Page 26 of The Charming Checklist
“To them, I always worked too hard, and took life way too seriously.”
“Well, I’m with your family on this one. Sometimes you do take life too seriously.”
“I don’t want to fail at anything. Especially not marriage.”
“I can understand that. Were you ever married before?”
“No, but I came pretty close a couple of times. It wouldn’t have worked so I’m glad I didn’t go through with it.”
“And why wouldn’t it have worked?” She cocked her head.
“Cheating.”
“Yours or theirs?”
“Theirs, of course. Can you imagine me as a cheater?”
“No, I can’t, you’re far too serious for that. But I had to ask. After all, I know so little about my fake boyfriend.”
“Cheating is a common problem in the navy. Some women don’t like being left alone for long stretches of time.”
“Then they shouldn’t have signed up for that.”
If only it had been that simple, but apparently there was something oddly attractive about a navy man. And also, something very forgettable.
“Right,” he said, glancing at his wristwatch. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Max was being sonice. Ava hated that it probably had everything to do with pity, but tonight she’d take the sympathy. Rather than fix him up with Mercedes, she should have realized that one evening with her family might help him see whathisfuture family might look like. She hoped he’d had second thoughts. Max was a good guy, who seemed to be hiding behind a false belief about himself.
After her cupcake, Ava fully expected him to drive her home, but instead he headed to the wharf. Saturday night was slammed at the Salty Dog.
“Did you want to stop by work?”
“I’m taking you to the boardwalk.”
This was a side of Max she hadn’t been familiar with and she wondered why he’d unwrapped it for her tonight. And how long it had been buried. Even though she actually relished the idea of going home to bed with a cup of coffee and a book, she’d be crazy to pass this opportunity up.
“I’ve never seen you on the boardwalk before.”
“What do you mean? I’ve been there plenty of times.”
“I don’t mean when you walk across on the way to work, Max. I’m talking about the rides. The games.”
“Okay, you got me. Never have. But this is your night and I bet you appreciate the carnival-like atmosphere.”
“Is that a dig? Don’t look now, but Mr. Grumpy is peeking his ugly head out.”
“I’m not being a grump, I just thought you might like this, and I want to make you happy. Anything wrong with that?”
“Nope.”
So, she didn’t complain when he bought her cotton candy, even though she much preferred salty and sweet kettle corn from the Lazy Mazy. If they’d looked overdressed at the bakery, that went double for the wharf. Droves of residents and a few tourists crowded the boardwalk tonight, moving from games to rides dressed in jeans, board shorts and tees. Some of the younger children were already dressed in Halloween costumes. The weather tonight was classic with a light coastal breeze. Perfect and mild.
“Ava!” Barbara from the yarn store waved and approached. “Don’t you look lovely.”
“Hi, Barbara!” Ava went in for a hug.
“You’re so dressed up. What’s the occasion?”
