24. Ride This Wave
24
RIDE THIS WAVE
SOPHIE
We were nearing the sixty-day mark, although neither of us acknowledged it. Not that it was something to celebrate, like an anniversary or special occasion. I didn’t relish flipping the calendar and seeing the red circle around the date when we told the studio we’d break up our marriage.
I’d taken to long walks in the mornings through town to clear my head before working. Maisy would sometimes join me and lament about her growing midsection.
Today, I walked alone before a meeting at Richard’s office. October brought a crispness to the air that made everything in Holly Creek feel freshly painted in shades of gold, orange, and red. The quiet simplicity of small town living made it difficult to remember what I even liked about city life.
Keaton enjoyed calling me several nicknames, ‘city girl’ one of them from time to time. When he used that one, it gave me pause. Was that even me anymore?
Who was Sophie Hatchett? Somewhere along the way, I’d changed. No longer did I feel like the woman trying to build her own business and make her own way in life, no matter my ties to the past and a family I tried to forget.
Oh, I still claimed to be a boss babe, still loved what I did for a living, but found myself longing for more. This whole situation with Keaton opened my view to what sharing my life with a man would be like. While the calendar never stopped churning out the days.
With the crunchy leaves under my boots came introspection and clarity. And yet, something inside of me was beginning to fray. At odds with the old me, the new me in this small town demanded I put down roots, stake my claim, and create a new life. Was it possible?
By the time I arrived at Richard’s home office, the meeting was underway. Keaton winked at me and patted the seat next to him. I couldn’t hide a sly smile. His beard had grown back in, softening his jaw in ways that made it increasingly hard not to stare at his profile. Add to that his daily dose of flannel shirts for the pleasure of my eyes and this city-suddenly-turned-small-town-girl was ready to go on a sexy hayride for two at a moment’s notice.
Archer Bellamy stood at the front of the room, clicking through some slides. On the conference table sat blueprints, the lines crisscrossing forming the interior of a new building. “Per your instructions, I’ve created a modern take on the pub concept. Thinks brews plus full-dining experience with a chef’s touch. Seasonal indoor-outdoor seating. An elevated but still approachable aesthetic. Perfect for the next level in dining for this growing small town, if you ask me.”
I took my seat, having no idea what this meeting was about to begin with. “Gastropub by the Hops? The name might need some work,” I scrunched my nose at it.
“Definitely. I’d value your input as my resident snooty marketing expert,” Keaton teased, side-eyeing me with a sly grin.
I tried to focus on the details as Archer expounded upon the concept, showing feature by feature, but something about the entire conversation crawled under my skin.
"It looks beautiful," I offered, forcing a smile. "But... has anyone thought about Flora's Diner and how a fancy new restaurant might impact her business?”
Flora was the sweetest mother of Chelsea and Maisy, and I couldn’t be a part of something that could ruin the way she made a living.
Richard waved a hand. "Already considered. Vivian and Chelsea are helping upgrade the diner. It stays exactly what it is: comfort food, quick service, and the best damn pie in the region. We just need options now what with Rex breaking ground on building luxury homes out at Silverpine Lake, we have to meet demand."
Keaton shifted in his chair beside me, running a hand through his hair. "A full-scale restaurant was on my ten-year business plan, but I didn’t think it’d honestly happen, especially this fast.”
"Consider me your fairy godfather," Richard said with a chuckle. "Minus the wings, of course."
They launched into investment structures and payment plans. I nodded along, even asked a few questions, and made notes of the ways my marketing research could assist besides naming the restaurant. Amidst thoughts of demographic research and grand opening campaigns, my phone buzzed in my blazer pocket.
I checked it, and the name flashing across the screen stopped my heart cold.
Griffin.
I glanced quickly at Keaton who saw it, too, and scowled, probably thinking this was some guy he had to compete with, like that hockey player who finally got the hint to stop calling me. A part of me loved seeing him get worked up when another man showed interest though.
But Griffin West was far from a suitor. I hadn’t heard from my stepbrother in some time, not since he called after his father died. Not since the reading of the will. Out of all my stepbrothers, Griffin was always the nicest to me. Still, I’d kept my distance from them, for good reason.
My fingers twitched to answer. "Excuse me," I said quickly, standing. "I need to take this."
I slipped into the hallway and answered. “Griff?”
"About time, butterfly,” Griffin said, using the old nickname the brothers called me. Skinny with big teeth when we first all became a family, by the time our parents divorced when I was in high school, I’d blossomed and had a glow up—thus butterfly became my nickname. "I thought I might have to ambush you at that brewery to get your attention."
It figured how he’d know exactly where to find me. Like his father before him, who always kept tabs on me after the attempted kidnapping, even if I didn’t want a thing to do with him anymore.
"What do you want?"
“Can’t I call and wish you well on your marriage?”
“So you know about that? Were you in Vegas?”
“I happened to be there on business when my security team alerted me to your involvement on that beer show.” I could hear the snicker in his voice, considering he had a wine cellar stocked with expensive, rare bottles of French wine. How quickly my stepbrothers forgot their humble beginnings and that, thanks to my mother, they were now able to lead the life of luxury.
“Oh. Thanks, I guess.”
“Are you not happy?”
Because of the NDA, I couldn’t tell him my nuptials had an expiration date. “I am happy. Very.”
“Keaton Michael Kingston. Born in Holly Creek to parents who had little to their name. A self-made man by all accounts. His business seems pretty stable.”
“What are you doing?”
“Making sure you’re marrying for all the right reasons. While you're playing house in the countryside, I’m taking care of our family business. You know my father wouldn’t have wanted anything to tarnish our name.”
I closed my eyes, feeling a headache coming on. "I'm aware."
"You need to come see me. Soon. This isn’t something you can ignore."
"I'll check my calendar."
“Or maybe a trip to the country would be a nice change of scenery? It’s Fall and I’ll bet the leaves are turning.”
“No, you don’t need?—”
He hung up without a goodbye.
I exhaled slowly, the pressure in my chest returning like an old unwelcomed friend. When I returned to the boardroom, Archer was rolling up the plans and Richard was practically glowing.
“This project will make yourself a name in the region, Keaton. I’m proud to be a part of it.” Archer held his hand out to shake his. I stood proudly aside, looking upon Keaton and the progress his business had made since I first arrived at the beginning of summer. Being on the ground floor of something growing was so satisfying.
Richard looked up from his phone and fist pumped the air. “Yes!” All eyes turned toward him. "This is it, Keaton. I've just gotten word from my distributor contacts. They want a meeting. You’re on the map. Everything you and Sophie have done is paying off.”
“Are you serious?" Keaton beamed, the glow reaching his eyes. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done to help me, Richard.”
“Bask in the glory for now, my friend. But we have a lot of work to do to prepare for the meeting. Hey, Archer, I’ll walk you out.” The minute Richard left the room, Keaton dashed over to me and picked me straight up, spinning us around. I yelped.
“Can you believe it? I thought this would take a few more months, even a year, but it’s happening, Soph. And I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Elated for him, I laughed and kissed and celebrated with him. I recalled the way he was on the first day in this office at the beginning of summer, all grumpy face when I suggested changing his logo. Today, his eyes crinkled in the corners, his blues shiny.
“Happiness is a good look for you. Sexy even,” I purred.
“We make a great team. Too bad we have to break up soon,” he blurted, probably joking. But my stomach flipped, the moment ruined. It must have registered on my face. My shoulders deflated as he set me back on the floor.
"We knew that going in, right? But a fake divorce doesn’t have to be the end of us, does it?” He cocked his head, his hands caressing my sides. “Or maybe we could talk to Melanie about extending, try to ride this wave a little longer.”
“This wave…” Hurt, I jumped in before I could think better of it and said, “But a divorce could be just as dramatic for marketing implications. Think of the fan reactions. We could fill a restaurant in no time."
“Divorce?” His lips flatlined. Our celebration of a minute ago vanished. “I guess we have a lot to talk about.”
“We do.”
“I have to head back to the Hops, but we’ll talk tonight, okay?”
I watched him leave, the weight of our conversation pressing on my chest like a heavy storm front of dark clouds thundering in. We’d climbed a mountain of his dreams together, the momentum building like magic. But as soon as we neared the summit, reality crept in, reminding me of the temporary nature of our situation. I told myself not to overthink it.
What did he want? For that matter, what did I want? I held onto the believe that there was still a chance to figure out what came next for us.
A few hours later, the Hops buzzed with its usual after-dinner crowd. I camped out at the cozy corner both with my laptop open, staring at the wall of Keaton’s games. I mentally cataloged the day, between Griffin’s reappearance and everything left unsaid between Keaton and me, and tried to work on a few things.
“Hey gorgeous.” He suddenly appeared at my side. I scooted over and let him sit next to me. He kissed my temple, then he must have noticed my screen.
"Post-ninety-day career opportunities?" he read aloud, tone unreadable.
I closed the laptop too quickly. "It’s nothing. Just brainstorming, after our earlier conversation. Thinking ahead. "
He nodded, but something in his jaw flexed. "Right. Of course."
I hated that he saw it. Hated how his jaw ticked like he was trying not to react. But I couldn’t lie. Reality crashed in. This thing we were doing had an expiration date.
Before I could say more, a couple wandered over. Tourists. Early thirties. Matching flannel shirts.
"Oh my God,” the woman gushed. "You’re Keaton and Sophie, right? From Brewed for Love ? We adore you two. You’re like the perfect married couple. Too good to be true!"
Keaton chuckled politely. I smiled through my teeth, without it reaching my eyes. “Thank you," I said.
They asked for a photo. We obliged. They left. Jessa called him over to help with something behind the bar.
“I’ll be home late tonight. Don’t wait up.” He left me there, without a kiss or a smile. He’d said we should talk, but now…?
The illusion we'd built around us as a married couple shook, fragile to the core. Cracks formed at the edges.
My phone buzzed again, notifying of an email incoming.
Subject: Check-In Reminder - Required Filming This Week
Melanie and her camera crew would be here soon, for another round of Keaton and I pretending to be what we weren’t.
The perfect married couple?
Too good to be true , the tourists had said. They were right.
With every passing hour, it felt less like a countdown to freedom and more like a time bomb I wasn’t sure my heart could survive.