Page 85 of Always Knew It Was You

“If the shoe fits...”

“If it makes you feel better, my dad and I used to hunt deer once upon a time,” I tell Poppy. “But we stopped because I felt bad for the deer.”

“That’s ‘cause you were raised soft. In the wild, you wouldn’t have felt bad for the bear. You would have accepted that that’s the natural course of nature.”

“Yes, but we don’t live in the wild, Mom. We live in a civilized society, and there’s really no reason for us to be killing things to eat them anymore.”

“Oh, don’t start with your vegan nonsense, Tate Marie. I’ll kill whatever I damn well please. God intends it that way and no city-boy pansy is going to convince me different.”

“Sorry,” Tate immediately apologizes on her mother’s behalf. “Mom thinks everyone who doesn’t eat meat is a pansy. And she has wild conspiracies about God’s purpose for living beings.”

“What a coincidence.” I smile. “So does mine. Except my mom thinks that we were put on this earth to suffer and only in suffering can we find absolution.”

Everyone looks at me, as though they can’t decide if I said something profound or profoundly stupid.

“Or something like that, I wasn’t paying attention.”

We all laugh, and the small talk continues, trading banter among ready friends.

But I sense a change in Carly at some point. It’s like she gets quieter and quieter. Saying less.

And then finally, she says, “Hey, guys, sorry, I need a minute. I’ll be back.”

And without further explanation, she turns to walk away.

I’m not the only one who watches her leave. Emma frowns. “Is she okay?”

“I don’t know.” I keep my eyes on Carly’s retreating form, noticing she’s heading for the exit. “But I’m going to find out.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

CARLY

I avoid Micah’s regard when I walk away, even though I feel his gaze on my back. I don’t want him to look into my eyes. I’m scared he’ll see the thoughts running through my mind, nasty thoughts that don’t deserve to see the light of day.

Thoughts I never thought I would have about another woman, much less someone I consider a friend.

Well, maybe not a friend, but at least an acquaintance and not an enemy.

And those thoughts originate from somewhere deep inside, a malevolent envy that I’ve felt probably my whole life.

And I hate that I feel that way, hate that I’m getting possessive and jealous over a man who’s not mine and will probably not even remember my face when he leaves. I hate that I was thinking of pulling him away from a conversation he was enjoying, just so he and Tate couldn’t continue their banter. So that he wouldn’t realize how much prettier, smarter, and better she is than me.

But he probably already sees it. Anyone with eyes and a working brain can see it.

And that’s what makes it hurt worse.

Luckily, I think I hid my feelings pretty well. I treated Tate with the same friendliness as always, but I was hoping that she and her mom wouldn’t linger. Seeing her joking around with Micah, with her long legs and beautiful smile and luscious red hair... I felt like a drab fat little mouse in comparison. And watching Micah smile back at her, made it so much worse.

He’s going to leave you for her.The thought consistently pounds against my skull, and it’s not an entirely irrational one. After all, Micah promised no loyalty to me and he would be well within his rights to exercise other options.

I bet Tate would make a better fake girlfriend than me. Heck, she could even be his real girlfriend eventually. They fit well. Tate’s smart, accomplished, and bold. I bet she wouldn’t have goofed up with his grandfather. She would have handled that situation with more finesse and found a way to defend Micah without pissing off his family.

Something I couldn’t do.

I just need to go home. Hal seems to have the cookie stand under control, and Kayla’s mom will be coming later to help. Emma has Tate to hang out with, and Declan and Micah can have their manly talk. I doubt anyone would miss me if I were gone.

My thoughts are interrupted when someone from behind grabs my wrist.

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