Everything I Dreamed (Everhope Road #2)

20. Oliver

20

OLIVER

B lowing out a long breath, I lean back on the patio chair at my parents’ house. It was my home growing up, and when I return, it is as though I never left. My parents, despite their tennis matches at the country club, are down to earth, and my mother isn’t afraid to be bold with her words.

It’s not that I’ve been avoiding them, it’s simply that they were away and then I was just kind of occupied. Okay, quite possibly avoiding my mother might be slightly correct.

Swiping off my sunglasses, I toss them on the table next to a bowl of nuts and pitcher of lemonade. My mother smiles, clearly happy that I’m here.

“You look well. I’m so glad that you stopped by.”

“You would have chased me down, anyhow,” I remark, and it earns me a lopsided smile.

“What would you like for your birthday coming up?”

I snicker a sound. “I’m not eight. You don’t need to ask as though I have a wish list of toys.”

She chuckles, and it’s nice that she enjoys my presence because I do feel like family is important. That’s probably why that sharp pinch in my stomach hits because I’m lying straight to her face.

“Okay, I’ll figure something out. I ran into Hailey, and she mentioned arranging a party. I guess that makes sense with Liam away, and I know you boys always plan things for one another. But if you have a say in the invite list, Kale’s daughter just moved back and it would be good if she could connect with new friends.”

That just translates to “Honey, I have a potential dating option for you.” This is the moment where I want everything to spill out of my mouth that I have a wife, and the ring is in my pocket because I’m the guy who takes marriage of convenience up a notch.

She accepts my warning glare that I will not be taking her up on her suggestion. “I’ll stop,” she lies with a smile. She extends her arm across the table and squeezes my forearm for a shake. “I’m so happy that you are here, have I mentioned that?”

“Yeah, and if you call me adorable or try to pinch my cheeks then I’m abandoning ship as fast as possible,” I mundanely say which causes her to howl a laugh and let me go.

“A mother occupies herself with wanting the best for her children, and that’s something I will never stop,” she reminds me.

Taking a sip of my drink, I appreciate the ice cubes on this warm summer day. My eyes narrow to the sound of a chime. There is one hanging near the roses that grow against a trellis. I never noticed the chime before. It causes my cheek to tick because I think of Hailey. The sound calms me but doesn’t take me away from the conversation.

“How’s Dad? He seemed to be in a conference call when I arrived.”

My mom almost frowns because she’s supportive of him and they do love one another, but it must get tiring when your husband is so occupied with work.

Ooh, touché to me.

I see similarities between us in that aspect, but at the same time, Hailey mellows me out. I pay a little more attention to work-life balance, and this woman has only been legally bound to me for two weeks.

“Everything okay, my favorite youngest son?” I’m her only youngest son. “You seem lost in your thoughts.”

I lift a shoulder and brush her off. “Nah, it’s nothing.”

Her cheeks lift and her nose raises as she looks over my ear. “There’s my eldest son.”

I glance to see Carter arrive, and his face is hardened with an indescribable mood, except when he looks to my mother and he softens. But when he plops himself on the chair across from me, I feel uneasy.

“Lemonade?” My mom offers my brother the pitcher.

“I won’t be here long. Just wanted to stop by when you mentioned Oliver would be here for a little bit.”

I squint at my brother whose eyes are a death stare.

“You know, I heard on the grapevine that Rose’s horse died. She loved Astro.”

I can hear my brother mutter under his breath. “Probably more than me.”

My mom seems oblivious. “Perhaps you should phone her your condolences.”

Wowza, this is a tough one to watch. “Or maybe not… it’s a horse,” I intercept.

Her fake smile swings my way. “Funny. I’ll go grab some chips and dip from inside. You boys behave.”

The moment she stands and is out of sight, a gust of discomfort and confusion washes over me when I catch my brother’s steely demeanor.

He snaps his fingers then points at me. “You. Me. Now,” he snipes.

Carter abruptly stands, and his urgency causes me to not even second-guess before I follow him. His pace is fast and direct, causing me to trail behind as he heads straight to the other side of the yard, no longer in earshot of the house. Not caring about the immaculate cut grass, he storms straight to the spot where the woods meet the lawn on the side yard.

“What the hell?” I clench my jaw.

He crosses his arms and his face is fuming. “I should be asking you that.” My eyes pop out as I wait for him to explain further. “How is marriage treating you?”

Oh fuck.

Everything inside me tumbles down from my head to my toes, and my Adam’s apple bobs from the swallow of dry air that is causing my throat to strain. My mouth opens, and I search for words but fail.

“Yeah, for someone who works in law then you didn’t do a good job of covering your tracks. You remember that when you request to seal a public record that it doesn’t happen overnight, right?”

“Yes, and you only look when you have a reason to look. I doubt our friends and family are thinking, ‘Oh, Oliver and Hailey probably secretly got married and let me go check.’”

“You see, the thing about being sheriff is you are at the courthouse a lot. Harold mentioned he saw Hailey there the other week, and then a funny thing is that he mentioned he saw you there too, heading into the judge’s office together.” He brings his finger to his chin. “Hmm, I thought. That’s a little strange coincidence, and imagine my surprise when I played detective. So, I’m going to repeat myself. What the hell?”

I throw my hands up in the air and my entire body sags. “You can’t tell anybody.”

He looks at me as though I’m crazy then points back in the direction of the house. “Oh, you mean I shouldn’t mention this to Mom back there, or Dad? Hell, I’m sure Liam would love this little tidbit of info. A simple FYI that you can tell him on your evening jog along the street after you remind him that it’s garbage day tomorrow.”

Stepping closer to him, I roll my eyes, now getting aggravated with his over-the-top lecture. “Especially don’t tell him. Can you just let this go?” A wishful request, but I need to start somewhere.

“Why? Did I miss the memo that you two were even dating? I literally ran into her in the cereal aisle a few weeks back and she didn’t mention her abundance of joy that I’m now her brother-in-law.” Nothing about his current state is cracking.

My palms fly up to calm him. “It’s new, so technically you were just Sheriff Carter to her, and please just let us figure this out. She needs to be married in order to get the building for her new preschool.”

The explanation seems to exhaust him. “Are you fucking kidding me? Now I’m in a shitty position because I’m supposed to be enforcing the law. You’re committing fraud.”

Now I just dagger him with my stare, and if I had a pitchfork then I would stab him. “When you put it like that then maybe it appears that way. Marrying for financial gain isn’t exactly ideal. But it’s not like we don’t care for one another. Therefore, Hailey and I have done no crime. Thank. You. Very. Much,” I correct him smugly.

“Tell that to yourself. You’re lucky that I’m looking past the skeptical ethics of your marriage and it’s only because I know my little brother has been a lovesick puppy for that woman. What is the long-run plan? Join me on the divorce train? Move in together? Pop out a kid? Oh wait, I have a great idea… don’t lie to all of us!” He continues to raise his voice, and I have to step closer.

“Will you calm it down?” I lower my voice and grit out the words, scanning the area in the process to ensure that we are still alone.

He waves that damn finger at me again. “Wake the fuck up. This is the most twisted situation. Either someone gets hurt, or you end up in an everlasting marriage with our parents pissed off that they couldn’t throw a wedding here at the house with fucking candles floating in the swimming pool.”

Rubbing my temples, I’m now thoroughly annoyed. “Just can you stop?” I plead.

“Why? My brother is completely deranged and took his crush to a whole new level.”

“Just let us figure it out ourselves. We have options of how this could go.” She’ll never give me that ring back is my favorite option.

His nostrils flare and his head retreats while he pauses to study me. “You don’t get it, do you?” I stare blankly at him. He sighs heavily and locks his eyes on me, seeming to be debating something internally. But he gives up. “Fine.”

Now my entire face screws up, as that was too easy. “Fine?”

Carter drags his hand across his jaw, and he subtly nods once. “Yeah. Only because I’m going to sit back, shut my mouth, and watch until this explodes. Because it will,” he warns me. “No marriage is easy. Whether it’s starting or ending.” I can sense his own feelings and views bubbling to the surface. Fair enough. He has experience. “But I swear if this drags on then it might slip from my mouth at family dinner when I ask for someone to pass me the salad.”

My jaw flexes side to side, accepting my fate. “Okay.”

We both square our shoulders and enter a faceoff for a long minute.

“I’m out of here. No way am I listening to Dad and Mom talk about their fantasy of their son being mayor. I would say informing them of their son’s blessed union will deter that conversation, but you’re my brother and I won’t do that… yet.” He turns and walks away without a further glance to me.

I don’t flinch an inch and stew in the complexity of life happening right now.

Not my proudest moment but I’m adding coward to my title.

Hailey doesn’t know that my brother is aware of our legal status because I didn’t tell her. I’ve had a solid 24 hours to do that, and I haven’t.

Now I’m entering Foxy Rox to pick up Hailey for our meeting with the owner of the building. She wanted an extra caffeine fix which won’t calm her jitters, but I relent. Her dress has short sleeves, and the blue fabric reaches her knees. Completely elegant.

Right away when I open the door, I see her chatting with Esme at the counter who instantly sees me and dodges her head around Hailey’s shoulder.

“Oh, look at that. Oliver is here.” Her smile is unreadable, but there is a sense of something wicked.

Hailey turns and flicks her sight to meet my own, and her eyes flash at me so Esme can’t see. “Hey, wasn’t expecting you here. It’s like I run in for a coffee and meet everyone on Everhope Road. First Esme and now you.” She laughs nervously at her excuse.

“Guess so.”

Esme’s eyes travel between Hailey and me. “Coincidence,” she states simply then focuses her attention on the barista.

Hailey mouths to me fuck, and I’m nearly distracted that the letters cause her mouth to open into the shape in which she takes my cock. Immediately, I shake that thought away and attempt to focus.

“I should order that coffee I came in for. I have a meeting soon.” I step to the counter to order a coffee I don’t need.

“When did you get that?” Esme asks as she stirs the stick in her coffee and grabs a lid.

I have no idea what her question is until I do a double take when I see Hailey innocently playing with something around her neck.

Not exactly subtle.

Hailey’s eyes drop down and she realizes her error. She lets go and tucks it into her shirt, but it’s too little too late. “My grandmother,” she spits out. “Yeah, my grandmother gave it to me since Liam got Ava a new ring. Thought it’s something nice to wear every now and then,” she lies nervously.

“Yeah, it’s nice.” Esme finishes securing the lid and then turns to us both, fortunately not interested in pressing further. “Okay, well, see you guys around. Gotta run to a photoshoot.”

Hailey sighs in relief as soon as Esme leaves. “Shit. I totally forgot that was still around my neck. I wasn’t even thinking.” Because it seems to be human nature for her and that’s not a bad thing.

“She didn’t take any notice.”

“Are you sure?” She blows out an audible breath. “We should be more careful. It feels as though we are hanging on by a thread to keep this all together.”

“It was one question,” I assure her.

Hailey gawks at me. “She thinks I power walk for fun and talk about dead plants.”

A smirk dances on my lips because it’s kind of hilarious.

“Forget about it. You have a bigger issue right now.” And it isn’t my brother. “Ready for the meeting?”

Her facial muscles ease. “I think so. I now check all the boxes, plus you will be there. That’s already a relief.”

“Okay, then let’s get out of here.” I throw some bills at the barista and inform her that we don’t actually need coffee. She looks at us strangely but then shrugs and accepts it.

When we are out on the sidewalk of Main Street, it’s a temptation to touch Hailey. Whether it be my hand on her lower back or interlinking her arm with mine. The way she lifts her sunglasses on her head is the same as at the start of theater when the curtain rises, making me feel curiosity and excitement.

“This shouldn’t last long,” she says as the ring around her neck finds a new home on her finger.

I pull out my own ring to slide onto my finger for appearances with this old lady. “It’s fine. I’ve cleared my schedule.”

She throws me an appreciative look. “Thank you. Not just for schedule adjustments but also everything that you are doing.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Neither one of us believe that, but we’ll have to assess that at another point. Now come on, Husband.” She nudges my shoulder as we walk side by side.

On some levels we think the same, which is why I know she’s right.