Page 18 of Fake-Off with Fate (Love in Maple Falls #1)
JAMIE
“What’s going on?” Ashlyn asks me while skipping to keep up with my determined stride.
I take two more steps before stopping. Then I look around to see if Emily is following us. When I don’t see her, I gently take Ashlyn’s elbow and lead her to a nearby bench. Once we’re seated, I confess, “I made a huge mistake.”
When I don’t start explaining myself right away, she prompts, “Go on.”
Sighing dramatically, I tell her, “I’ve been avoiding the press ever since Allegra left me. All they want to do is dig up dirt and make me look like a jilted fool. I want no part of that.”
“I suppose they’re just doing their job,” she says like that somehow makes it okay to drag me over the coals.
“Right.” Running my hands through my hair, I tell her, “Dale set up the meeting with Emily, and as expected, she did her best to make me look pathetic.”
“So, you told her you were dating me?” She doesn’t sound pleased.
“I told her I had a new girlfriend. I might have mentioned her name was Ashlyn, but only because your name was the first one to pop into my head. ”
“Are you asking me out?” Her tone can only be construed as horrified. How unflattering.
“Not at all,” I assure her. “But I don’t suppose you’d be willing to go along with the charade until you go back to Los Angeles?” I feel like a hopeful puppy waiting for a bone. Or at the very least, a pat on the head.
Ashlyn is quiet for so long I’m sure she’s going to say no. But then she asks, “What would being your fake girlfriend entail?”
I hurry to tell her, “You would have to be seen with me occasionally. I would pay for everything, of course. And whatever you want on top of that.”
Her eyes glitter with excitement. “Are we talking shopping sprees here?”
“I suppose.” Up until this point, Ashlyn has not struck me as that kind of woman, but I don’t really know her well. If she wants to shop, I can get behind that.
“Just kidding,” she laughs. “What I really want is for you to agree to be part of the bachelor auction.”
She sounds so hopeful, I’m tempted to tell her the truth, that I’ve already been ordered to step up on the auction block. Yet, I don’t feel it’s in my best interest to share this piece of information. “I would absolutely participate in the auction.”
Her smile is radiant, and I feel an unwelcome stirring in my chest. I remind myself that I’m not really going to be dating Ashlyn.
If being with Allegra taught me anything, it’s that there are enough complications in relationships that you shouldn’t go out of your way to look for more.
And Ashlyn living in LA is a giant complication.
“If you do the auction,” Ashlyn crosses her legs before facing me head on, “I’ll be your fake girlfriend.”
I’m so relieved I want to jump up and shout at the rooftops.
But then an image from that old Oprah episode pops into my head.
You know, the one where Tom Cruise did the same thing while confessing his love for Katie Holmes?
On top of everything else going on, I cannot be portrayed as that much of a fool, so I sit still.
“Thank you, Ashlyn. You don’t know what this means to me.”
“You’re doing me a huge favor as well,” she tells me. “Any chance I can get you to come to the emergency town meeting tomorrow? It might lessen some nerves knowing that we have the Ice Breakers on our side. Especially being that … well …”
“What?” I ask nervously.
Her body slumps noticeably against the back of the bench. “I just went to the library and looked up the original map of Maple Falls. The entire arena is on Victor MacDonald’s property.”
“What does that mean for the Ice Breakers?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know what any of this means. A big part of downtown was his, as well. There are now a bunch of businesses that could be in real trouble.”
“I’ll see if Dale and Troy Hart can come too.” It looks like the future of the Ice Breakers could be in real jeopardy, and that’s honestly the last thing I need.
“Thank you,” Ashlyn says.
“What does your dad say about all this?” I ask her. It suddenly occurs to me that I seem super involved for someone who doesn’t even live here.
“My dad?”
“Yes.” I smile. “You might know him as the mayor?”
Ashlyn looks from left to right. Then she stares right at me. “I’ve agreed to be your fake girlfriend, right?”
“Right …”
“So, if I tell you something, you have to keep it to yourself.”
I have no idea what she’s going to say, but a burst of anxiety hits me square in the chest. “Of course.”
She moves closer before whispering, “My dad is out of town with my mom.”
“And?” I’m not sure why that’s such a big secret. People do go away .
She leans even closer. “My parents’ marriage is on the rocks and the only way I could get my dad to agree to try to fix it was to promise I wouldn’t tell anyone he’s gone. If he found out what was happening, he’d come right home. Then my parents’ marriage would end.”
“He’d pick the town over your mom?”
“He thinks he’s the supreme ruler of Maple Falls,” she says. “I had to take his phone so he would concentrate on my mother and not spend the entire time calling people here.”
“And no one can know he’s not in Maple Falls?” My brain races at the thought of the kind of deception Ashlyn is perpetrating.
“I thought that was kind of silly at first too, but now that the town is in real trouble, it wouldn’t look good if people knew the mayor wasn’t coming to the rescue. Better they think he’s hard at work trying to solve the situation.”
“So, you’re doing your dad’s job and when anyone asks for him you’re pretending he’s off playing superhero somewhere else? What will they think when he’s not at the meeting tomorrow night?”
She shrugs. “I haven’t had time to think about that yet, but I’ll come up with something.”
“Wow, okay. Can I tell Dale and Troy?”
She shakes her head. “Don’t tell anyone. Marcy Fontaine is the only other person who knows.”
“Who’s she?” I ask.
“She’s Maple Falls’ accountant.”
This is starting to feel like some kind of crazy slapstick comedy.
The mayor’s daughter, an accountant, and a hockey player come together to save a small town in Washington from the evil antagonist who is trying to ruin them.
Talk about unrealistic. “How about if we find a place here to have lunch?” I suggest. “Or if you prefer, we could go into town.”
She stands up excitedly. “Let’s stay here.
Not only is the farmers’ market a big part of our town’s culture, but they have a pretzel booth that makes the most amazing sandwiches you’ll ever eat.
Oh, and my mom has been telling me about a girl named Neesha who sells, and I quote, ‘the best cupcakes in the world.’ I could sure go for one of those. ”
“That sounds great,” I tell her as my stomach rumbles in anticipation.
Ashlyn leads the way, and we walk through the various stands selling their early fall goods. There are lots of pumpkins, winter squash, and root vegetables galore. As we pass a booth with floral bouquets, I stop and buy the biggest one they have. The blooms are vibrant orange, red, and yellow.
After paying for the arrangement, I hand it to Ashlyn. “Thank you for agreeing to help me.”
She glances behind me as she takes the bouquet. Then she steps closer to me and whispers, “Emily is watching us, and she has her phone pointed in our direction.”
“Looks like she’ll get a nice picture of me giving my girlfriend flowers, then.” I’m having such a good time, I don’t even mind.
Ashlyn smiles coyly. “Yes, she will. But if you want me to act like your real girlfriend, I should probably do this …” Standing on her tiptoes, she gives me the briefest and sweetest kiss, right on the mouth.
She did not have to do that, and I’m touched she’s taking her role so seriously. I try to find the words to express my gratitude, but I’m struck mute. Reaching out, I take Ashlyn’s free hand and walk toward the sign for pretzel sandwiches.
Ashlyn Thompkins is an unexpected person in my life, and if I’m not careful, I could lose my heart to her.