“How soon before you go back to New York?”
“No one says you have to hang around while I’m in town.”
“King’s my best friend. I’m not about to—”
“Will you two stop?” I snap that question at the same time King growls low in his throat, so I know he’s as annoyed as I am. At this point, we’ve made it out into the little parking lot outside Mr. Vanderman’s office and are alone, which is nice. I don’t have to feel like I’m under scrutiny for now. “It’s going to be hard enough to get through this marriage as it is, and we don’t need you going after each other’s throats.”
Cecily ducks her head sheepishly, and Coop simply gives King a nod and folds his arms.
I let out a deep breath. “Thank you. Cece, what in the world was that?”
She blinks, though she doesn’t look as innocent as I’m sure she would like to. “What was what?”
“We don’t have time for marriage counseling,” King replies.
“I’m more than happy to work around your schedules.”
King and I share a glance, likely thinking the same thing. “You know you don’t have to actually have any sessions with us, right?” I point out. “You can tell Mr. Vanderman that—”
“Georgiana Tiara Carpenter!” Cecily points a finger at me and looks genuinely angry. “I am not about to lie for you and besmirch my well-respected reputation just because you don’t think you can hack a real marriage.”
Coop snickers. When I glare at him, he shrugs. “I’m not laughing at Miss High-and-Mighty.”
“That’s Mrs. High-and-Mighty to you,” Cecily says.
“Whatever. I’m laughing because your middle name is Tiara.”
I narrow my eyes. “What of it?”
“Nothing at all.”
But it’s not nothing because King’s hand tightens once more around mine, and he’s looking at me with a curious look in his eyes. “I don’t think I knew your middle name.”
Whatever thoughts are going through his head, the expression they’re giving him is making me squirm. “You never needed to know it,” I mutter.
“Agree to disagree,” he mutters back. “Cecily, I know you were trying to help, but we really don’t have time to—”
“Like I said.” Cecily fixes on her therapist stare, which is enough to make me shrink into King’s side in fear of what might be awaiting us in the next two weeks. “I gave that obnoxious attorney my word that I would do this right, so that’s what I’m going to do. You will give me your schedules, and I will find times that work for both of you.” She looks specifically at me. “If you want that bakery, and I know you do, you’ll cooperate.”
I want to argue, but I don’t. “Fine.”
“And you.” She looks at King. “You will be open and honest, no matter how uncomfortable you might be. The goal of this is to talk things through and clear some air so Mr. Vanderman knows you are both trying to make this work, even if it is only for a short time.”
King actually takes a step back, like he might try to run. “I’ll try.”
“No!” Cecily snaps at us. “There’s no ‘try’ in this. Only doing.”
Coop snickers again, and this time all three of us glare at him. “Alright, I can see where I’m not wanted. Have fun with your little project, Mrs. Yoda. You’ll be lucky if they’re both in one piece at the end of all this.”
He wanders off, and though he was probably joking, there’s a good chance I won’t be making it to the other side in one piece if Cecily is truly going to make us go through the process of counseling, or whatever it is she plans to do. I’m likely to end with a heart split in two.
Chapter Fourteen
King
I knew it was too much to hope, but I’m still irritated when I discover Cecily wasn’t kidding about working around our schedules and finding time to push Georgie and me together. She left me alone that first day after talking to Vanderman, during which I reorganized the surf shop until it was late enough for me to go home and crash without talking to either Georgie or her friend, but I just finished up my last lesson today, and Cecily is standing in the surf shop doorway with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
Georgie is right behind her looking green.
“This place is darling!” Cecily says by way of greeting.
I ignore her and keep my focus on my wife. My wife. That’s a phrase that’s been on repeat for two days, and I’m not thrilled about it. I was starting to get used to the idea, but now it’s like my brain needs it front and center at all times. “How was your day?” I ask Georgie.
She shrugs. “Pretty normal.”
Cecily’s gaze snaps back to her. “Excuse me?”
Georgie sighs. “I met with Beck today and talked about possible updates to the layout.”
I try to hide the sharp pains that shoot through my chest at the thought of anything in that bakery changing, but I’m not sure I manage it. I know it needs some renovations, but I’m still worried I’m going to step inside one day and not recognize the place. I don’t think Georgie’s that heartless, but what do I know?
Maybe the sharp pain is a repeat of my worries from the other night at the pool hall. I don’t think Beck would go for Georgie, but…
Clearing my throat, I busy myself with closing out the register. If only I had a valid reason to run away from this conversation, but I don’t. “And?”
“He thinks we can make all the changes pretty quickly, though we’ll have to do it in pieces so I can stay open while he works.”
