Chapter 6
Natalie
Tip #6: Inform at least one trustworthy outsider of your plan. You might need their testimony should your enemy test your patience one too many times.
I needed to tell Owen about my plan. He knew me way too well to buy the lie that I could actually stand Samuel Warner, much less date him.
That was how I found myself awake at the butt crack of dawn and very unhappy about it.
I shivered as I climbed out of my hatchback, the frigid January air biting at my exposed skin. Glancing at my watch, I groaned. 6:38 a.m., way too early for any sane person to be tromping around a park. Especially on a Saturday morning.
Grumbling under my breath, I crossed the icy parking lot, my boots crunching on brittle bits of ice. Our cars were the only ones in the parking lot, which was nice because it meant I wouldn’t have to be paranoid about anyone overhearing us on this morning hike through the park—which was almost three hundred acres. (Visiting the park required a county park pass, and there were two dog runs and a few fields that could be used by sport teams in addition to all the different hiking trails.)
The scent of pine trees hung heavy in the air as I approached Owen, who was disgustingly chipper for this ungodly hour.
“Natalie, you made it! Ready to hit the trail?” He grinned, brandishing a large flashlight.
I grunted an acknowledgment, pulling my white pom-pom beanie out of my coat and cramming it over my unruly ash-brown hair.
“We’ll go on the yellow path today.” Owen started down a hiking trail that went straight into the dark forest of bare deciduous trees and evergreens. “It should give us a great view of the sunrise, but we’ll have to use my flashlight until then.”
“You know you’re a complete psychopath for getting up this early on a weekend, right?” I asked, half teasing, half serious.
Owen chuckled, unfazed. “The early hour helps me keep my sleep schedule on track for my early shifts at the hospital. Normally I’d snowshoe or cross-country ski, but we don’t have quite enough snow for either of those right now. But that’s alright, there are lots of positives to winter hiking too!”
I rolled my eyes. Figures.
“Did you hear the newest gossip about the old middle school?” Owen asked.
Fox Creek had built a new middle school several years ago on a new property, leaving the old building empty. Now it was mostly used for after-school programs and the occasional adult education class.
“No,” I said. “What about it?”
“Supposedly there’s an interested buyer,” Owen said.
“Oh.”
“You don’t sound impressed.”
“There’s been lots of interested buyers before, and yet it’s still for sale years later,” I said.
“True.”
We were quiet for a few moments, but Owen—ever the morning person—apparently couldn’t handle the silence.
“So.” He purposely bumped his shoulder into mine, making our thick jackets crinkle. “Why’d you really want to come out here with me? And don’t say it’s just to hang.”
I knew this was going to be difficult. He was too smart.
I pushed past my grogginess and innocently batted my eyes. “What, I can’t want some quality sibling-bonding time?”
Owen chuckled as we continued down the path. It was so cold the thin layer of snow on the ground had hardened into a crust, which crunched underneath our boots as we trod along in the darkness. “Please,” Owen said. “I know you’d rather eat nails than get up before nine on a Saturday. Fess up, Nat.”
I huffed out a frosty breath as we emerged into a meadow, the sky just beginning to turn purple. Pretty soon we’d get the first light of the sun. “Fine. You’re right. I need to talk to you about something.”
“I’m listening,” Owen said as the trail took us back into the shadowy woods, plunging us back into darkness.
Here goes nothing. “Samuel Warner and I are going to pretend to date each other.”
I could practically hear Owen’s eyebrows shoot up. “Come again? You and Samuel Warner? Fake dating?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Here was the tricky part. I couldn’t tell him it was because I wanted to make it easier for him and Jenna to date. He would insist I stop my profitable plan. So I’d have to slowly lead him into it…
“I think it’s time for the Manns and Warners to end our feud. For the good of Fox Creek. If Samuel and I can play nice, maybe the rest of our families can too,” I said.
Owen stared at me.
“I know the Warners and the Manns will probably never see eye to eye on town issues,” I nervously continued. “But if we actually learned how to compromise, things might get better.” I paused, then added jokingly, “Including my job! As the town clerk, it is such a pain to deal with the constant fighting!”
“Cut the crap, Natalie. That fairy-tale story might work on Mom or Dad but not me. Why are you really doing this?”
“It’s all true,” I argued.
“Part of it is true,” Owen countered. “I’ll buy that you think it would be better if we got along, but that doesn’t explain a fake relationship with Samuel Warner. Our families bicker, but you actively hate Samuel because of all his meddling in your passion projects, whether it’s donating money so he can dictate how the Friends of the Library organization can use the funds or the way he bothers you the day after every town board meeting, requesting meeting minutes and finance records that take half the morning to show him and explain.”
“Uh,” I awkwardly said. There wasn’t anything I could say to counter him, as it was all true.
“If you really wanted to mend the fence with the Warners,” Owen relentlessly continued, “you’d be better off working with any Warner besides Samuel since he has a tendency to tease you. So why are you fake dating him?”
I blew out a breath, watching it fog in front of me. How was I going to talk my way out of this one? It looked like I would have to mention Jenna after all.
Glancing up at the brightening sky peeking through the barren branches, I slowly forged on. “Well, you have to admit, it would make things a whole lot easier for you and a certain Warner cousin if our families called a truce. No one would bat an eye if you asked Jenna out.”
Owen’s steps faltered and he shot me a suspicious look. “Wait a minute. Are you doing all this just because...” He shook his head in disbelief. “Natalie, please tell me you’re not fake dating Samuel Warner so I can date Jenna.”
I scoffed, feigning offense. “Wow, you really think I’m that selfless? That I’d willingly subject myself to Samuel’s company just for your sake?”
“Yes. Yes, I absolutely do.”
It was very inconvenient that he knew me so well.
I threw up my hands in mock exasperation as the hiking trail left the forest to ramble across a hilly area that was reclaimed prairie when it wasn’t covered in snow. “Fine, believe what you want. I can see there’s no getting through to you.” Then, sobering, I caught his arm. “But seriously, Owen, I need you in my corner on this. When Samuel and I go public, it’s going to be World War III. Grandma and Grandpa Mann will have a conniption. Our aunts and uncles will lose their minds. I’ll be disowned by second cousins twice removed that I didn’t even know existed. I need you on my side.”
Owen groaned and rubbed his mitten-covered hand on his face. “You’ve officially lost it. This is, hands down, the dumbest idea you’ve ever had.”
“I’m offended. I think fake dating is pretty tame, all things considered.” I pulled my scarf tighter to ward off the chill of the air.
“It might be, except you’re fake dating Samuel Warner !”
I wisely stayed silent and waited for my brother to process his feelings. Owen was too loyal to leave me floundering on my own. I hoped.
After some more grumbling, Owen heaved a gusty sigh and clicked off his flashlight as the sun crested the horizon, painting the snowy field in glowing pinks and golds.
“Alright, alright,” Owen said. “Against my better judgment, I’ll back your act. But when Samuel drives you crazy, I reserve the right to say ‘I told you so.’”
“You’re the best!” I threw my arms around him in a quick hug I could barely feel thanks to our thick winter coats. “And I can’t wait for you to ask Jenna out.” I waggled my eyebrows suggestively.
“Oh no you don’t.” Owen scowled at me. “Don’t go stirring up more trouble when you’ve already got a heaping helping on your plate. Do you really think you can pull this off? Convincingly playing the part of Samuel’s doting girlfriend?”
I waved away his concerns. “Piece of cake. I’ll just stare dreamily at his irritatingly perfect face and tune out the condescending words coming out of his mouth.”
Owen eyed me dubiously as we started up the next hill. “And he agreed to this harebrained scheme of yours? How long did it take to convince him?”
I bit my lip. “Actually, it was weirdly easy to get him on board. I’m still not entirely sure he doesn’t have an angle.”
“You think he’s up to something?”
“With Samuel, who knows?” I shrugged. “As far as I can tell, he could use our relationship to boost his reputation, but besides giving him a leg up in future arguments, I don’t think Warner Print would profit from it. Still, I’m keeping my guard up.”
Owen smiled wryly. “I’m glad you’re being careful. Samuel does like to play with you.”
“Yeah, he’s too crafty for his own good. And mine.”
We reached the crest of another small hill. “I’ll say this much,” I admitted grudgingly, taking in the stunning dawn vista. “You sure know how to pick a hiking spot. But you’re still certifiable for doing this voluntarily. On a weekend, no less.”
“If I’m certifiable, you’re a sociopath,” Owen drawled. “Need I remind you, you’re the one in a fake relationship with Samuel Warner ?”
“Touché.” I laughed, falling into step beside him. “So, how much farther does this little nature walk of yours go?”
“A lot longer than you want it to.”
I yanked my scarf up higher so it covered my nose. “You’re really bossy and opinionated.”
“I’m your older brother. It comes with the territory.”