The Sweetheart Sham

by Danielle Ellison

  “Georgie, so nice to see you,” she says, pulling me into a hug. Like I said, I barely know her but she’s thoughtful. She asked me all sorts of questions when we first met and she remembers every answer. “Your momma said you’re letting us use some of the space in your room. It’s so sweet of you to let us expand in there. I know this wedding will be taking up your whole house.”

  I give Momma the side-eye. What exactly is she keeping in my room? I shouldn’t even ask. It’s probably better if I don’t know until it’s there so I can’t fuss about it.

  “Yes, yes, Georgia Ann is a peach. Pearl, Jane.” Mom turns to Emma Claire’s mom and sister/maid of honor. “Some tea or coffee before we start talking about the flowers?”

  Just like that my phone beeps, and it’s Will. I’ll be there in 10.

  Thank the sweet baby Jesus for Will Montgomery.

  …

  Nothing says summer like sitting by the pool at the country club. Since it’s not even 9:00 a.m., it’s only Will and me here. Just the way I like it.

  Well, Will and me and his phone.

  I adjust myself on the plastic lounge chair and watch Will text again. “Who is that?”

  Will clicks the side of his phone so the screen goes black. “The boy from the party.”

  “You’ve been talking to Mystery Boy?”

  Gosh, his smile is so radiant. I’ve never seen Will smile that way before. “Since Friday.”

  Now I really want to know who it is. None of the guys we hang out with can carry on a conversation, let alone text one for four whole days.

  Will taps the back of the phone with his fingertips. “He wants to go on a date in Charleston so we can be alone together and not worry.”

  I pull my legs up to my chest. “How you going to manage that?”

  I’d mention coming out again, but his trump card is always the same one: Dale Westin. I can’t make him come out before he’s ready, and I don’t want to, but I wonder how much easier his life would be. Maybe it wouldn’t be easier, I don’t know really, but I just want him to be happy.

  Will smiles at me. “Georgie.”

  “What?”

  He has this nervous but determined look on his face. The same look he gets before a big football game. “Remember when you said you’d do anything for me—did you mean it?”

  “Of course I did.”

  “I have a completely insane idea,” he says then pauses.

  “I’m listening.”

  He shuffles in his chair so he’s facing me and his legs are tucked under him. “What’s the one thing our family has wanted for generations?” He doesn’t let me answer. “A Monroe/Montgomery union.” He points at me, then himself. “Us.”

  I pause because Momma texts me and because my brain is trying to pick up whatever he’s putting down. “Us?”

  “You should be my girlfriend.”

  I laugh, but he’s wearing his serious face. “You want to date me?”

  “Not for real, just for the summer. Look, I can’t go missing for dates with a house full of Montgomerys and all this wedding stuff. Plus, someone will want to meet whoever it is, and telling them no is like trying to kiss a rattler.”

  The town watches everything he does; as the Golden Boy it’s sorta the requirement. They talk, they gossip, and if anyone sees Will with Mystery Boy, everyone will know. Now there’s no escape for him.

  “If we’re dating, they’ll all be happy about it and I can go out with someone who really likes me.”

  As he’s saying it, I try to imagine my summer as Will’s girlfriend. Even if it’s not real for us, it is going to be real for everyone else. Too real.

  “I don’t know,” I start.

  “It could also help you have a break from the wedding craziness,” Will adds. “You know your momma is going to be all about it, more than she is now.”

  He’s got a point there. Momma is going to be in Planning Mode all the time. She already is, and we have months. It darn well feels like a good solution for both of us. It’s the only way no one will suspect anything. The only way Will can be sure no one finds out his secret before he’s ready to share it, and the idea of having a little bit of my own life is real appealing.

  Will sighs heavily and turns to face me, his arms resting on his knees. “Never mind, this is dumb.”

  “No,” I say. I’m quiet because I’m thinking. He’s not wrong. Everyone in town will buy it, especially his family. I point between us. “We’re literally the dream.”

  We are the chance, one they all want, to finally unite the Monroe/Montgomery lines after decades, nay centuries, of “bad luck, bad timing, and birth order.” The Howells and Lexingtons are as inbred as they come, but us? Nope.

  Will smiles. “You think it will work?”

  “More than work. They’ll all be so tickled that we’re finally together that they will practically push us out of the house together. You know they would. They’d encourage us to be alone. They’ll want us to fall so hard for each other that there’s no turning back.”

  Will looks at me, his eyes a dark shade of blue, which only happens when he’s worried. “It’s going to crush them when we break up.”

  “If that’s the case, then you’ll crush them anyway when you come out,” I say. I don’t mean to be harsh about it, but it’s our job to keep each other grounded. Otherwise, other people’s expectations of him would carry him away. “One day you are going to come out, and until then you deserve the chance to go on a freaking date with Mystery Boy,” I say. “I’ll do it.”

  He smiles his little side smile at me. “You’re really serious.”

  “As a heart attack,” I say. “You’re my best friend.”

  Will loosens up again, letting his smile spread across his face and those worry lines on his forehead disappear. I meant it when I said I’d do anything for him, just like he’d do for me. He’s never let me down, never not been there. This is the least I can do for him after everything with my momma and how much he helped us. Heck, this is the least I can do since he’s been mine every day of our lives.

  “This is a great idea. I’m kinda shocked I didn’t come up with it,” I say. Momma texts me again and this time I pick up the phone to read it.

  “You’re really doing this for me?” he asks.

  “Yes,” I say, scrolling through Momma’s texts about place settings, stores to call, and seating chart colors, and why am I not answering her? “I’m yours for the summer.” It will be a much-needed break to get some time away from town.

  “You’ll tell me if you change your mind for any reason.”

  “I won’t change my mind,” I say.

  Will smiles again, the same smile he had after the party. Unfiltered and rare. “Are you sure?”

  I lower my phone. “I’m sure, but only if you ask me properly.”

  With a chuckle, Will gets down on one knee and says, “Georgia Ann Monroe, will you be my fake girlfriend?”

  I rest my hand against my chest. “Why, I’d be honored.”

  That Summer—June

  Georgie

  This is the worst End of the Year Party ever. I plop down on the Newmans’ porch swing, gathering the maxi dress up around my knees. I should’ve never let Momma convince me to wear this dress. Country music plays throughout the farm and some of the others are still dancing, some are making out. I try not to stare too hard at this one couple sitting on the porch, but his tongue is like halfway down her throat.

  I don’t know where Will or the others are, and I can’t handle another minute around Shelby. How does Momma think I could be friends with her? I don’t want to be a Belle, or wear dresses, or come out to society.

  The couple shifts and he presses her against the railing of the porch. That can’t be comfortable.

  I look around for someone else, anyone else, and that’s when I see Beau. Thank Cheesus. I bolt off the porch as the boy’s hand disappears under the girl’s shirt. I do not want to see any more of that, thank you.

&nbs
p; Beau runs a hand through his hair as I get closer to him. “What happened to you?” he asks when he sees me.

  I pull up at the end of my dress, though at this point it doesn’t matter anymore since Momma is gonna kill me anyway. Not only is it ripped, but it’s covered in mud. I told her not to send me out here in this, but no. She had to have me in a dress. She even stole the jeans I planned to change into from my secret hiding place in the bushes. I’m never gonna be what she wants me to be. If she’d really wanted a prim and proper girl, she should’ve never let me hang out with the Montgomery boys.

  I shrug. “Life, Beau. Life.”

  “You really shouldn’t have worn a dress to a party on a farm.”

  “Shut up. Momma practically forced me into it.” I use air quotes. “‘A Belle is always dressed properly for a party.’”

  “Even on a farm?”

  I shrug. “Even on a farm.”

  Beau gives me a knowing look, meaning he feels for me because I don’t like dresses or Belles or anything proper. “So, she’s serious about this Southern Belles stuff then?”

  I sigh. Momma wants me to follow in her footsteps, join her tribe of elite young women who make Culler what it is by “maintaining the rules of the South.” Whatever that means. I’d rather go fishing.

  “She’s more than serious. She could’ve at least picked a shorter dress. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

  He smirks. “What do you want to do?”

  “Go home.”

  “Will went to find Drew,” Beau says. “Wanna go sit?” He nods toward the porch swing.

  “Oh no, not there, anyway. Trust me,” I say.

  Instead, we head toward some of the logs that are set up around a dying campfire. My shoe gets stuck in some mud, and he waits for me to get it unstuck. He only laughs a little bit, and when I’m free I punch his arm.

  “Hey now.”

  “Don’t laugh at me.”

  “I’m not laughing at you.”

  “I know it’s ridiculous. I’m trying here.”

  “You’re not ridiculous. You’re beautiful,” he says. “You always are.”

  I feel myself blush, and I’m not sure why. This is Beau. But Beau has never called me beautiful or looked at me that way.

  Beau is staring at me, this strange look on his face. For a second I think he’s gonna hurl, but that’s not what he does. He kisses me. Beau kisses me, straight on the lips.

  After, we stand there and neither of us moves. I’m still processing what happened when Will calls our names. “Drew is in the car!”

  “Georgie,” Beau says, reaching out for me.

  “You better sober up real fast,” I say. My heart races as I walk ahead, and my legs are shaky but not from the dress. Beau Montgomery just kissed me.

  Chapter Four

  Georgie

  Will and I have kept our fakeship, code for Fake Relationship, a secret for the last five days. I tried to make sure I hinted to Momma and Daddy that something was going on with someone. I smiled more than usual, and even did a few of those cute laughs that girls do while checking their phone. I played coy when they asked. Momma likes to know everything, so I’m surprised she didn’t pry harder.

  We decided we’d reveal it tonight at the Montgomery family dinner, since both of our families will be there. Will’s handling the reveal, and I’m handling the breakup details at the end of the summer. We even set some ground rules.

  Hand holding, good.

  Hugging, always okay.

  Flirting, as needed.

  Kissing, none unless absolutely necessary. Hopefully it’s never.

  I’ve walked into the Montgomery Estate millions of times in my life, but today it feels like the first time. I’ve never been dating a Montgomery before while I do it. Momma pulls at my dress. “Why do you seem nervous?”

  “I’m not,” I say.

  “You have a line right here.” She points and touches my forehead.

  “Leave her be, Jessamyn,” Daddy says and pulls her away before she can protest.

  Will lets us in and my parents hug him. “Everyone’s out back,” he says. Once they’re gone, he looks at me. “You ready to face the Montgomerys?”

  Yes. No.

  “I’m ready if you are.”

  Some Luke Bryan song plays throughout the house, and suddenly I am nervous. What if this doesn’t work at all? Momma could look right at me and know we’re lying, couldn’t she? His grandpa could die from the shock of it all; I don’t want to be the one who kills Orry Montgomery.

  Or what if it goes well? Like, really, really well? What if we never get out of the lie? That won’t happen. We won’t let it happen. We’ve talked about all the possible outcomes, and we will definitely be breaking up at the end of this summer.

  They’ll buy our story, right?

  “You look pale,” Will says.

  I see the family outside through the big windows. They’re laughing and talking. Most of them changed my diapers at some point, which is weird to think about, but they’ve been around since I have. “I reckon I am a little nervous.”

  Will chuckles, but it sounds more like a squeak. “Me too. I’ve never brought a girl home before.”

  He takes my hand before we turn the corner. Will’s held my hand before, but never like this. Never when it meant something else. And it doesn’t, because we’re not interested in each other, but we have to convince all of Culler, South Carolina, that we are. Worse, we have to convince every Montgomery and Monroe that we are An Item.

  No pressure.

  Orry, Will’s grandpa, sees us first. He’s facing the door, pouring some scotch, and he literally freezes to look right down at our hands, which are entwined and sweaty from nerves and heat. Not that he knows that part. Then he laughs his old man laugh that he’s known for, one that’s all air trying to squeeze out and getting caught in his chest. (He used to be a smoker.)

  “Tell me I ain’t seeing this wrong.” Orry nods toward our hands.

  Will and I exchange a look. He seems really nervous now—at least I don’t think my hand is that sweaty on its own—so it’s up to me to take charge.

  “Yes, sir. Will here finally swept me off my feet.”

  Orry hollers and slaps Will on the back. A few people look toward the sound.

  “’Bout time, boy! This is the best news.” Will relaxes some and even smiles as Orry pulls him away from me with a hug. “Everyone’s gonna be happier than a dead pig in the sunshine.”

  Wow, that’s really, really happy.

  I think.

  “Hurry up with my scotch,” I hear my pappy yell.

  Orry shakes his head and mutters something under his breath. “Come on then,” he says to Will and me before he takes off toward Pappy.

  Will shrugs, and we follow. I steal a passing glance at my momma and daddy, Will’s parents, the Stanguards, and Beau’s dad, Hank, as we walk by them. Pappy Monroe is shooting blanks at some clay birds, and he yells, “Pull!” right before the gun goes off. This is what they do—Orry and my pappy spend their days out here shooting. Sometimes they’ll go out to a car show, or to church, maybe some fishing if the weather is right, but other than that it’s these two old widowed best friends spending their days left together.

  Pappy notices me and smiles. “Georgia girl, did you see that?”

  “I did, Pappy,” I say as I kiss his cheek quickly, earning a smile. Ever since Granny died, he always seems older—except when he’s with Orry, like today, then he almost looks normal. Ornery even. I guess when you’ve known someone all your life they never lose that power to make you feel young.

  Orry clicks his tongue and points to me and then to Will. “Earl, what do you think about this? Finally a Monroe and a Montgomery.”

  Pappy looks toward our hands and nods. “It’s real good, but it ain’t like they’re getting married.”

  “Not yet,” Orry says.

  “They’re young’uns. Let them be,” he says.

  “Oh, I�
��m letting them be, you old geezer. I’m just saying it’s nice is all!” He looks toward the porch and clears his throat. “Y’all, Will and Georgie are together!”

  “Well, that’s nice, but it’s your shot and it’d be nice if you took it,” Pappy says.

  Will steps away with me and we move back toward the porch where it’s safe. Being so close to old men with guns and scotch, even when they’re shooting blanks, is probably not the smartest decision. Not that anyone would ever say otherwise.

  Will leans in to me. “We’re doing well so far.”

  I nod. “Orry is happy about it.”

  “Georgia Ann!” Momma coos from across the patio. I groan when I see her and Madison, Will’s mom, coming our way. They’re both grinning ear-to-ear. When she gets to me she wraps me in her arms, while Mrs. M hugs Will. Then they switch so I can be covered in Mrs. M’s expensive but stinky perfume.

  “This is the best news, Georgie,” Mrs. M says.

  “Why didn’t you say anything? Tell us everything,” Momma says.

  Mrs. M squeals. “Yes, don’t leave a word out. How on earth did this happen?”

  I start to decline, but then I see them all so eager, and Will starts in.

  “We were at the lake and—”

  “Which one?” Momma asks.

  He shakes his head. “Hound Lake, down off Route 6.”

  “Right,” I say. We’ve practiced this. “I got a little too close and I completely fell into the water. Will,” I say with a pause and look at him with the best isn’t-he-the-greatest-thing-in-the-world look I can muster, “jumped in to save me.”

  “But of course that lake comes up to your shin.” He laughs and everyone laughs with him. He’s hitting it out of the park. “She just stood right up and I about died right there. Then something bit me.”

  Everyone gasps. It’s Drew who says, “What bit you?”

  “I thought it was a snapper.”