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CHAPTER ELEVEN

brOOKS

T rees blurred past the windows of my truck as I drove to my parents’ house for Sunday dinner. Harlow was stiff as a board next to me. Her hands were clenched in her lap while I kept one on the wheel and rested the other on the console between us.

“Do you want to pick something on the radio?”

“I’m fine,” she said, which was a total lie. She was the furthest thing from fine.

“You look like you are spiraling over there.” I gestured to where she was, twisting her hands nervously in her lap.

She huffed, trying to laugh it off. “Are you sure your parents don’t hate me?”

My parents were upset. Her leaving didn’t just hurt me. It hurt them, too. They hated seeing me so broken, but they always had a soft spot for her.

“They don’t hate you, Harlow. They might not have been happy with what you did, but they have always cared about you. Look at how happy Tuck was to see you. I’m sure Hayes will be just as thrilled.”

“Your brothers don’t count.”

I laughed. “I can’t wait to tell them that.”

“You better not.”

I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel while she stared blankly out the window. She looked like she was ready to jump out of my truck.

“You need to relax, or they will know something is up.”

She twisted in her seat to face me. “I hate the thought of lying to them.”

“I’m not crazy about it either, but the more people that believe our story, the more real it looks to everyone else.”

She tilted her head to the side. “I know we have to keep up with appearances, but this is your family.”

“I’m aware, but my mom would not be able to keep this secret, so she has to believe it’s true.”

I loved my mom, but she was the last person I trusted when it came to keeping things quiet. She would call her best friend, Laura, who would then call their friend Janet. Then, the next thing you knew, the entire town would know before we even finished dessert.

“What about your dad and brothers?”

“Tuck and Hayes, yes, but not my dad.”

If I told him this whole thing was fake, he would worry. Things were still new and uncertain. I needed to keep the real reason why we were getting married close to the vest. I didn’t want everyone I cared about weighing in and giving me their opinions.

The truth was, I wasn’t the type of guy who avoided tough conversations. I dealt with crap head-on, but this was different.

“I still feel guilty, but you know your family better than I do, so I’ll follow your lead.”

I’d spent the entire car ride trying to reassure her that everything would be fine. However, by the time I turned into my parents’ development, an unexpected tidal wave of nerves rolled over me.

Their driveway was packed with cars, so I found a spot on the street behind Tuck’s squad car.

I killed the engine and glanced over at her.

Harlow wore a pretty blue sundress that reminded me of summer and old memories.

She looked carefree and beautiful, more like herself than in those pictures I saw of her online.

Dressed to the nines, expensive-looking jewelry, perfectly styled hair, and manicured nails.

I could almost see the girl she once was before becoming a pawn in her father’s twisted world.

There wasn’t a trace of makeup on her face, and no dark shadows under her eyes.

I forced myself to glance away. Seeing her like this and with the soft scent of her familiar perfume stirred up old memories.

Memories of late-night kisses under the stars, stolen kisses down by the creek, and dreams we shared, before life took her away from me.

I cleared my throat, trying to shake off these feelings. Taking a trip down memory lane wasn’t helping me keep my emotions in check. I was still trying to get over kissing her the other night in my kitchen.

I didn’t know what the hell I was thinking.

“Come on, let’s get this over with.”I opened the door and slid out.

She fell into step beside me, so I threw a hand over her shoulder as we walked toward the house. It was the same house we moved into when I was fourteen, right after Dad’s construction business took off.

Rocking chairs sat on the wraparound porch of the large two-story white colonial, which was decorated with an American flag on the post.

It was warm and inviting, but the closer we got, the more nervous I became. I had to remind myself that it was just my family. The same people I’ve known my entire life, but with Harlow by my side, nothing about this felt normal.

I tried to ignore the heat from her body and the scent of her perfume as she glared at my hand on her shoulder. She tried to move out of my hold, but I only tugged her harder.

I looked down at her with a scowl. “You need to act natural and not recoil whenever I touch you in public.”

Her steps slowed. “I’m not recoiling. I’m nervous because every word we speak will be examined under a microscope.”

“Just try your best and remember why you’re doing this,” I said, dismissing her glare as we made our way up the driveway.

I didn’t like the way she tried to pull away. If we were going to pull this off, she would have to warm up to this arrangement, or it would be over before it started.

“Sorry we’re late,” I said as we walked into my parents’ living room. My younger brother, Hayes, was on the couch, typing on his phone, Dad was in his recliner watching a Yankees game, and Tuck was in the other chair.

Tuck studied us momentarily, taking in my hand on her shoulder. Hayes looked up from his phone, and a huge-ass smile split his cheeks. Hayes loved to stir up trouble, and I could already see the wheels turning in his head.

“Holy shit. It looks like the rumors are true.”

She barely had time to react before he pulled her into a hug and lifted her off the ground.

She laughed when he finally set her down. “Wow, you’ve grown like two feet since I last saw you.”

He grinned. “I look good, right?”

I stepped up between them and gave him a stern look. “Will you knock it off?”

Hayes, being Hayes, completely ignored me. “Seriously, Harlow Bennet is here in the flesh, looking like a million bucks.”

Harlow laughed. “And you’re still full of it.”

His grin widened. “I can’t let all my charm go to waste. I gotta use it on somebody.”

I gave Hayes a good shove toward the chair. “Don’t mind my brother. He sometimes forgets how to behave around adults.”

Hayes was still grinning. “He is so easy to rile up. If you get tired of his grumpy ass, you know where to find me.”

She smiled back. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“All right, we’re done here.” I steered her over to my dad. He had one leg crossed over the other, holding a cup of coffee.

“Nice to see you, Keith.” I could see her fingers twitching, like she was trying to decide whether to tuck them in her pockets or shake his hand.

Dad didn’t move for a second. He merely studied her with a blank expression. Then, to my surprise, he stood and held his arms out.

“Long time no see, beautiful. How have you been?”

“I know, it’s been too long.” Harlow stepped into his arms while my two brothers watched me.

I could see the relief in her eyes that things weren’t going as badly as she thought they would.

I wasn’t the least bit surprised that my family was rolling out the welcome mat for her. They always saw the good in people.

“It’s been ages. You don’t look like you’ve changed a bit.” He patted her back before stepping away.

“Dinner is almost ready,” Mom called from the kitchen.

I leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Are you good?”

She glanced at me briefly before looking toward the kitchen. “I’ll let you know in a few minutes.”

I almost laughed as we made our way into the other room, where my mom was stirring her Sunday sauce in a huge-ass stock pot. The smell of garlic and fresh tomatoes made my stomach rumble.

“Please, tell me there are meatballs in there.” I set the Italian bread that Harlow and I had picked up at the bakery on the counter.

Mom rounded the kitchen island to hug me. “And sausage.” She kissed my cheek. “Thanks for picking up the bread.”

It was then that she noticed Harlow standing behind me. My mom’s eyes softened. “So, it’s true? I heard you were back in town, but I didn’t believe it.”

A cautious smile lifted Harlow’s lips. “It’s good to see you, Josie.”

My mom, who was a foot shorter than me and weighed no more than a hundred and thirty pounds, shoved my ass aside.

Mom wrapped her up in a big squeeze. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that you are here.” She pulled back, holding her at arm’s length.

Harlow smiled warmly. “How have you been, Josie?”

Mom looked her over. “I’m good, but you’re too skinny. Is my son not feeding you?”

I snorted. “She’s been in town for a week, Ma.”

She glared at me. “That’s not what I asked.”

I rolled my eyes, but Mom was already moving toward the fridge. “Do you want something to drink, sweetheart?”

“What about me?” I asked, picking up the spoon on the stove. Mom’s meat sauce was my favorite, and I couldn’t wait to dig in.

Mom grabbed a glass from the cupboard and pointed at me. “You know where everything is. You can help yourself, and don’t you dare think about touching that sauce.”

I held my hand up and started backing away. “I’m hungry.”

“You’re always hungry, so why don’t you go help your brothers set the table so Harlow and I can catch up?”

I glanced at Harlow, who gave me a nod, letting me know she was fine.

“All right,” my mom said, pouring her a glass of iced tea. “Now, tell me everything, starting with how you ended up back in Marcellus Falls.”

Harlow hesitated. “It’s a long, messy story.”

Mom walked over and started stirring the sauce in the pot. “Well, it just so happens I have time, so take a seat.”

Maybe this would go easier than expected.

I stood off to the side, watching the two of them together. Mom had a way of making people feel at ease, even if they didn’t deserve it.