Page 71 of Country Charm

“You about done?” I cross my arms and look her dead in the eyes. “I’m not going to pretend I’ve thought about giving you a chance, Franny because I haven’t. I’m not interested in whatever you’re offering, so you should just think of someone else to give that offer to. Others might find it a mighty fine one, but I just find it trouble.” She physically jerks back at my words.

She shakes her head twice like she can’t believe how curt I’m being, but I’m done being gentle. It has only given this girl false hope, and I don’t have room for that.

“Hunter,” she starts again, and I shake my head sternly.

“I’m not interested, Franny.” I stand my ground and her bottom lip trembles as she turns in her boots and heads back over to her stand where her brothers are breaking it down.

I let out a heavy sigh and pull my hat off my head, tossing it on the empty crates next to me. I run my hands through my hair and groan, giving the ends a quick tug.

I can’t imagine this weekend getting any worse. I don’twant to bring any more bad karma my way, so I try not to put out additional negative energy.

“Well, I did not see that coming. I thought Franny would have played the innocent I’ll-wait-forever game ‘til the end. Today she put her big girl boots on and walked right into a big fat pile of horse?—”

“Shut up, Harrison.” I toss my hat back on and finish the breakdown without another word.

Back at the house, I sit in my mother’s library flipping through the pages I have left inReady Player One.Cassidy had one shipped to my house so I could finish what I started.

Most of me knows she just wants someone to talk with about the book. I don’t mind bein’ that person. I try to read the same passage three times before closing the book and giving up for the night.

Like the pathetic man I have become, I pull my phone out and see that I finally have a message. I almost drop my phone in my rush to unlock the damn thing and see what it says.

Jake: Can you come by? My mom is getting worse.

Disappointment rushes me, but I stand and grab my keys as I head out my door straight for the park. Jake asking for help can only mean one thing: Sharon has to go to the clinic.

Chapter Thirty-One

Cassidy

Everything is perfect. The spa, the food, the drinks, the girls. Everything. This weekend is exactly what I needed to remind myself that I am right where I need to be and the decisions I make that put me here are the right ones.

We have been following our itinerary almost to a T, with the addition of an extra trip to Starbucks for a pick-me-up in the afternoon. Maybe in our old age, we should have scheduled a nap before our evening out, but we didn’t. So, coffee ended up being added to help us get through the afternoon lull we all experienced.

The girls all look pampered and refreshed, sipping glasses of wine at our table for dinner. Everyone is dressed to impress with dewy faces, freshly painted nails, and top-notch hair. I am no exception.

The final call with my nails ended up being ballet slipper; my mind couldn’t make another decision, so classic was the only choice. I’m wearing a simple blush satin dress, Georgie in a mauve-toned number, and Lynn in a lovely ballet-recital pink. Mary is wearing white, of course. I canimagine we look like the typical bachelorette group out for a night of mischief. I think everyone looks perfect.

The girls were excited about my possible job opportunity. Each had something positive to say, but Lynn wanted to know what that meant for Hunter. I just rolled my eyes at her irrelevant question and the others took that as a cue to refrain from asking about it further. If I had let her, Lynn would have continued to press on, but today isn’t about Hunter and me. Today is about Mary.

I can’t lie and pretend I haven’t thought about him. I have thought about him on numerous occasions, and each time I am reminded of the same thing. I look around the table and see the girls’ beautiful faces and think, once again: He is not a permanent fixture, like these girls.

Maybe it’s because my mind has wandered to him again, that I notice my phone buzzing in my clutch. I give him credit for not calling all day, but then again, he knew I would be busy.

I look up and see the conversation at the table has stopped and the girls are all staring at me.

“What?” I say and take a generous drink.

“Don’t you ‘what’ me. I know that is Hunter on your damn phone. You think I haven’t seen you check that thing every hour all day? You don’t have to not answer on our account. We have all taken the time to speak to each of our partners at some point today. You are the only one who hasn’t yet.” Mary is as direct as ever. She’s technically the boss, so if someone gets to call the shots today, it’s her.

“I don’t have a partner to call,” I say cheekily.

“Oh, cut your bullshit.” Georgie rolls her eyes and takes my glass out of my hand. I think for a moment to tell them we are currently fighting, but then there would be questions. I don’t wantquestions.

“If I call Hunter back, can we drop this whole topic?” I am bargaining with them, and possibly ruining my night all at once. I try to quickly map out a way to kindly navigate a swift conversation with Hunter without disrupting my fun, or completely backing down when he apologizes again. Not that he is the only person who needs to apologize, but I am not quite ready to have an I’m-sorry conversation.

Georgie squints her eyes and glares at me from across the table.

“Sure.” She states coolly, and I know I am so far from off the hook with her. She can read me better than anyone, and she knows something is up.

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