Page 69 of Can't Get Over You
“This is a small town. How’re you going to handle it when people find out you dipped on Matt only to wind up engaged to a guy like me? Living in the same house you and your fiancé bought together? The town sweetheart isn’t going to come out looking too good.”
“You know, not everybody’s as obsessed with their reputations as you are. Some of us just want to build a beautiful life and be happy.”
“And pretending to be married to me and a mother to a kid that’s not yours is going to get you there?”
Well, no. She didn’t want to play happy family.
She wanted to be part of one.
Chapter Thirteen
Since Finlayand her ex had only moved into the house a week prior to the wedding, they hadn’t even finished unpacking boxes. He’d already taken his things—and that included the couch his mom had given them, the TV, and the fancy grill he’d bought with this year’s bonus—so she didn’t have much to do to prepare for her new roommates.
Mostly, she had to finish putting her stuff away. She unloaded quickly and methodically, leaving the empty boxes in the hallway. She’d break them down and get rid of them right before Cody got home from school.
It should be sad, she knew that. She should be crying for all she’d lost.
For thehusbandshe’d lost. The babies she’d planned on having.
Instead, her head was spinning with the absolute thrill of being with Jude McKenna. Even if it was fake, she got to live with the man she’d once wanted body and soul.
And pretending to be married to me and a mother to a kid that’s not yours is going to get you there?
Well, that was the thing. It would be the worst kind of torture. But if she went in knowing it was temporary, maybe she’d be okay.
And you know what?Maybe living with Jude would make her see him in a whole new light. Maybe he’d be all dark and moody and keep to himself. Or he’d chew loudly. See, those were all the details she didn’t know about him. He might not brush his teeth every day. That would be gross. Or what if he left clipped toenails all over the bathroom counter?
No, you know what would really do it? Turn her off completely? If he ignored Cody. If he scrolled through his phone instead of actually getting on the floor and doing puzzles with him. If he didn’t tuck him in at night—well, she wouldn’t stand for that.
As a child, she’d put herself to bed most nights, and the loneliness… Yeah, it wasn’t something she could bear to watch with Cody.
After cleaning the bathrooms, she checked the time. Jude would be there any minute. She collected the packing paper and hauled it into the garage. Both the recycling bin and garbage can were full, so she rolled them down the driveway to the curb.
The cloud cover made it extra cold, and light snow flurries had crystals dancing and swirling around her. What would Jude think of her neighborhood? It didn’t fit him at all.
Across the street, as a mom unloaded groceries from her SUV, her toddlers made snow angels on the lawn. I want that. I want that so much. Next door, a neighbor chatted with a friend through the window of an idling car. Plumes of exhaust rose into the frigid air.
She loved how everyone went all-out with Christmas decorations. Strings of lights dangled off eaves and wrapped around bushes. Front doors held wreaths with bright red bows, and giant ornaments hung heavily from branches. Some ofthe lawns had blow-up Santas, snowmen, and reindeer. It was magical.
When she started to turn back, she noticed a woman crossing the street.
Oh.Excitement sped through her.Is this it? Is it happening?She wasn’t sure if this was the woman who hosted the annual Christmas open house, but if it were…she’d waited a lifetime for this moment.
She checked her mailbox every single day in the hopes of getting that coveted invitation. Silly to have worried. Of course, she’d be invited. She lived there now.
With a welcoming smile, the older woman approached, clutching a dark green envelope in her gloved hand. “Well, hello there, neighbor. I’m Janice Atherton.”
“Finlay O’Neill. So nice to meet you.”
“Are you all settled in?” The woman tipped her head to the house.
“Getting there.” Finlay had wondered what kind of reception she’d get after running out on Matt, but it looked like everything would be all right. That was awesome because she didn’t have grandparents, so the idea of this kind woman taking her under her wing just made her feel all kinds of good things.
“Well, that’s just great.” The woman smiled. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do. I was an interior designer back in the day, so if you need help with décor, I’d be glad to take a look.”
“I would love that.” On a teacher’s salary, that wouldn’t happen anytime soon, but it’d still be fun to make a batch of shortbread and a pot of tea and at least talk to her.
The woman’s arm lifted.
