“In Cashmere Cove?” Poppy shrugs. “Yeah, I actually do.”
“Consider it your gentle hazing,” Rose adds.
At my questioning glance, Noli explains. “It’s a town-wide tradition to prank newcomers, make sure they can hang with us.”
“I had to drink mac-and-cheese powder, if it makes you feel any better.” Rose pretends to gag. “A little smooch with Holland seems mild in comparison.” She winks.
I groan again. “This is so embarrassing. The kiss didn’t even mean anything!”
I lift my head out of my hands in time to see the Kasper sisters exchanging smirks, like they don’t believe me.
“Either way, the Bradleys are thrilled.” Noli smiles at me, and it’s genuine.
“Darla has already texted me to see if I can finagle more off-camera time with you,” Poppy adds.
I’m at once flabbergasted and flattered. Holland’s dad’s sentiments from the interview I overheard flit through my mind.She grounds him. He respects her.She makes him better.
In golf! I want to scream those words. Nothing beyond that.
13
Older Women
Mallory
“What did you mean when you said you kissed him to prove a point?” Poppy asks after a second.
“Exactly that.”
I stare into my cup of tea, contemplating how much I want to share with these women. I don’t know them at all, but they’re the only friends I’ve got in this town, and they’re Holland’s people. The last thing I want to do is lead them on or get their hopes up only to disappoint them when it comes out that Holland and I are not a couple.
I lean in. “If I tell you this, it can’t go beyond this circle, but maybe you can help me run interference with the rest of this town, which seems to have Holland and me walking down the aisle already.”
“You’re not wrong,” Noli says. “They’re placing bets at the flower shop about what you’ll carry in your bouquet. Odds are on azaleas, in homage toMEM, obvi.”
I gape at her.
“Go on,” Rose presses. “You were saying?”
“I’m being paid to be onMost Eligible Misterwith Holland. I’m in it for the money for my family, and that’s it.“ I blow out a breath. “Please don’t hate me.”
“How could we hate you?” Poppy waves me off. “I’m not going to ask details about personal stuff—“
“Except that’s all we’ve been doing, prying into your personal life,” Noli puts in. “Sorry,” she adds, looking sheepish.
“She’s right,” Poppy agrees, “and I’m sorry too, but I just mean we know as well as anyone how important family is. If anything, the fact that you’re doing the show for money not for yourself, but for your family, is a point in your favor.”
“Thanks for saying that.” I exhale. There’s something about these women that puts me at ease, and I want to open up to them. “It’s for my mom. She needs some therapy for an autoimmune condition she has, and it’s expensive. But the payout from this helps—a lot, actually. Otherwise, there’s no way I’d be here, putting myself through filming and the publicity.”
We all sip our drinks in silence for a second.
“Just to be clear, you have no interest in Holland?” Poppy says.
“Outside of golf? No. We’re the furthest thing from compatible. He wears his emotions on his sleeve, loves attention, and is annoyingly carefree. I’m high-strung and private and controlling.”
“Opposites attract,” Rose heaves the words into her fisted hand, like she’s covering a cough.
I offer her a small smile. “It’s not that sort of thing. Holland isn’t into me either. He thinks I’m a fun-sucker.”
