CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Brody spent the week working. He’d convinced Alex to give him the Wi-Fi password to the router in his cabin, saying he wasn’t really visiting anymore and needed it for work.
The final selling point was actually a threat—if he couldn’t get his own, he would camp out in her office or on her front porch to steal her signal.
She’d agreed pretty quickly after that ultimatum.
He spent his days studying the online travel world, reading blogs, watching vlogs, and researching how popular freelancers made money. He followed a few of the top content creators to keep an eye on their tactics. And finally, he started taking notes on his book ideas.
On Wednesday, he finished his Whispering Pines article and sent it off to Wanderlust with a bittersweet goodbye.
He’d revised his initial, not-so-flattering assessment and given it a glowing review.
The editors would take it from here, and he wouldn’t see it again until it came out in print a few weeks from now.
Alex was avoiding him. Other than his pitch for Wi-Fi, they’d barely spoken. Especially not about the brunch from hell.
He wondered if she was upset about the kissing.
He still wasn’t sure why he’d done that—twice.
The first one, in the cabin, was part wanting to stun Alex and part an effort to shut Blossom up.
Brody didn’t like her snide little digs at Alex.
Apparently, he was just as susceptible as Alex to letting Blossom push his buttons.
The second kiss, in the restaurant, was…what? Sure, it felt good to stick it to Blossom again, but also, he’d just…wanted to.
Alex clearly hadn’t appreciated his dedication to the bit, and he’d gotten the silent treatment since. Eventually, they’d have to talk. He’d give her space until she was ready.
Nose to the grindstone, he mostly kept to himself.
The few times he ventured into town, he became the subject of curious speculation.
Alex had been right that their subterfuge wouldn’t go unnoticed or unscrutinized.
With so little going on, Brody and Alex’s potential love connection was the hot topic of the week.
Patrons at the diner thought they were whispering, but Brody heard every, “Think they’ll get married?” “They’re so cute together,” and “It was only a matter of time.” It was like the town’s volume knob had broken off on “way too loud.”
Perhaps that’s why Alex was keeping her distance, to avoid adding fuel to the fire. Thankfully, no one approached him directly for information. He’d wait and follow Alex’s lead on how to deal with it.
By the weekend, he was ready for a fun excursion with his new friends. Nick drove—he had the only rig that would fit all six of them—and Faith was nice enough to give Brody shotgun.
He wasn’t informed until they were halfway to Boston that this trip would include a salon visit. According to the women, all the “good” nail shops were in Boston.
Nick read Brody’s mind and preemptively offered an explanation.
“Don’t look at me. I’m just the chauffeur.” Nick shrugged. “This got added on behind my back.”
“We’re getting pedicures,” Faith said as they pulled up to the curb in front of the salon. “You guys wanna come?”
“No,” Brody and Nick said together.
“It’s not a big deal,” Tess said. “Men get them all the time.”
“Not real men,” they said again in unison.
The women laughed. “Suit yourselves.” Faith kissed Nick goodbye. “Pick us up in an hour?”
To kill time, Nick and Brody grabbed a beer at a nearby bar.
“You guys come to Boston much?” Brody asked.
“Few times a year. Faith shops while I visit an old friend.”
“Someone from the bureau?” Nick had mentioned he used to work for the FBI, so Brody assumed that’s what he meant.
“Sort of,” Nick hedged. “My partner was killed in the line of duty a couple of years ago. I try to check in on his widow and kids every now and again.”
“Oh, I’m sorry about that,” Brody said. Nick nodded, and they sat in silence for a second.
“So,” Nick said, changing the subject. “Any truth to the you-and-Alex rumors? Faith says no, but…”
Brody shook his head. “I’m just waiting to get details on our breakup. Hopefully, Alex lets me keep my dignity, and I don’t turn out to be a cheating asshole or something.”
“Guess I won’t ask about a kiss at The Rusty Nail?” Nick waggled his eyebrows.
“This is leaning dangerously close to junior high girls’ locker room talk,” Brody said, and Nick laughed.
“Touché. I spend too much time around women. Let’s see, what manly things can we discuss? How’s the new career search going?”
Brody smiled. “I’m gonna start a video blog first. You know, with travel tips and reviews of my favorite destinations. Once I get that up and running, I’ll look at writing a book or two.”
“Sounds like a solid plan. How long do you think you’ll stay in Green Valley Falls then?”
“Not sure yet,” Brody said. “I was traveling so much, I never bothered to get my own place. Just stayed with friends or in hotels between assignments. Eventually, I’ll have to find a real home.”
“You have family close?”
“My mom lives in Hartford. My dad passed away when I was twelve. No siblings.”
“Sorry about your dad.” Nick sipped his beer. “That must have been tough growing up without him.”
“Yeah. It’s been me and my mom against the world for as long as I can remember.”
“She ever remarry?”
“Nah,” Brody said. “But hopefully someday.”
“What about you? Gonna get back in the saddle after what happened in New York?”
“That’s a nice way of putting it.” Brody huffed. “At least it sounds better than catching your almost fiancée cheating on you.”
“I pride myself on tact,” Nick said with a smile.
“I don’t know, sure,” Brody said. “If the right woman comes along, I’m game for another go. Speaking of getting past traumatic events. How’s your friend Max doing?”
“Not great. He’s holding it together for Lilly, their daughter, but barely. I’ve heard from the inn employees that he’s having a hard time reengaging.”
“It’s only been a couple of weeks,” Brody said. “He needs time. I can’t imagine what he must be going through. Death sucks. Especially when it’s someone so young and their death so senseless.”
Nick nodded and finished his beer.
Later, they were all seated at the game, pleased that the Celtics were up by eight at the half.
After the cheerleaders did their halftime dance, a man came onto the court to announce a three-point contest.
“One lucky fan will have the chance to win a thousand dollars,” the announcer teased.
“Alex, you’re up,” Faith said without a doubt.
“Yep,” Tess agreed. “Better stretch out.”
“I don’t know,” Alex hemmed. “My luck’s been in the toilet lately.”
Brody was confused, but none of the friends were the least bit surprised when Alex’s seat number was called. Their group popped onto the big screen, the camera zooming in on Alex.
Her seat was in the middle of the row, and they all stood to let her out.
“You got this, girl,” Tess said, slapping Alex on the butt as she passed.
“Bring home that bacon.” Juliet tapped her rear end.
“Dinner’s on you,” Faith said, also spanking her as she slid by.
Not wanting to feel left out, Brody smacked her on the backside too. “Go get ’em!”
She looked at him like he’d lost his mind, but he just smiled.
Her long ponytail swished back and forth as she descended the stairs. In the middle of the court, she made a show of cracking her knuckles.
“I’m Ken,” the announcer said once Alex was by his side. “What’s your name?”
“Alex.”
“Have you played much basketball, Alex?”
Alex shrugged. “Enough.”
“All right. Well, three-pointers are shot from this semicircle.” He pointed to the curved green line and went on to explain the rules using slow, simple words, as if she were a toddler.
“Oh, this is gonna be delicious,” Faith said.
“It’s always sweeter when they underestimate her.” Tess rubbed her hands together.
“Prepare to eat your mic, Ken,” Juliet added.
They seemed to have a lot of confidence in Alex’s ability to shoot threes. Nick had told him about their state championship, so he knew Alex played ball, but still had doubts as to how good she could be.
The rules were simple. Alex would take ten shots—two each from five different spots on the line. She had to make nine out of ten within sixty seconds to win the thousand dollars. There were racks of balls at each spot.
“You understand the rules?”
Alex nodded.
“She looks nervous,” Brody said.
“Part of her act,” Tess said, waving off his concern. “She’s fine.”
“Well, all right,” Ken said. “Just do your best. Trying hard is what’s important.” His condescending tone earned a side-eyed glare from Alex.
“I think I’d rather just win, Ken,” she said dryly, and the crowd laughed.
“This will be a walk in the park,” Faith said, leaning back in her chair. “She was our best outside shooter.”
“But she’s so small,” Brody said.
“Don’t say that to her face,” Tess muttered.
“People always underestimate Alex,” Juliet said. “Usually, at their own peril.”
“Yeah. Luck may have called her number,” Faith said. “But she’ll win on skill, which she earned through a bajillion hours of practice.”
“Think her ankle will be a problem?” he asked.
“Nah,” Tess said. “She’s barely limping anymore. She’s got this.”
Brody watched along with thousands of others as Alex closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and rolled her shoulders.
“Ready, set, go!” the announcer yelled, pointing to someone, indicating they start the timer.
Alex picked up her first ball, tossed it up, and missed. By a mile. Total airball.
“Oh, that’s too bad,” Ken said. “You’ll get the next one.”
“That part of her act too?” Brody asked.
“Shh,” Tess said. “Just watch.”
Without hesitating, Alex grabbed another ball and sank the three from the outside shot. She jogged to the next spot and made both baskets.
Alex moved again and dropped two more. Brody watched as the announcer’s expression flashed from pity to surprise to admiration to panic.
Most likely, the sponsors did not expect to have to actually cough up the prize money.
These games were usually just a ruse to garner name familiarity for a business.
Ken seemed to be stressing out over someone winning on his watch.
The crowd was getting into it. Alex rushed to the next marker and swished both of those too.
“She’s two baskets away. Can you believe it? Let’s cheer her on, folks!”
Ken was now openly rooting for her. As was the entire audience. Alex went to the final mark and sank one more.
On her last attempt, the ball bounced off the rim, shooting straight up into the air. The crowd held its breath as the orange orb paused dramatically in midair before rushing back down and slipping right through the hoop. The stadium erupted, and Alex threw up both hands triumphantly.
“Oh, my gosh,” Ken called breathlessly. “She did it. She did it!”
He walked over to where Alex stood. “You undersold yourself, young lady.”
Alex smiled demurely and dipped into a quick curtsy.
Caught up in the excitement, Brody screamed and clapped with the rest of the fans. She might only be his fake girlfriend, but his heart still beamed with pride.
Alex followed Ken to the sideline, where he counted out the money.
“Come on, Ken,” Nick said. “Now twenty thousand people know she’s carrying a wad of cash. Why don’t you just stick a ‘rob me’ sign on her back?”
“Good thing she's got two bodyguards,” Tess said.
Alex grabbed the microphone. “I’ll just have my friend, who’s a police officer, hold this for me.”
“Attagirl,” Nick said. “She’s no dummy.”
Alex shoved the bills into her bra and gave the crowd a wave before returning to her seat for a round of accolades.
“Never doubted you,” Faith said.
“Easy money,” Tess agreed.
“Like taking candy from a baby,” Alex said, pulling the money out of her shirt and fanning herself with it.
“The look on poor Ken’s face.” Juliet laughed. “Priceless.”
“Not bad, Gray,” Brody said as Alex sat back down. He was rewarded with a smile that did something else to his heart. Something different than pride. Something like admiration, or perhaps, attraction.