Chapter 4
Rowyn
I walk into the box, scanning the clusters of women chatting easily, all laughter and familiarity.
Normally, I don’t mind being the odd one out, but tonight feels different.
I’m not really Jaxon’s girlfriend, and standing here under false pretenses makes me feel like a fraud.
For a girl who prides herself on honesty, the whole thing sits sour in my stomach.
Jaylynn is about to steer us over for introductions when I catch her arm. She pauses, brows lifting in question. “Jay, can we talk for a minute?”
Her expression softens immediately. I’ve always liked her. We grew up in the same city, though she was younger and our paths never overlapped. Now, standing in her orbit, I’m struck by how naturally kind she is.
“Sure,” she says gently. “Is everything okay?”
I hesitate. The words stick, thick and unwieldy in my throat. I hate admitting it, but I don’t have many—okay, any—female confidantes. Work friends, sure. But real friends? The kind you could spill secrets to? I’ve been too busy, always put it on the backburner, and now it’s burned out.
“I…don’t…” My voice cracks.
“Hey.” She touches my arm lightly, her voice low and steady. “I know how hard it is to walk into a room full of women you don’t know. Trust me, I’ve been there. But you won’t find a warmer, more supportive group than this one. Every WAG is welcome here.”
Her reassurance should settle me, but guilt churns harder. “That’s just it,” I whisper. My gaze flicks toward the others, then back. “I shouldn’t even be here.”
Jaylynn tilts her head, curiosity sharpening her expression, though not unkindly.
“I need to tell you something,” I blurt, the words tumbling out before I can lose my nerve.
“Of course. You can tell me anything.”
“It’s a confession, of sorts.” My throat is dry. “Jaxon and I…we’re not really…” I swallow. “Dating. It’s a ruse. Stupid, I know. I don’t even know what I was thinking. I don’t belong here.”
I brace for judgment. For her to call me out or quietly usher me toward the exit. But instead, Jaylynn’s face softens, and then, to my shock, a smile tugs at her mouth, amused and almost conspiratorial.
“Jay?” I ask, thrown off balance.
“Can I tell you something?”
I blink. “O…kay?”
She leans closer, lowering her voice. “Penn and I weren’t really a couple during Christmas, either.”
My jaw drops. “Wait, you weren’t?”
A little sparkle catches in her eye. “Nope.”
“But you guys are engaged now.”
She lifts her hand, admiring the sparkle of her ring.
The laugh that slips out is so full of love it makes my chest ache.
“Oh, we definitely are. But back then he was helping me out. Dylan—” She makes a face, as if the name alone tastes sour and believe me I get it.
“Penn pretended to be my boyfriend. And look where that got us.”
I stare, wide-eyed. “Oh my God, Jay. I had no idea. I’m so happy it worked out for you.”
Her smile is radiant, but her eyes are intent as they settle on me. “It could work out for you, too.”
“No, no,” I say quickly. Too quickly. Her brow arches, skeptical, and I backpedal.
“I mean, I’m not interested in Jaxon. The other night, he helped me out when hot coffee shop guy didn’t show.
” Stop babbling, girlfriend. Unable to help myself, I continue.
“He pretended to be my date to help me save face and then later when I told him about hot coffee shop guy, he came up with a plan. Honestly this fake dating idea was all him.”
“But you agreed,” she says, eyes narrowing just slightly, like she’s trying not to grin.
I let out a groan and drag my hand down my face, probably smearing my mascara into raccoon territory. “Yeah, I sound insane, don’t I?”
“Not insane.” She tosses her hands up dramatically, nearly knocking over a glass of wine on the counter beside us. “A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.”
“Oh, God, Jay. This is crazy.”
“Nah.” She slips her fingers through mine, a comforting squeeze. “Relax. Your secret’s safe with me. I promise. And for what it’s worth I think this plan is brilliant. Sometimes the best things start out as pretend.”
I meet her gaze, and something unsettling zips through me. “You mean for me and hot coffee guy, right?”
She blinks, all innocence. “What else could I mean?”
Okay, good. Great. She doesn’t think I want Jaxon.
Which I don’t. Obviously. The man is so not looking for commitment, and I don’t blame him.
Heck, I’m not looking for anything long term either.
I have to concentrate on my career, and can’t let anything distract me.
It’s just that a girl occasionally likes a man’s touch, and for the record, I’m talking about Matt’s touch, not Jaxon’s. Definitely not Jaxon’s.
“It’s all going to work out. I promise and no one ever has to know.”
My stomach unknots a fraction, tension trickling out of me.
For the first time in maybe forever, I think I’ve found someone I can trust. Someone who’ll keep my secrets and stand in my corner.
The knot in my chest loosens, and for a fleeting, dangerous moment, I don’t feel so alone.
The last time I felt this…safe? Not alone?
It was standing in my living room with—ugh. Jaxon.
Frig.
“Now let’s go meet everyone.” Jaylynn squares her shoulders, all hostess confidence, and announces, “Ladies, I want you all to meet Rowyn Perry, Jaxon’s girlfriend.”
Every head swivels. A half dozen pairs of perfectly winged eyes and glossy lips beam at me like I’ve just been accepted into their exclusive club. My pulse skips, guilt prickling, but I paste on a smile and squash my unease. Like Jay said, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.
We exchange pleasantries—names I instantly forget, laughs that are warm and welcoming—and the inevitable question lands: So how did you and Jaxon meet?
I launch into the backstory, the words tumbling out on autopilot because they’re true. “Oh, we go way back. Grew up in Snowberry together. Same grade. We were both back at Christmas and—”
But then a loud voice cuts across the chatter, calling my name. My spine stiffens. Busted? Already?
I brace myself, but when I turn, relief floods me. Charlie—aka, Indie Rhodes—is striding toward me, all glowing skin and sparkling eyes. Last year, as a favor to Jaxon, I did a true story on her to clear her image, and tell the real truth about her ex.
“Rowyn!” she squeals again, and before I can react, she flings her arms around me in a genuine hug that I find myself leaning into. “I knew it.”
When we break apart, I tilt my head. “Knew what?”
“That there was something between you and Jaxon.” She waggles her brows. “When he introduced us last year, I could see the way he was looking at you.”
Is she kidding me right now?
I shoot a quick glance at Jaylynn, who isn’t even pretending to look innocent. She’s grinning like the cat that not only ate the canary but also left feathers in her teeth for style points.
Honestly, if all of these women are this easy to convince, pulling off this ruse is going to be easy. Walking away however…hard.
“I’m so happy for you two,” she adds. “That guy has had it bad for you for a long time.” She leans into Jaylynn. “I think that’s why he’s never dated.”
Because I’m a hard-hitting journalist who prides herself on facts, my first instinct is to blurt out the truth—that she’s dead wrong—but then I remember the plan.
The ruse. But the truth is, the thing Jaxon was looking at that night he introduced us was an old friend.
Just an old friend. And he’s not dating because of past hurts, not because he has it bad for me.
But I can’t say any of that.
“Ohmigod, you’re that Rowyn,” Brighton squeals. “Why didn’t you say so?” Before I can process, she’s hauling me into a hug that smells like expensive perfume and cotton candy lip gloss. “Girl, you are so one of us. Come on, sit by me.”
I laugh as she practically shoves me into a plush seat, my knees barely missing the table.
Jaylynn drops into the chair on my other side like she planned this ambush.
Before I can protest, a woman swoops in with the efficiency of a server at a five-star restaurant, pressing a wineglass into my hand.
“I wasn’t sure if you liked white or red,” one of the women says.
“I like both.”
She beams. “Knew we were going to like you.” She reminds me her name is Gina, wife of Ash, and adds, “Lots of names to remember, but don’t worry, you’ll get it. I own the Nook. It’s a café downtown. You know it?”
“Yes, I love that café.” Technically, I’ve only been there twice. “When I lived downtown, I usually went to Golden Grinds—it was around the corner.” I definitely don’t tell them I still go there because that’s hot coffee shop guy’s turf, and well it’s close to the office.
I take a sip of wine, crisp and sweet, while Gina plops down on Brighton’s other side.
“Did you find anyone yet?” Brighton asks Gina, in that gentle but concerned tone.
I try not to listen. I fail. It’s the reporter in me. Not that I’d ever reveal any of their secrets. That’s Billy’s field. Not mine.
Gina exhales like she’s carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.
“No, not yet. With Avery graduating, Carla retiring, Andre moving to California with his partner. It’s just Sherry, Maria and me when I have to fill in, which is more than I want.
Honestly, I’m run off my feet. Finding a part-time sitter for Tate and Zoe when I have to work weekend shifts has been impossible.
Grant’s been helping, which is great, but it’s not fair to dump weekends on him, and a few weekdays.
He should be out enjoying his senior years. ”
“In a few more years, Zoe will be able to watch her little brother for a couple of hours,” Brighton says.