between you two?” I opened my mouth to answer, but she cut me off. “And don’t even try to lie. You asked me for foundation to cover up one hell of a hickey this morning.”

Heat rose to my cheeks. “Yeah. Something happened.”

She was still, but then she pumped her fist so hard I thought she might fall over. “ Yes! I knew there was a connection there.”

“It’s not ... It was a one-time thing.”

She groaned. “Why would you ruin my happiness like that?”

“You said you didn’t want me to lie.”

“Was it at least good?”

“It was the ... best .” The heat only intensified as I thought about it. God, I would do that over and over again. “But he doesn’t want things to get complicated. We’re fake dating, remember?”

“You could make it real.”

“Not if that’s not what he wants.”

She let out a sigh. “Why would he not?”

There were loads of reasons. He might have been into me but didn’t think I was relationship material. Or he didn’t want to deal with all the long-term implications of being with me. I wouldn’t blame him for any of that.

But I knew Mollie would disagree with every single one of them, so I shook my head.

“What’s for dinner?” I asked, desperate to change the subject. “Do you need any help?”

“Pancakes,” she said slowly. I was sure she was going to call me out, but she let it slide. Thank God . “Cain’s making them.”

“Didn’t you have that for breakfast?”

“It’s the only thing I can keep down,” she said with a sigh. “I wish I was one of those women who didn’t get morning sickness, but on the bright side, we got the genetic testing done, which means in a few weeks, we’ll know the gender.”

“You’re there already?”

“It’s early, but I’m ready to know.” She put a hand on her slightly rounded belly, and my stomach sank as it always did when I was reminded what a perfect mom she was going to be.

“Are you doing one of those gender reveals?”

“That’s what I was gonna talk to you about. We definitely are. Jackie has been begging to plan it.”

“Does this mean she’s the one who gets to know?”

“Not really. I was gonna ask you, if you’re not too busy.”

I blinked in shock. “Me? Seriously?”

“You’re my best friend. Of course you’ll be the first to know. You get to pick out the cake and everything.”

Feelings were fighting a war in my gut. On one hand, I was so honored. I wanted to do this.

And yet I was so fucking sad at the same time.

“Of course I will,” I said slowly.

“Are you sure? If this isn’t your thing, I won’t force you.”

“No, I’m excited. I promise. It’s just been a long day.”

“I know,” she said, pulling me into a tight hug. “You’re so busy, which is why it’s totally okay if you can’t.”

“No, I want to. It’s gonna be so fun.” And it would be. Once I figured out why I was so sad about it. Was it that I felt like I was losing her?

Or was it connected to Mom, like most of my sadness was?

“Go get some rest before dinner,” she said. “You sound exhausted.”

I nodded, grateful for the escape. I went to my room and flopped on the bed, trying to work out everything I felt.

And how my mom managed to still haunt me after all of these years.

I didn’t expect to see Henry for a while. The plan was to give him as much space as he needed and worry about the show later.

So when I saw him walking down the sidewalk as usual, my heart jumped into my throat and I abandoned the contractor who’d been asking me a question.

“What are you doing here?” I asked as I ran up to him.

“Hold on!” one of the PAs called. “He doesn’t have a mic yet!”

“This is a private conversation,” I told her. “I’ll let you know when he’s ready.”

She huffed and turned around.

“Wren,” he began. “I’m fine.”