Page 75 of Make-Believe Match

“Do that,” he said, frowning at his screen. “Xander has texted twice in the last half hour asking if I’d come help him move some heavy shit at the bar, so maybe while you’re with the girls, I’ll go do that.”

“Perfect.” I typed a quick message to Veronica, and she replied right away. “Okay, she says she can meet me in an hour at the corner of Main and Spring. She’s going to text Kelly too.”

“Sounds like a plan.” He leaned back in his chair. “In the interest of complete transparency, I have to tell you something.”

“What?” I reached over and stole a fry from his plate.

“I have a potential job interview.”

“Oh?”

“In Santa Monica.”

“Oh.” I chewed slowly. Swallowed without tasting. “Okay.” Trying not to panic, I picked up my water and took a sip. “When’s the interview?”

“End of October, possibly early November.”

“And when does the job start?”

“I haven’t gotten it yet.”

“You will.”

He smiled. “Thanks. But I don’t know for sure. I told the guy that I was tied up here for the next six months, and he still wants me to interview.”

“Okay.”

He studied my face. “You look worried.”

“Sorry.” I took a breath. “You have every right to go to that interview. I know what we’re doing is temporary. I think I underestimated how much work it is—the renovation. I’m worried about being able to handle it all. But that’s not your problem.”

He reached for my hand. “I promise, Lex, I won’t go anywhere until you’re completely confident you can run things on your own. I gave you my word, and I’ll honor it. And by the time I go, we’ll make sure you have a team in place that you can depend on. But don’t sell yourself short—you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. You’re intuitive, you communicate well, and your devotion to Snowberry translates into an incredible work ethic. Could you be a little more level-headed sometimes? Sure.”

I laughed self-consciously. “Noted.”

“But you can run it on your own. If that’s what you want.”

“Yes,” I said. “That’s what I want.”

But honestly, Gran’s will was starting to make more sense.

* * *

I spent the afternoon shopping with Veronica and Kelly. Although I was nervous I’d say the wrong thing and give away the game, neither one of them seemed to have any trouble believing Devlin and I were in love. In fact, they were one hundred percent into the story. I confessed that we’d spent the night together right after we met, and that it felt like magic right from the start—which was true.

Both of them said they completely understood. “It’s that Buckley voodoo,” Veronica said. “They have this ability to get you under their spell likethat.” She snapped her fingers.

Kelly agreed. “I’m telling you, I had no intention of letting Xander stay with me in that cabin. I was flat-out rude about it, and he was stubborn and bossy as hell, and yet somehow we can’t live without each other now.”

They insisted I buy a white dress, which I found on the sale rack at a boutique on Main Street. They helped me find a pair of heels to go with it, and then the three of us got our nails done.

Afterward, Veronica dropped Kelly and me off at Devlin’s house. When we went inside, his dad greeted us at the front door. “Devlin and Xander aren’t back yet,” he said, “but I’m just having a cup of coffee in the kitchen if you’d like to join me.”

“Sure,” I said. “Coffee sounds good.”

“Actually, I’m a little tired.” Kelly smiled apologetically. “Such a late night last night. I think I might lie down a minute before the party if that’s okay.”

“Of course,” Mr. Buckley said. “My new daughter-in-law and I will just get a little better acquainted.”