Page 14 of Fake Date with the Mountain Man

Ignoring each other is preferable to our normal dynamic. We should have been doing this all along. It probably would have saved us both a lot of trouble.

But it’s not without its own set of problems. First of all, I don’t know a single detail about this wedding. It’s this weekend, but I’m not sure which day or what time or what I’m supposed to wear. Second of all, we’re not going to make a very convincing couple if we both act blissfully unaware of the other’s existence the entire time.

When I walk through the ranger station lobby on my way to lunch, Ryan is standing near the front desk talking to Jack. Jack gives me a quick nod, but Ryan doesn’t even glance over.

My nerves are already in overdrive just thinking about this weekend. How are we going to tolerate each other for hours at a time, let alone make people think we actually like each other? Will he want to touch me, to make it seem more convincing? Does asshole-ism run in his family, or is he the genetic outlier?

I really have no idea what to expect. And right now, I don’t have time to properly consider the myriad of questions running through my head. I’m already running late to lunch with Abby.

When I arrive at Dot’s Diner, Abby is already settled into a large corner booth with papers scattered everywhere. This is a working lunch – our last meeting to finalize the itinerary of Nature Track’s first hike.

Abby looks up and smiles at me as I cross the restaurant.

We launch straight into talking about the program. Abby is practically vibrating with excitement as she plucks papers out of the piles and points to various spots on a map, showing me the route she plans to take the kids on in a few weeks. The first hike will be a simple day hike with a limited group size. Sort of a trial run.

Abby drags her finger to a spot on the map and pauses.

“This is the only part I’m not sure about. I thought we could stop for lunch around here,” she taps her finger to a red dot on the map, “but Hunter thinks it’s a bit too far for the kids. He suggested stopping near the hiking shelter instead, but it’s almost a mile out of the way.”

I nod along. I don’t know the first thing about the area. Or about hiking, for that matter. Paperwork and red tape are more my areas of expertise.

“Do you want to come with me on a trial hike this weekend? We can get a feel for the distance and see which spot might work better for lunch,” Abby says.

“Sorry, I can’t this weekend. I have to go to a…thing.”

Abby widens her eyes at me and laughs. “Ooh, a thing? That’s very mysterious of you. Is that code for a secret sex party or something?”

The waitress arrives with our waters just in time to catch the tail-end of the conversation. She suppresses a smile and leaveswithout a word, apparently having decided that we are not ready to order yet because we’re too busy talking about sex parties.

“Definitelynota sex party,” I say.

The idea of attending a sex party with Ryan instead pops into my head and heat flushes across my face. I wouldn’t put it past him to attend that sort of thing, so I guess I should count my blessings that it’s just a wedding that I got myself into with my little prank. I take a long sip of my water and hope this conversation is over.

“Sorry,” Abby says, “I was just kidding. I didn’t mean to be nosy.”

“No, it’s fine. I have a wedding to go to, but I’m not really looking forward to it.”

Part of me wants to tell Abby everything, but the other part is too embarrassed to repeat the story. I haven’t had many close friends in my life, but it feels like Abby might become one of them. She’s been so welcoming ever since I moved to Gatlinburg, and we get along great. I feel guilty for keeping this secret from her. Maybe she will even have some words of wisdom to get me through this ordeal.

“I’m going with Ryan,” I sigh.

“I knew it!” Abby practically bounces out of the booth.

“Knew what?”

“That you two actually liked each other.”

“Oh no, we still thoroughly dislike each other. Trust me.”

“Then why are you going to a wedding together?” Abby asks with a laugh.

I tell Abby the whole story. When I’m done, she’s laughing so hard she snorts.

“Well, maybe a trip to Lexington will do you guys some good. You’ll either come back as friends, or you’ll murder each other.”

“What do you mean? What’s in Lexington?” I ask.

Abby stops laughing and gives me a confused look. “The wedding is in Lexington, isn’t it? That’s what Ryan said a few months ago when he was venting to Hunter and me about it.”

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