Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
WEST
SUNDAY DINNER
The usual chaos of Sunday dinner buzzed around me with forks clinking, stories flying, Gramps half-yelling over someone else’s joke while Grams tried to wrangle everyone back on topic.
In the middle of it all, they asked about Fiddlers and I kept my answers short and clean.
“It was available. Needed someone who gave a damn to keep it alive.”
That was good enough for them because it wasn’t unlike me to buy something that needed to be tended to.
They moved on to family updates. Easton and Jesse were making plans to go to Loxley’s show in Virginia Beach next weekend.
Miles and Lox weren’t here, but Grams told us they were already planning to lay low once they got back to town, the same way they had when they first met.
I nodded and pretended to listen, but my head was somewhere else. Specifically, back in that dingy office with Blue.
I’d made my fourth, and easily the most reckless, impulse decision of my life:
I asked her to marry me. Well, I didn’t exactly ask, it was more of a suggestion.
I didn’t even know her last name. Had no idea where she lived. She could’ve been anyone, and yet something told me she was the only person who might actually understand the mess I was in.
Truthfully, I could’ve just handed her the damn bar.
The money didn’t matter to me, and it clearly meant the world to her.
But then I realized that if she helped me look like a grounded, family-oriented man, I could finally get McConnell to sign off on my housing project.
And suddenly, the idea didn’t just make sense.
It felt strategic.
At least, it had at that moment.
Now, sitting there at the family table, surrounded by laughter and comfort food, I couldn’t help but question my own sanity. I had no business getting married—fake or not. And lying to the people who mattered most? That wasn’t exactly in my wheelhouse.
But I knew Blue. At least, I knew her well enough to know how tempting the offer had to be. And just as I tried to push the thought aside, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I glanced at it.
Unknown
Ok fine.
No name. Just those two words.
I knew who it was and a slow smile pulled at the corner of my mouth. Unfortunately, my entire family noticed and didn’t miss the chance to give me hell.
“Is that your Sunday night booty call?” Easton grinned like a jackass.
I was tempted to drop the truth right then and there, just to see his jaw hit the table. Instead, I rolled my eyes and muttered, “Business never stops.”
Which wasn’t exactly a lie. Some of my biggest deals had been inked on a Sunday night.
This one, though? It was different. It wasn’t just a business win. I had the feeling my future had been locked in with two little words.
Now I had to sell it, and the performance needed to start immediately.
“You know what,” I said, standing up and leaving my plate half full. “I think I need to head out. There’s someone I want to see before I leave town tonight.”
Easton’s eyes widened. He knew exactly who I meant, and that was part of the plan. I wasn’t confirming anything, just planting seeds.
“Oh, take some condoms from the pantry!” Grams called, already halfway to the linen drawer-turned-sex-ed center. “You never know what size you’ll need, so I made you a variety pack!”
Jesse burst out laughing. No matter how long she’d been around, she still hadn’t gotten used to Grams handing out protection like baked goods.
To be honest, I had never gotten the condom pep talk before. But I played along, lifting the bag and smirking. “Thanks, Grams.”
After a round of quick goodbyes, I headed for the door and slipped into the car with Marcus.
“Head to Fiddlers,” I pointed, like he could see the old bar at the end of my grandparents driveway. He just nodded and started making his way as I stared out the window into the darkening sky.
Fiddlers closed at eight on Sunday because the entire town shut down early on Sunday, but I had a feeling Blue might still be there, sitting with the reality of what she’d just agreed to. Maybe even picturing what it might look like to finally own the place she’d poured everything into.
Hell, maybe she was pacing the office the same way I’d paced my living room last night, wondering what the hell she just got herself into.
I didn’t know what I’d find when I got there.
But for the first time in a long time, I was looking forward to finding out.