Elisa pursed her lips. “Don’t worry, you two have everyone fooled—to the point you’re fooling yourselves.”
“What do you mean?” But Zoey knew. She knew exactly.
Elisa shifted the basket to her other hip. “Come on now, sugar. Don’t try to convince me that while you’re actually married, you’re justpretendingto be in love.”
“Some of us more than others.” Zoey groaned.
“You love Linc.” A soft statement, not a question.
And it wasn’t a question. Hadn’t been for a long time. Zoey nodded, watching to make sure the guys stayed out of earshot. “I’ve always loved Linc.” She huffed a breath. “Maybe since that moment he put a Band-Aid on my finger.”
Elisa shot her a knowing look. “And now he’s put a ring on your finger.”
Zoey looked down at it, twisted her hand so it caught the glow of the overhead light. “You know it’s not that simple.”
Elisa hugged the basket. “It could be.”
“Not if he doesn’t feel the same.” Zoey clenched her left hand into a fist, hiding the evidence. “I agreed to our terms.”
“Terms? Marriage isn’t a contract.” Elisa winced. “Well, okay, technically it is. But you know what I mean. It’s so muchmorethan that.”
“But I committed to this, the way it is. So I have to see it through.” Zoey unfisted her hand, stared again at the gold band. “At least for now.”
“Giving yourself an out isn’t going to solve your problem.”
“I’m not giving myself an out.” Stars began to prick through the gray sky above. From the dock, Noah laughed at something Linc said. “It’s more the fear that Linc’s going to give me one.”
“Then you should talk to him. Tell your husband how you feel.” Elisa’s tone, gentle but firm, pierced Zoey’s convictions. But easy for her friend to say—she had the fairy tale. Zoey had…well, she had Papa Bear and cold porridge.
“You don’t understand. If I tell Linc I want the real thing with him, and he doesn’t feel the same way…it’ll ruin everything. We wouldn’t be able to stay together. Then all that we’ve done for Amelia, all her progress and security, would be gone.” Zoey’s heart cramped at the mere thought.
“Back up a minute.” Elisa finally set the basket down at her feet, planted her hands on her hips. “You saidwe wouldn’t be able to stay together.”
“Right.”
Her eyes took on a knowing sheen. “That’swhat you’re afraid of. You think the only way to stay with Linc is to keep denying your feelings for him. To hold him at arm’s length.”
“So?” Zoey huffed. “I don’t exactly see him coming any closer.”
“You two sure looked cozy on the boat tonight.”
“He was just putting on a show for you guys. Keeping suspicions at bay.” Zoey waved one hand in the air. “I have zero proof that tonight—or the dance in the kitchen—was anything more than him doing what we agreed to do.”
“Dance in the kitchen?” Elisa’s brows shot higher. “You skipped that part.”
“It’s nothing. He was just being sweet, letting me have a wedding dance.”
“Linc.” Elisa squinted. “Beingsweet. And you say you have no proof?”
Zoey cast another look at the two shadowed figures leaving the boat. “I know he cares for me. I’ve always known that.”
The fact that he’d let her—and basically no one else—stick around all these years was proof enough of that.
She lowered her voice. “But that’s not romantic love or passion. That’s not the grow-old-together kind of stuff that lasts. It’s just friendship. Loyalty.”
Elisa sighed. “I think you’re overthinking this because you’re scared.”
“And I think you’re under-thinking this because you’re happy and want me to be too.” Zoey reached over and took Elisa’s hand, drew it up to her own throat in a begging posture. “Please, I’m begging you. My wedding is over. Let’s focus on yours, okay? Don’t I have a bridesmaids fitting this week?” Not that she had any idea how she was going to pay the balance.
