Page 73 of Make-Believe Match

lexi

The following morning,Devlin took me to breakfast at a place called Moe’s Diner.

The moment I walked through the door, I felt like I’d stepped back in time or onto a movie set. Everything about it screamed 1950s kitsch, from the black-and-white floor tiles to the red vinyl and chrome counter stools to the jukebox in the corner.

As the hostess led us to a booth along the back wall, Devlin was stopped by at least three people who’d already heard about our marriage—a teenaged waitress (Ari’s cousin), an older couple sitting at a table near the door (Devlin’s high school cross country coach and his wife, who’d been at the pub last night), and two old guys who’d been seated at the counter but came over to shake Devlin’s hand as soon as they saw him.

Devlin introduced them as Larry and Gus, old fishing buddies of his father’s. Then he rested a hand on the nape of my neck. “And this is my wife, Lexi.”

A thrill shot through me like a pinball.

“A pleasure,” said Gus, who wore a navy ball cap and suspenders. He pumped my hand with enthusiasm.

Larry, whose ball cap and suspenders were red, was a bit more gruff but muttered his congratulations. “We heard the news down at the docks this morning,” he told us. “Your dad was bursting with it.”

“We know all about the party tonight too,” said Gus. “We wouldn’t miss it.”

“Wow,” I said once we were seated. “News travels fast in Cherry Tree Harbor.”

“Small towns,” Devlin said with a shrug, handing me a menu before studying his own.

I started to scan the options but found my eyes drifting up to secretly peer at Devlin instead. He looked so handsome this morning, freshly showered, hair combed, glasses on. My heart fluttered when I saw the ring on his finger and remembered how he’d put his hand on my neck and introduced me as his wife.

Ari’s cousin, whose name tag said Gemma, came by to pour coffee, chattering a mile a minute. “Is it true you got married by Elvis?”

“It’s true,” Devlin said.

“Wearing a Two Buckleys Home Improvement sweatshirt?”

“Also true,” I confirmed. “We just couldn’t wait.”

Gemma sighed. “It’s so romantic. I wish I could meet someone who’d fall in love with me so fast he had to whisk me off to Vegas and put a ring on it. It’s hard enough to get a guy to ask you to Homecoming, you know?”

I laughed. “You’ve got time. Don’t rush things.”

“Maybe finish high school first,” suggested Devlin.

“Good idea.” She laughed. “So what can I bring you to eat?”

* * *

As Devlin was paying the bill, I noticed all the signed celebrity headshots on the wall—actors, singers, comedians, politicians. “Wow. All those people have been here?”

“Yep.” Devlin scribbled his name on the check and stuck his credit card back into his wallet. “My brother Dash is up there somewhere.”

“That’s right! I keep forgetting I have a famous brother-in-law.” I scanned the rows until I found him, then squinted. “Wait a minute. Is that him?”

Devlin looked up and started to laugh. Someone had drawn pointy horns, a villainous mustache, and a devil’s goatee on his handsome face. “Yeah. That’s him.”

“Who did that to his picture?”

“Probably Ari,” he said, sliding out of the booth.

“Ari?” I followed him to the door, shaking my head. “That sweet, brown-eyed girl I met last night? Why?”

“Something happened with them years ago. I’m not sure what, but she can’t stand him.” He opened the door for me, and I stepped out into the sunshine. “So what would you like to do?”

“Everything!” I fished my sunglasses out of my purse and slipped them on. “Show me the town. I want to see where you grew up.”