by JB Schroeder
Worst of all? Every single second she spent with Jake, she fell harder for him.
The wedding was just two days away. She knew she should tell him before then. And yet…
Did a fake wedding and pretend marriage require honesty?
Perhaps not, but dammit, her friendship with Jake did. She thought so highly of him and trusted him, and she thought he felt the same. This giant lie of omission would change everything, though. How could it not?
Tomorrow. She’d tell him tomorrow evening. The minute they left the diner. She wouldn’t even wait until they got home. If it was a complete debacle, and he called everything off—
God, she could barely stand to think of it. Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t freak out, and together, they could think of a workaround, to salvage the plan for Rita. That was probably the only scenario Sadie could envision that didn’t ruin absolutely everything.
Of course, she didn’t want to hurt Rita, but when it came down to it, she didn’t want to lose Jake. Her heart didn’t care one bit that this was all smoke and mirrors.
He felt so right here beside her. They got along great, they talked, they laughed, they teased. Their connection in the bedroom burned hot. The daily care he showed for her, and even the plans he kept making…
Just yesterday, he’d seen a print in a shop window in Shadyside. It was huge floral thing. Modern and bright—just her style. Jake had taken the artist’s card and snapped a picture of the artwork on his phone. He promised that he’d buy it for her as a late wedding gift as soon as he found a house and that they’d decorate a whole room around it.
Would he bother with those kinds of thoughtful offers if he was just biding time? He must care for her. The question was how much?
No wonder she felt so caught in this untenable situation. The lines were so blurred that they’d disappeared entirely.
Sadie scrolled down the page of her paper, still pretending she was working, when really her mind churned right along with the sugar and caffeine that had soured in her stomach.
Jake had said that the wedding itself changed nothing. In some ways, that was true.
If she fessed up and—best case—they still married, then she would still have some time. Not the six months they’d agreed to past the wedding, but a good two and a half months before she left for Korea. Time in which he might yet fall madly in love with her, confess that he’d never leave, and beg her to marry him for real.
He might also—once his mom was well into her adventure—announce that he’d had enough of playing house and slaving over a grill and hightail it back to New York. Or knowing him, somewhere else entirely, like Los Angeles or Rome.
Sadie chewed on the inside of her cheek. He’d go. One way or another. Because what man wanted long term with a woman who’d been lying to him?
14
Because Jake had expressed interest in taking as much of the pressure off his mom as possible, on Thursday, he and Rita finally holed up in Wanderlust’s office and spent a couple of hours discussing vendors, deliveries, staffing, payroll, and more. Some of the details had changed since Jake had left for college, and yet his parents had run the diner much as they always had. With enough hard work to build something they could be proud of, enough business acumen to be successful, and enough caring and generosity to instill loyalty in both their staff and customers.
It was also clear to Jake that his parents had shared a true partnership. Even when they divided tasks for the sake of expediency or preference, they’d still kept communication open and made decisions jointly.
More than once, Jake felt himself getting emotional. He was so lucky to have parents like these and so proud to be part of the legacy they’d built.
Shortly before he was due to take over in the kitchen, Rita got them each a coffee and a jumbo chocolate chip cookie to split. “We earned it,” she said.
Instead of scooting her chair alongside his again, however, she swiveled it to face him. She leveled her best mom look at him.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“That’s the very question I wanted to ask you.”
“In regard to what?”
Leaning back in her chair, she crossed her legs and linked her hands together over her abdomen, settling in for an interrogation. Jake didn’t even know what he was in trouble for yet, but old habits died hard and his pulse picked up.
She cocked her head. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“What do you mean?”
She reached for her cup, sipped, set it down, and then studied him. Jake had an urge to squirm. She couldn’t possibly know about the agreement with Sadie, and yet what else could there be?
“I know there’s something you aren’t telling me,” she said.
He rolled his eyes. “Why would you think that?”
She raised her chin. “I don’t think it, so much as know it. The same way I knew when any of you boys were up to no good growing up. I just know.”
“Mom,” Jake said with exasperation, “I’m working and I’m spending time with Sadie. There’s no time for much else right now.”
“Speaking of Sadie…” He turned up his hands when she didn’t continue, and she shrugged a shoulder. “You two got awfully serious awfully fast.”
“So what? We’ve known each other forever. And I thought you were happy for us.” Jake reached for his coffee for something to do with his hands. The guilt about lying to his mom ate at him. And yet he and Sadie had been having so much fun that it was easy to forget that the relationship was a strategic one agreed upon over a hot pretzel and sealed with a hug.
Rita huffed. “I am happy for you, but why the rush to get married?” Her eyes narrowed. “Is she pregnant?”
Jake took much too large a sip of the still-hot beverage, burning his tongue and nearly searing his windpipe. “Jesus, Mom, no.”
They’d been careful. She’d had her period since they’d started sleeping together, but how many weeks ago was that now? Damn. Worry suddenly wormed its way into his gut.
She pursed her lips and swung a foot, still eyeing his every twitch like a hawk.
Jake set his mug down on the desk and exhaled hard. “What do you want to hear, Mom?” Hers was one of the only opinions he cared about. He didn’t want to hear a negative, and yet he asked anyway. Because the wedding was tomorrow. “Do you still have doubts about my intentions? Do you still think I’m not good enough for her?”
“I never said that, Jake, and you know it.”
But the worst part wasn’t her suspicion, or even her doubt. It was that she made him question things. Was he doing wrong by Sadie? Did he just want her so damn bad that he’d put his own desires ahead of what was best for her? She’d agreed, of course, but what about in the end? What did she stand to lose? To be so young with an annulment or divorce under her belt? Would it cause a rift in her relationship with Rita?
Or would he be the one with all the scars?
He shook his head. “I’m one hundred percent committed to this wedding and to running the business.” He threw an arm out to encompass the office. “The reason I haven’t settled down before is because I wasn’t ready. Now I’m ready. And Sadie’s the right girl. She’s my future and the right person to partner with me in the family business.”
Rita’s expression was sour.
He added, “I know you aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, but it’s still important that Sadie is nearly as wedded to this place as I am.”
“That sounds like a business maneuver more than a marriage.”
Damn it, Jake thought. She was too perceptive by half, and he was bungling it, too. Why had it come out of his mouth like that when he hadn’t thought of the agreement in business terms for weeks?
“All I can tell you,” Jake said, “is that I feel it in my gut that this is the right move. And my gut has never before steered me wrong.”
“That’s true enough, at least,” Rita said.
He wasn’t willing to say more now, when he hadn’t even
admitted to Sadie how he felt about her. Jake rubbed his forehead, then looked his mom square in the eye. “Do we still have your blessing?”
“Of course,” Rita said. “Of course you do.” She stood and opened her arms. He rose and hugged her. She gathered the coffee cups and left him the cookie. Neither of them had touched it.
When she reached the door, she said, “There better not be a grandbaby in my Christmas stocking, or you’re in big trouble.” Luckily, a wink and the hint of a smile accompanied her parting shot.
Jake huffed out a laugh. He suspected she’d like nothing more. Oddly, the idea didn’t sound that bad to him either.
On Thursday, Sadie went straight from her day job at the Children’s Museum to The Wanderlust for her evening shift. Jake was holed up in the office, Benny was on the grill, and Rita, who’d been out front taking care of customers along with Denise, asked Sadie to get several items from the storeroom.
As soon as she went in, she heard Jake’s voice though the venting system. She smiled. Even from far away, through metal ducts, she liked his voice. Although she liked it best right up against her skin, when she could actually feel its deep rumble. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment in a quick prayer that after she fessed up tonight, Jake would still want to be with her.
“Barcelona?” Jake said. “Reese, that’s awesome, man. I’ve heard good things about that group.”
It was quiet for a few moments, as Jake listened to whatever Reese was saying.
Sadie remembered that name from the story Jake had told about his team’s visit to that little town called True Springs. She searched for the items she needed, shifting boxes as needed.
Jake’s voice again: “That soon?” Another pause, and then he said, “Sure, toss my name in the ring. I’m not promising anything, but I’d be interested in hearing the details.”
Sadie froze, one hand clutching a huge pack of napkins to her chest, the other deep in a box of coffee filters.
Not New York or Rome, then. Barcelona.
That was where he’d go as soon as he broke her heart. Well, wasn’t that just craptastic.
With slow movements, Sadie set the napkins and filters on the shelf. Then she wrapped her arms around herself. Tears threatened, but she willed them away. She had known this was a possibility. Even Rita had known it—had, in fact, warned Sadie about it.
At least now, she could relax. She likely wouldn’t have to tell Jake about South Korea at all. Because if the past was any indication, when Jake made a life change, it would happen fast. Full steam ahead, no time to waste.
She wanted to sink to the floor and nurse a good pity party, but she didn’t. She forced herself to breathe deeply and pull it together.
Okay, then, she thought. She’d fulfill her promise. She’d pretend this wedding was her absolute dream come true. Easy enough, since it was. And until he actually left, she’d enjoy the hell out of all of it. Because it was highly unlikely she’d ever marry again.
In a cruel twist of fate, her heart would be Jake’s forever.
15
Jake wasn’t normally a worrier. But he watched Sadie’s mood rollercoaster up and down all week. Was she just nervous about the wedding? About lying to his mom or about actually marrying him?
Did she clue in somehow that he’d stopped thinking of this as a practical agreement? That he’d begun to feel he was meant to be with her, despite the way their being together had started out? Or was she feeling smothered under the wedding plans and all his attention? Maybe she was panicking that he wouldn’t want to let her go, as he’d promised.
Jake should have opened his mouth and flat-out asked. But he wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer, and there never seemed to be a good time. Planning a wedding celebration in a week—even as low-key as they’d done it—made for a helluva busy week.
She seemed to enjoy spending time with him—just as much as he enjoyed spending time with her. But he often caught a shadow pass behind her eyes. He just couldn’t decide what it meant. Regret? Sorrow? Unhappiness? Worry?
He’d just keep courting her, he figured, keep treating her nice—dinner dates and no-occasion flowers. More breakfasts in bed and more excursions in the city where they could hold hands and talk. Hot sex where he always, always put her needs before his own.
Maybe the six-month end date would pass, and she wouldn’t even notice.
But if she did and she wanted out, he’d give her that, as promised. He knew now he’d never be able to be just friends with Sadie again—not really. Oh, he’d pretend—for her sake, for his mom’s. But he couldn’t imagine not always wanting her. Still, he’d do his best to ease his wrecked heart by being grateful that she’d blessed him with her time, her laughter, and her body at all.
Or hell, if he fell even harder between now and then? Maybe he’d just flat-out beg her to stay.
Thursday night, however, Jake’s fears were alleviated. Sadie had seemed easier both at work and on the way home.
She showered first, covering her hair as she often did, and by the time he got out, she’d lit candles and donned a very sexy piece of lingerie—white and lacy and so stunning—and a silk robe. God, everything about her and everything she did just slayed him.
“It’s my wedding-night outfit,” she said, crooking her finger at him from the edge of the bed where she sat with her smooth legs crossed.
“So we get to enjoy it twice?” he asked, and dropped his towel to let her see just how much he appreciated the thought.
She smiled like a cat with her eye on some cream. “Maybe,” she said. “Just in case we’re too tired tomorrow night, I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss out.”
“Now that I’ve seen you in this, I’ll be conserving my energy,” Jake said. He took her head in his hands and started to kiss her, but she pulled away.
“Uh-uh-uh, Diner Boy. Hands off the hair. I want it perfect for tomorrow.”
He blinked—he’d been so entranced by that gorgeous piece on her sexy body that he had forgotten. She’d spent hours at the salon getting fancy curls, even though she usually preferred more natural styles she could manage herself.
Jake pulled her up to standing and pushed the robe off her shoulders. “You’d better be on top.”
The afternoon of the wedding, Jake drove, parked, and escorted Sadie and his mom to the bottom of the Duquesne Incline. Anyele, Sadie’s mom, was waiting there already, and she beamed at them.
“Baby girl,” she said, and opened her arms for a hug. “This is exciting.”
Jake wasn’t sure if Anyele was more excited about Sadie marrying or just so pleased Sadie had invited her to witness the event—not that it mattered. All he cared about at this moment was making Sadie happy, today and for as long as she’d let him.
To that end, when Sadie said she’d like to be married at one of Pittsburgh’s most famous landmarks, he rolled with it. As it turned out, although the incline’s cars were gorgeous and iconic, the approximately three-minute ride up Mount Washington didn’t seem long enough even for the simplest of vows. Instead, they’d decided to incorporate the incline but actually exchange rings on the observation deck, which was more like a patio fenced in with red and black iron spikes, next to the museum at the top.
Rita was ready with the marriage certificate secured to a clipboard—just in case it was windy. And Anyele, who was quite a good photographer in her spare time, had been asked to capture the event.
To that end, once they’d bought tickets and boarded, she ushered them toward the front of the car and had them sit on the antique wooden bench under the front window. As always, Jake was shocked at how steep the ascent was. Sadie put her nose practically against the glass to look down, then grinned at him.
“It never gets old,” she said.
“Neither does seeing you smile,” he told her.
Her smile turned sweet and soft, and then Anyele said, “Snuggle up, you two.”
Sadie slid over and nestled against him, and Jake brought her hand
to his lips for a kiss. The other passengers stayed toward the rear of the car on the track side but watched avidly with smiles on their faces. If Sadie’s beauty and his moonstruck grin didn’t give them away, then the bouquet and boutonniere that Rita had insisted on did. Everyone loved a wedding.
“Now kiss,” Anyele ordered them.
Sadie raised an eyebrow, but Rita said, “On the way back down. Let’s get them married first.”
In no time at all, they were standing on the observation deck. The day was ideal—mild and golden, perfectly showing off Pittsburgh’s cityscape across the river. But Jake’s eyes were fastened on his bride.
Sadie was absolutely stunning in a white dress with a bold pink, purple, and green swash of flowers that swirled from one breast to that hip. The dress fell just above her calves, and she wore pink heels, pink lipstick, and her hair curled into pretty loops. Jake felt like the luckiest man alive.
They waited patiently while a family finished taking photos, then stepped up to the wrought-iron rails.
Rita had taken Sadie’s bouquet and then joined Anyele, who was already snapping away rapid fire.
Jake was cool with his brothers joining them at The Wanderlust to celebrate, but as he turned and took both of Sadie’s hands in his, he would have given anything to have his dad here. He swallowed a lump in his throat. Chuck had always adored Sadie, and Jake expected he was grinning like mad from somewhere.
Rita dabbed her eyes with a tissue, and Jake was sure she was thinking of him, too.
He filled his lungs with air, and Sadie nodded.
“I know we decided not to write formal vows,” he began, “but I just wanted to say that I became the luckiest man alive when you agreed to marry me. I promise, from this day forward, to honor and cherish you, to do everything in my power to put you first, and to do my best to make you happy always.”
