Just Pretend (Love Comes To Town)

“I’m ordering pancakes,” Wynona announces.

“Don’t mind her,” Josie tells Nolan, throwing a dismissive wave at Wynona. “She’s just judgmental, and you didn’t make the greatest first impression, so…”

Nolan nods. “Understatement: I made the worst first impression. I was a complete dick.”

Finally, Wynona smiles, with a pleased nod of her own. “Ah, so you are self-aware.”

Nolan winces. “I guess I deserved that.”

“Can we just order food and save the grilling for later?” I ask.

“Fine,” Josie says, pouting at me before turning a stern frown at Nolan. “Though I’ll have you know I do have questions that need to be answered.”

Nolan manages to chuckle. “What have I gotten myself into?”

“Nothing a good guy wouldn’t get through,” Wynona says mildly.

I resist the urge to sigh. Maybe us coming here today wasn’t such a great idea.

I was just riding such a high from last night that I didn’t really think it through.

Although once we finally do order—blueberry pancakes for all—it doesn’t go completely horrible.

“So,” Josie says, steepling her pink-and-purple-nailed hands as she regards Nolan with a severe look. “What are your intentions with our Sierra?”

Nolan’s hand sweeps to his chest. “Completely honorable, I do swear!”

We all giggle, and he continues, “In all seriousness, I really like her.”

“We know about the fake engagement,” Wynona cuts in.

“Ah,” Nolan says, shooting me a sidelong look. “I’m not sure that I’m wanting to go through with that after all.”

My heart leaps, although I keep my mouth shut.

“Not sure,” Wynona continues in a dangerous tone. “Or just don’t want to deal with her crazy twin friends bitching at you?”

“Why can’t it be both?” Nolan asks.

Josie giggles, Wynona glares.

“Can Sierra and I talk this over later today?” he asks.

“Of course,” Josie says. “Although I’m sure you can understand why we can’t totally be on Team Nolan, with what we know.”

Nolan nods. “That’s fair.” He eyes them. “Is it my turn for questions now?”

Josie says “Yes” at the same time that Wynona says “No.”

Nolan leans over the table with a devilish smile anyway. “What is Sierra’s deepest, darkest secret that she wouldn’t want me to know?”

“What kind of crap friends do you think we are?” Josie demands.

“That her dog Horatio shits on rugs, especially nice ones,” Wynona says smoothly.

We all crack up at that.

“It’s not his fault,” I say. “He’s a rescue.”

Josie shudders. “Anyone who spends more than a month in the company of your sister needs to be rescued.”

“She was a horrible dog owner,” I explain to Nolan. “And this isn’t just my dislike of her speaking. She sometimes wouldn’t take him for walks for days on end—just used these pee pads that she’d get her maid to clean up… it was bad.”

“Your sister doesn’t sound like the greatest person,” Nolan comments diplomatically.

“You think?” Josie says. “She made me cry on my birthday when I was twelve.”

“She forced me to lock myself in a locker and not come out until school was over in ninth grade,” Wynona recounts.

“Jesus,” Nolan says. “This woman sounds like the Antichrist.”

“That about sums it,” I say, all of us chuckling.

Once our meals are delivered, we gobble them down. Then, it’s some more easy chitchat with the twins before it’s time for us to go. Nolan insists on paying the bill.

“Is this your way of bribing yourself into our good graces?” Wynona point-blank asks him.

Nolan just smiles. “Is it working?”

“Now that you mention it,” I say, smiling my own evil smile, “there is this new pink Volkswagen beetle Josie was eyeing…”

We separate, laughing.

Being with Nolan is like going around places with a chocolate in your mouth. Like wherever we go, whatever we do, it’ll be good because he’s here.

The rest of the day, we run errands that would normally be mundane—but aren’t because he’s here. We go grocery shopping and buy weird fruit. We get enamored with some bland cookies with a funny baby on the front called Parle-G. We try on crazy scarves and ridiculous hats at Macy’s until I’ve laughed so much at our reflections that my mouth hurts.

By the end of the day, back at my place, I’m so exhausted that I have to drag myself off the couch to walk Horatio. Nolan and I making love three times probably didn’t help, either.

That night, as I’m half-asleep in Nolan’s arms, he murmurs, “I really like you.”

I pause—does he know I’m awake?

His big hand runs over my hair affectionately, and it hits me then: no, he doesn’t think so.

“But it’s a secret,” he says, chuckling to myself. “So, don’t tell.”

I won’t, I think to myself, as I drift off, happier than ever. Promise.

Chapter 21

Nolan

Goddamn is it a good morning.

I’ve got my girl in my arms, it’s a long weekend, and I feel damn good.

The past day was a happy blur. Even if I didn’t totally win over her friends, it’s only a matter of time.