Head Over Feels

Stepping into the sand in front of Marlow, I’m one step closer to making my dreams come true.

35

Rad

After being dragged all over the property by Marlow and the Marchés, I’m happy to be locked away in a room with the boys before the wedding begins.

I only caught a glimpse of Tealey from across the lawn this morning when she was helping my mom with the flower arrangements. Not enough to satisfy the craving twisting my gut. But she was stunning even with her hair in rollers and dressed in a robe over workout pants, maybe more so because of how naturally beautiful she is.

A rap on the door sends Jackson to answer it. My mom pokes her head in. “Does anybody need anything?”

Cade and Jackson are good, so she asks me, “Can you spare a minute?”

Already dressed, I join her in the hallway outside my bedroom, which has been deemed the “groom’s room.” Her smile is genuine with a glassiness to her eyes. “You always look so handsome in a tuxedo.”

Hugging her, I say, “You look beautiful, Mom.” She does. I’m not sure why she doesn’t date. She looks younger than her years, but she’s not old enough to be sitting on the sidelines for the rest of her life. She also doesn’t want to hear a lecture from me, so I let it go for today.

“Thank you.” Hooking her arm with mine, she says, “Let’s take a quick walk.”

I’m not sure what this is about, but something’s on her mind. Better to get it off now than let it fester.

We move apart on the deck. I lean on the railing while she stands on the steps, keeping her eyes on the crew as they rush around with the finishing touches. She says, “It really turned out beautiful.”

“It did. You and Cammie did an incredible job pulling this off so quickly.”

“It was my pleasure.” Turning toward me, she says, “Clear something up for me.”

“All right.” Judging by how her expression contorts, I don’t know where this is going. It could be a financial question, a legal dispute, or she might want to talk about my future. I literally have no idea. My mom isn’t usually subtle.

“What’s going on, Radcliffe?” she starts but then stops when two people carrying more chairs pass between us. As soon as they’re out of earshot, she continues, “I could have sworn you were showing interest in Tealey when you were last here, but now you’re dating Marlow? And from what it looks like, you’re quite chummy with the Marchés.” That just about sums up the lies I’ve been living.

“What do you mean showing interest in Tealey?”

Lowering her chin, she gives me that look, the one that stops me from daring to go there. There, meaning playing dumb. It’s something she hates, but I’m not above it.

“The flirting, the ‘trip’ into town. Frank, an old friend of mine who works part-time security at Rusco’s had lots to talk about. I got more than a lobster roll when I stopped by on Tuesday, let me tell you. I got an earful.” Shit. I keep my mouth shut. It’s best to let her finish than fill in the rest of the story.

She joins me at the railing, keeping her eyes trained on the waves in the distance. “The description based on hair or eye color could have been either Marlow or Tealey. But when he mentioned the yellow dress . . .” Her gaze hits me, but there’s no judgment in her eyes or hurt in her tone when she asks, “I didn’t realize you were so close.” She holds my hand. “Tealey’s wonderful. Don’t get me wrong, son. Marlow is charming, and there’s a je ne sais quoi air about her, but I didn’t see her . . . and you . . .” My mom’s attention turns to the commotion near the quartet.

She’s going to be disappointed in me, but I won’t lie to her. “Marlow is a good friend, but there’s nothing more between us.”

The crinkles around her eyes deepen when she smiles. Resting her hands on the railing again, she says, “I thought as much, but then what’s going on?”

“We . . .” I sigh. The situation and the lies are draining me. “I got talked into helping her out with a personal issue, and as strange as it may sound, that involved pretending we’re dating.”

“That doesn’t sound like any good can come of it. Helping a friend is a good thing. Lying, not so much.” She tilts her head to the side. “What about Tealey? Does she know the truth?”

“She knows the truth.”

“That’s good. I’d hate to think there was cheating involved.”

I stand in disbelief.

“Mom, you know me. I wouldn’t cheat. I’m not that man and never will be.”

She rubs my shoulder. Pride and empathy shine a light in her eyes as she dotes on me. “I know. I shouldn’t have made you feel I didn’t. I wasn’t questioning your character. I was making sure things haven’t been misconstrued when it comes to how Tealey feels about this fake dating business. Does she know how you feel about her?”