Then again, with the blazing anger that’s churning inside me, Santa might put me on the naughty list. But really, this is all my dad’s fault. He deserves the naughty list…not me. Then again, I’m my own man. I should have been making my own choices from the get-go. Maybe then I wouldn’t be in this mess.
I sink into my seat and scrub my hands over my face before turning to Noli. “I am so sorry.”
She cocks her head to the side. “Collin. Stop. It’s fine.”
I let my head fall back against the seat. “I’ve given my dad too much power for too long. I never should have agreed to be with you because he told me to.”
Noli starts the car and is halfway out of the driveway before I realize how my words probably sounded to her. I shoot her a side-eyed look, but she’s staring straight ahead.
“What I mean is, I should have wised up and asked you out properly. I would have woo-ed you real good.”
Noli snorts. “Keep telling yourself that.”
I laugh, feeling some of the tension roll off my shoulders. “This is such a mess.”
Noli is quiet for a second. “I know we need to talk about what we’re going to do—what you’re going to do about the campaign—but if I don’t go see my sisters, they are going to send outa search party and drag me in for questioning.” She glances at her phone. “They’ve been texting me nonstop.”
“Are they at The Downer?”
She nods.
“Why don’t you go there now? I’ll come with you. I’ll tell them it’s completely my fault.”
“Pretty sure we both got ourselves into this. Now we’re paying for it.”
She pulls up outside the duplex Mack owns less than five minutes later. Rose and Poppy are both sitting on the porch, bundled up in sweaters and scarves to ward off the fall chill.
“Magnolia Renee Kasper, what in the actualheckis going on?” Poppy stomps toward us the second Noli gets out of the car. I meet her in front of the hood, and Poppy whirls on me and points at my chest. “And you… I have words for you. Lots and lots of words. How dare you take advantage of my sister like this when I trusted—”
“Poppy, quit it. This is not productive.” Noli rolls her eyes and walks toward the house. “Let’s go inside. It’s freezing out here.”
Poppy scowls at me before trailing Noli. Rose stands silently with her arms crossed. She pins me with an unreadable look before following her sisters.
I bring up the rear and cross the living room toward where Noli has dropped onto the loveseat.
“So, is it true?” Poppy asks.
“Poppy, now don’t be mad.” Noli holds up her hands. “I can explain.”
“Pfft.I can’t wait to hear this,” Rose mutters.
Noli scowls at her but then tells them everything—from me supposedly needing a committed relationship to do well in the election to her agreeing to play the role in exchange for some security from Nelson.
“He’s been threatening you?” Rose stands up at this.
“You didn’t think to tell me?” Poppy speaks over her.
“It was my problem, and I know I didn’t do what I should have done. I’m sorry. Again. Okay? I messed up. I talked to Collin about it. We’re seeing what we can do in terms of protection from him and from his stalking. Please don’t make me feel worse about this.”
Poppy and Rose are silent. They look at each other, and then their heads swivel back to Noli. All at once, the three are up and out of their seats and meeting in the center of the living room in a giant hug.
There’s sniffling. There’s blubbering. Everyone is talking at once, and all their voices are an octave higher than usual, thanks to the crying and wailing. Basically, it’s pandemonium. Chaos. I’m contemplating slinking out of the room to give them a minute, but Poppy snakes an arm out from the circle and pulls me into the mix, squeezing me between herself and Noli.
When the three sisters release me and we all settle back into our seats, I grab for Noli’s hand, bringing it to my lips and kissing her knuckles.
This is not lost on Poppy and Rose. I can tell by the narrowing of their eyes.
Rose flicks her wrist and motions to the two of us. “So the marriage was fake, but the feelings clearly aren’t. What are you two going to do about it?”
