Page 157 of As They Are
“Not with me. Just wanted to chat.”
That was ... concerning. I gestured to one of the waiting room chairs and sat next to her. “What’s on your mind?”
“You and Wren.”
I blinked. “We are?”
“Yeah. You guys are serious, right? Are you going with her when she goes back to Nashville or ...?” She trailed off.
My shoulders tensed. In all of our planning, we hadn’t talked much about the end. I didn’t want to think too hard about what life would be like without her. “I’m sure we’ll figure it out.”
Tammy wasn’t convinced. “You two are serious enough to be on camera and you’re fine with saying you’ll ‘figure it out?’ Who are you, and what have you done with Henry Connor?”
“I’m trying to be more relaxed with this one.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You have a woman like Wren and you’re choosing to be relaxed?”
“Yes?”
“She’s the kind of woman that you go on one date with and start planning the wedding. What the hell are you doing?”
I wasn’t sure I could tense any more, but I did. “I’m not doing anything, just keeping it ... chill.”
The words sounded wrong coming out of my mouth.
She narrowed her eyes. “Something’s fishy here.”
“Nothing is fishy! In fact, I make sure nothing ever smells like fish. I use a lemon-scented cleaner and?—”
“Henry,” she said slowly. “You know I’m not gonna be fooled.”
“Could you try to be?”
“No.” Her voice was flat. “Listen, if it were anyone else, I’d let it go, but this is Wren. So, I’m figuring things out. I came here hoping I would find out some info on you and her, something that would tell me if you could get her to stay, but this is off. You two are off.”
“Do you always do this much digging?”
“For her I do.” She crossed her arms. “Now, spill.”
There was something about the way she looked at me that reminded me of my mother when she would catch me reading at two in the morning. I knew I couldn’t keep lying.
“Wren and I aren’t dating.”
“What?”
“We’re pretending to ... so she doesn’t have to be with Jude.”
Tammy looked like she was trying to remember all of the numbers of pi. “I don’t ... But you look?—”
“She’s a good actor.”
“And you?”
“I’m ... not acting as much, but I’m making sure I don’t get attached.” It was hard to admit, but somehow also easy to. I didn’t realize how much I needed to talk about this until Tammy forced it out of me.
“Is this why no one ever sees her at your house?”
I reared back. “People are keeping track of that?”
