Chapter 18 Izzy
Chapter eighteen
Izzy
“We are not talking about it,” I hiss at Carter across the long table at Wild Bluffs Country Club the next morning.
He adds a dash of hot sauce to his eggs as he replies, “I’m just giving you a heads-up that everyone knows.”
“Because you can’t keep your mouth shut,” Kelsey says, inserting herself into our conversation as she joins the table with her plate of food from the buffet.
The whole party met for brunch this morning after sleeping in late following the shenanigans of the night before. I would normally appreciate the extra time to sleep, but I’d been up early, my body overflowing with nervous energy.
I told Jaxon I’d meet with him today. That he could bring over food, and we’d set the ground rules for our fake dating.
But now I’m worried the awkwardness is going to be too much.
I can already feel it crawling over my skin like a colony of ants swarming toward the puddle of sugar that used to be my brain.
“We are officially fighting, Carter,” I tell my brother-in-law. “I forgave you after you told Jaxon where I live because I’ve seen you without coffee before, and because I’m a forgiving person and all-around great human being.”
My sister snorts at that last comment, so I casually scratch the tip of my nose with my middle finger.
“But, telling the whole party that I texted Jaxon…not cool. Not cool at all.”
The last thing I need is my family to know about my deal with Jaxon. My sisters are great, but I need everyone to believe the Jaxon thing is real if I’m going to get any relief about my relationship status—a complication intoxicated Izzy and Becca did not think about last night.
“Why does it matter?” Kelsey asks.
Bryn pulls out the seat next to me. “Why does what matter?”
Of course it had to be Bryn. Why would the universe give me time to sort out my lie when it can fuck with me instead?
“Us knowing that she texted Jaxon,” Kelsey replies for me as Becca sits down beside her.
“Oh yeah,” Bryn says. “I forgot about Carter announcing that last night. What’s going on?”
I shoot Carter a glare just for good measure before saying, “Nothing. It wasn’t a big deal.”
“Then why did Jaxon ask me if it was you instead of just asking you?”
Another great question that I should have an answer to. There’s some quote about weaving and deceiving that I feel would really sum this whole situation up if I could just remember it.
“He…” I start, wondering where my mouth is going to take this. “…probably didn’t want to come across as a dumbass for not knowing it was me.”
Ha. There we go. Make Jaxon look bad.
I dip the slice of my chocolate chip pancake in the puddle of syrup on my plate before pointing my fork at Carter. “You know, he’s probably going to be annoyed with you for ruining that for him.”
“Ugh,” Carter groans. “I’m never answering my phone again.”
Bryn nods. “Super good life plan, bud. I think it’s going to work out well for you and your business.”
“I blame you for agreeing to marry a professional golfer and then making me play a golf-based game against him,” Carter says before turning his attention to me.
“Thank goodness you’re a normal person—I don’t think I could handle it if I was the only one who wasn’t some big shot businessperson running a multimillion-dollar company or a literal professional athlete. ”
“Hey!” I say at the same time Becca says, “We’re big shot businesspeople.”
“And you’ve been just as integral in KH Security being a multimillion-dollar business as I have,” Kelsey adds.
Bryn shrugs. “If I land this new deal, the portfolio I manage will be over a billion dollars, so I can’t help the poor guy out. I am impressive. Some might even say more impressive than Jameo.”
“I’ve always said that,” Jameson replies, apparently also a part of this fun conversation where we talk about how awesome everyone is—or everyone but me and Becca and maybe Carter, I guess.
Jameo punctuates his reply by leaning over and gently kissing Bryn’s forehead. My insides twist, a feeling I don’t want to define tangling up my insides. Definitely not jealousy, but maybe a bit of loneliness.
“So why did you text Jaxon?” Kelsey asks. You can always count on my older sister to stay focused on getting the answer she really wants.
“Tipsy Izzy thought it was a good idea to say hi. Check in. See how he’s doing.
I was super busy last week and didn’t get to see him.
And he’s here, and he’s all alone, and his dad is dead, which is really sad—” I abruptly stop my ramble when I notice Becca subtly waving her hand at her throat, telling me to cut.
Right. People who are telling the truth about a normal life decision don’t give wandering monologues. “So anyway, just a brief check-in.”
“That’s…unexpected,” Kelsey replies. Her eyes are narrowed like she’s trying to look through my skull to see what’s going on in my head, so I send her what I hope is a nonchalant smile.
“True,” I agree. “I don’t know that sober Izzy would’ve agreed to it, but I think it might be time to forgive and forget. Lord knows I need to move on.”
Kelsey’s eyes narrow further, clearly questioning it, but Carter has no such sisterly intuition holding him back.
“That’s great!” Carter says. “We should all hang out some night soon. I know this is the only weekend Jameson and JT have off until the wedding, but we could do board games or something. Maybe next Tuesday? If we have even numbers, the world is really our oyster for games to play.”
I’ve never wanted to do anything less. Board games bring out the worst in me, and the only thing worse than board games is board games with my sisters, when I’m far more likely to act like a twelve-year-old. There’s just something about siblings that bring out the petulant child in everyone.
“You should see your faces,” Carter says, pointing at Kelsey, Bryn, and me. “They’re identical masks of disgust. Game nights are fun. It’s a normal suggestion.”
“Disagree,” I say.
“Not fun,” Bryn adds.
Kelsey simply says, “No.”
“Fine! No game night. But we could still hang out together. I felt bad for Jax last night. You know he felt left out,” Carter says.
“Why?” Bryn asks. “Jeesh. You go to a guy’s concert once and suddenly he thinks you’re best friends.”
“I’m sure it’s a big change for him to be back here,” I say.
It’s what I would say about anyone else going through what Jaxon is right now.
If I’m going to convince these people I’m at least casually dating him at the wedding in five weeks, the groundwork needs to be laid.
Luckily his activities the last two weeks built a solid foundation for the lie.
It seems to be the right response, because no one calls me on it.
I might actually be kind of good at this whole lying thing—I really should’ve put more thought into being a spy.
I wonder if thirty-three is too late to join the CIA?
Women in their thirties probably make the best spies—so easy to go unnoticed in almost any situation.
“Huh?” I respond to my sister saying my name.
“I asked what Jaxon said when you reached out,” Kelsey says.
“Oh. He said he might try to stop by this afternoon to say hi. Just a quick dinner in his quest to feed his way into my heart—that kind of thing.”
“I bet he’s ecstatic,” Carter says. “He was pretty bummed the other night when we were at the bar and you—”
“We know,” I say, cutting him off and giving him what I hope is a very annoyed look.
“Jaxon is a good friend is all,” Carter says. “I want the guy to be happy.”
“Didn’t you not talk to him for fifteen years and only do now because he employs you?” I ask Carter.
“Yeah. Like I said, friends.”
“Men are weird,” Bryn adds. “They can go decades without talking to someone and still be like, ‘Oh Billy Bob? Yeah, I haven’t seen that guy since we were seven and spent a week together at camp, but he’s a good dude. Of course we’re friends.’”
“Not me,” I say. “If I wouldn’t call you at midnight on a Tuesday because my car broke down and you could somehow help me, you’re not getting classified as a friend.”
Carter’s jaw drops. “Why do you have such a specific definition?”
I shrug. “It’s not like I sit around thinking about it.
I told a guy I work with one day that I wouldn’t call one of our coworkers my friend, and he had follow-up questions.
That definition is what felt right in my heart at the time.
I stand by it. Like, Becca would be my first non-family member I’d call if my car broke down in Wild Bluffs and I needed a ride home. ”
“Would you call me?” Jameson asks.
“Mmm,” I say, considering it. “Probably not. I mean, I’d call Bryn, and you’d likely get roped in if you’re in town, but…I probably wouldn’t call you directly.”
“Harsh, Iz,” Bryn says, laughing. “Jameson is going to mope around all day now that he knows he’s not your friend.”
“Liar,” I shoot back. “Jameson prides himself on how few friends he has.”
“True,” the man in question grunts, shoveling eggs into his mouth.
“You’d think our mutual dislike of people would bring us together, but…it’s also what keeps us apart,” I say.
“Oh, look who’s here,” Becca says five hours later when we arrive back at our house.
I turn off the car before glancing at the large figure sitting at the top of the steps, his bright white T-shirt reflecting the late afternoon sun and drawing my eyes to him like a beacon.
Fuck. I thought I was ready for this, but I’m not. I’m not ready for this.
“This was a bad idea,” I say to Becca in a hushed tone, frantically searching for a way to leave without making it obvious that I’m simply fleeing. “I can’t do this. I can’t.”
Becca glances at Jaxon, clearly noting the way he’s now standing on the top step, apparently trying to decide if he should come over to the car or not.
“Jaxon is the easiest way to get what you want: a date to your sister’s wedding. And even though you refuse to admit it, you actually like the guy. It’s not going to be a big deal.”
“Right,” I say, taking a deep breath and opening my door. “I can do this.”
I can totally fake date my ex-best friend.