Chapter 6
Matthew
After a sleepless night and a terrible practice this morning, I’m on my way to pick up Beth. All night, I couldn’t stop replaying the evening in my mind. Agreeing to my agent’s idea, meeting Beth’s parents, her hand secretly in mine. But her expression lingers. She may have come around, but I can’t shake the feeling that she isn’t entirely confident in her choice.
I take a deep breath as my finger hovers above the doorbell, hesitating. The responsible thing would be to let her back out of this, walk away clean. But then I remember her career, and how she said she needed a job. I press the bell with a sigh.
She opens the door, looking radiant, bundled in a thick winter coat and a scarf wrapped around her neck. She lights up at the sight of me, and it sends an unexpected warmth coursing through me.
“Hi.” That’s all I can manage to get out.
“Hi yourself,” she responds with a grin. “Are you ready for this?”
It’s a simple question. But am I really ready to fake a relationship in front of the town? The whole world?
“Ready as I’ll ever be.” I offer her my arm.
She takes it without hesitation as we head toward the car.
“Let’s walk. I’ll show you around town while we get our story straight.”
I nod.
“So we already told my parents we met in a coffee shop and bumped into each other. If someone asks when we got together or met, we’ll say it’s recent or new. Keep it vague.”
“Okay, that sounds simple enough.”
We turn onto the next street, which has a park to the right and some businesses lined up on the left.
“And if anyone asks about our first date, we can say…”
“We walked around the park and talked.”
“Good, again not a lie.” She smiles.
My chest tightens. “I’m sorry I put you in this position in the first place, Beth.”
“I’m not,” she says confidently.
“You’re not? But you don’t like lying.”
“Well, no, I don’t. But while I was talking with Desi last night, I realized how great of an opportunity this will be. I was at a crossroads with my career. I needed a job and haven’t had any luck securing one over the past few months. When we met, I was trying to decide what to do. I could either start my own company or start looking for jobs further away from home, which I didn’t want to do. I know I’ll be traveling for a few months with you, but the experience and money will be great for me in branching out on my own. You, Matthew Wilkes,” she pokes my arm, “are my first client with Elevate Marketing, ‘Taking it to the next level.’”
Wow. In less than twelve hours, she’s really come around to the idea. And she’s right, we’ve been so focused on the fake relationship that there’s still a whole other side of this deal—her career.
“I’m still working on the tagline,” she says nervously as I see the town square in view.
“No, I like it. I was surprised by your outlook, that’s all. Honestly, I thought you might back out.”
She pulls my arm, making me come to a stop. “I’m in, Matthew. I signed the contract. It’s a done deal.”
Not yet, exactly. I haven’t signed it, but she doesn’t know that.
“Hey, Beth!”
We both look over to see a blonde woman waving her down.
“Cassie!” Beth replies, her face beaming. “Come on.”
“I’ll be right behind you.”
She hurries over to the woman as I pull out my phone. I sign the contract and email it back to Travis.
It’s a done deal now.
“Matthew!” Beth waves me over to her.
I make my way to where Beth and Cassie are chatting, my limbs somehow moving even though my mind is still reeling. Signing that contract felt like the final piece in this complex puzzle—the last point of no return. I just hope I’m ready for whatever lies ahead.
“This is my boyfriend, Matthew. And this is Cassie, the event planning queen.”
“Y’all are causing quite the commotion.” Cassie grins, her eyes twinkling at Beth.
“It’s those Madame C’s causing the commotion.”
“Well, Ryan and I might not be engaged if it wasn’t for them being so nosy.” Cassie chuckles.
A microphone crackles to life, cutting our conversation short. The mayor steps up to the microphone on the stage and begins welcoming everyone.
“It’s time! Gotta go. Have fun, you two!” Cassie says, giving Beth a quick hug and me a friendly nod before hurrying away.
“Come on!” Beth pulls me toward the growing crowd, her hand still in mine.
Fairy lights are hung everywhere, but it’s still daylight so they aren’t lit yet. Booths are scattered across the town square with the stage in the center. I’m introduced to several townspeople as we walk around the festival looking at all the different booths and activities. There’s a chili cook-off, hot chocolate bar, and game booths. We’re heading for the s’more fire pits when three women step right in front of us.
“Matthew, dear, we’ve heard so much about you!” the first woman exclaims with a warm smile that crinkles her eyes at the corners.
“Hello, ladies,” Beth kindly says. “This is Aunt Clara, Cecilia, and Catherine.”
Aunt Clara and Cecilia have warm smiles but Catherine narrows her eyes at me.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” I stammer out, trying not to squirm under her gaze.
“How did you two lovebirds meet?” Catherine asks.
Play it cool.
“At a coffee shop,” I say, without hesitation.
“And when did this meeting take place?” Aunt Clara asks, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. They love their information, that’s for sure.
“Recently,” Beth replies, keeping it vague just like we talked about.
Catherine’s gaze intensifies, then her stern expression softens into a smile. “A new romance.”
The three of them release a collective sigh.
“Tell us more!” Aunt Clara says.
“Well, I’d love to,” Beth replies, glancing toward the campfire, “but we don’t want to miss getting some s’mores.”
“Of course, dear.” Cecilia tilts her head.
“You’ll have to tell us everything later,” Aunt Clara adds, her eagerness practically radiating from her.
Catherine, however, merely nods before adding, “I’m sure we’ll talk again soon.”
“Yes, we’re looking forward to it.” Beth flashes them a sweet smile and then gently tugs me away from them toward the fire pits.
“Wow, that was…” I trail off, unsure what to say.
Beth chuckles. “Intense? Welcome to small town life. Everyone knows everyone and their business.”
“And we’re the newest piece of business, it seems.”
“Just for a few more days,” Beth replies, looking up at me with determination in her eyes. “Then we’ll be hundreds of miles away from their prying eyes.”
As we make our s’mores, the woman from Coffee Loft, whom I now know as Ashley, joins us.
As I watch Beth talk, her eyes light up as she laughs freely. She’s a kind person and loves big. This community adores her, too.
“Oh, here comes my brother.” Beth squeezes my hand and turns to me as she whispers, “I’m not sure how he’s going to react.” She pauses for a moment. “I’ve never brought a guy home.”
I try to resist showing shock on my face but I think my eyebrows betray me.
“Just be prepared. It could go either way.” She shrugs like this is a completely fine scenario. “Did I mention he’s a police officer? He might interrogate you.”
“Well, now I’m nervous,” I manage to joke, my heart pounding a little harder in my chest.
“Oh, don’t worry. He only knows how to make it look like an accident.” Beth laughs, squeezing my hand once more before letting go.
I see the man in the uniform heading our way. There’s no mistaking they are siblings, but he looks older, a few grays showing on the sides of his head.
“Ethan!” Beth calls out excitedly, opening her arms in anticipation of a hug. The man’s stern expression breaks into a smile as he engulfs his sister in a warm embrace.
Pulling away, she gestures toward me. “Ethan, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Matthew.”
He grins knowingly at his sister and then claps me heavily on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, I won’t give you too much of a hard time. As long as you treat her right, we’ll get along just fine.”
Ethan’s words hang in the air, a warning disguised as reassurance. He seems like a good guy, and I can tell his protective streak runs deep when it comes to his little sister, which I can relate to.
“I plan on doing just that,” I reply, meeting his gaze head-on.
He studies me for a moment longer before breaking into another grin. “Good man.”
Ethan turns to Ashley. “Care for a hot chocolate?”
“Sounds wonderful!” Ashley waves goodbye to us and disappears with Ethan into the crowd.
As they walk away, I turn my attention back to Beth. Her cheeks are slightly flushed from the cold.
“I didn’t know they were together.”
“Funny you say that. They aren’t, but I think my brother likes her.”
“Should we have the Madame C’s work their matchmaking skills?” I nod toward the women who are watching us.
She lets out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “I think they have their hands full with us.”
The fairy lights strewn across the square flicker on, casting a soft golden glow on everything. Beth’s eyes look even more captivating under the twinkling lights.
“You know,” she says. “This is actually really fun.”
I turn toward her, my brow quirking in amusement. “What? You didn’t think pretending to be madly in love with me would be enjoyable?”
“I didn’t know what to expect.” She looks at me with those doe eyes. “But yes, being your pretend girlfriend for the day was more enjoyable and easier than I anticipated.”
A strange warmth fills me at her admission. A gust of wind causes a strand of hair to fall into her face. Without thinking, I tuck the stray hair behind her ear, my fingers brushing her cool skin.
Her eyes widen slightly, and her cheeks flush deeper as she looks up at me. She doesn’t pull away, though. Instead, she softly bites her lower lip, holding my gaze.
“Good,” I manage to say, my voice sounding huskier than before. “Because I enjoyed it too.”