Marry Me for Real, Cowboy - Valerie Comer Page 0,4
and checked the news.
“Is the lady done? May I remove your plates?” The server stood at the end of the table, his face questioning.
“She’ll be back, but you can take mine. Thanks.”
“Dessert, sir?”
Temptation. The diner had a reputation for the best cheesecake in western Montana. “No, thank you. I’m ready for the bill. Maybe a to-go container for the lady, just in case.”
“Yes, sir. Right away.”
Adam would enjoy that steak for a bedtime snack if Riley had really abandoned him. Didn’t women always take what they wanted and then ditch the guy? Seemed like standard behavior from where he sat.
Even Mom had done that to Declan but, in that case, the guy deserved it. Adam might’ve been only thirteen and wet behind the ears as far as love went, but he hadn’t been able to figure out why Mom had agreed to the neighboring rancher’s proposal. Still couldn’t. Adam could have helped her keep the ranch running. They hadn’t needed Declan.
When the server returned, Adam paid the bill with a decent tip for the scene they’d caused and began packing up Riley’s leftovers.
She’d stood him up.
So much for Door Number Three. Slammed shut in his face. Too bad. She’d felt mighty nice in his arms there for a few minutes.
“What do you mean, you quit college?” Riley paced the restaurant’s small restroom with her cellphone pressed to her ear. The four actresses who’d played the Golden Girls seemed to watch her every move from their posters on the walls.
“Mick is amazing. Just wait until you meet him.”
Riley’d put that off as long as she could, thanks. “No guy is worth quitting school for.”
Her sister sighed heavily into the phone. “I told you. We’re taking turns. First I’ll put Mick through college, then he’ll do the same for me. It will take a bit more time, but we won’t be saddled with huge loans at the other end. Win, win!”
Lose, lose.
Riley leaned her head against the door just as it opened and crashed into her. She jumped back, rubbing her forehead.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” An older lady with a cane edged into the restroom past Riley. “This space is so small. I didn’t mean to hurt you, dear. I just didn’t see you.”
“I’m fine.” At least her forehead would be. Inside her brain, not so much. “Jodie, how long have you known Mick?”
The old lady closed a stall door behind her.
“Since school started in September. We’re in some of the same classes.”
“You mean were.”
“Um. Yes.”
“You can’t just do this.”
“I already did. Don’t tell me what to do, Riley. It’s not like you’ve got your life all together. Got a better plan? Show me how much better you can do, and I’ll consider following in your footsteps.”
“I’m getting married.” No sooner had the words exploded from her mouth than she wished them back. She had not made this decision. Not at all. Plus, it was entirely fake.
“You’re what? I thought you broke up with Raul.”
The old lady edged out of the stall and smiled at Riley as she approached the sink. “Congratulations, dear.”
Riley rubbed her forehead. “Thank you.”
“I didn’t say anything for you to thank me for!” yelled Jodie. “You’re crazy. You just hitchhiked from New Mexico, Mom and Dad don’t know where you are, and now you’re getting married to some guy we haven’t even met? Don’t go telling me how to live my life when you obviously don’t have yours put together.”
“So I guess couch-surfing at your place for a few days is out of the question...”
“You bet it is. Mick and I have a studio apartment. There’s no room for you. Besides, you’ve got a fiancé. Go move in with him.”
“It’s not like that.” Riley waited while the old lady dried her hands under the noisy blower.
“What’s it like then?”
“We’re not sleeping together.”
The old lady smiled. “Good for you.” Then she left the room.
“Oh, here we go again. ‘Keep your jeans zipped, Jodie. Be a good girl, Jodie.’ Well, I’m not the one who ditched her boyfriend and promptly got engaged to a guy I don’t even know. Who is he? Are you pregnant? When did you meet him? Like, yesterday?”
More like an hour ago. “Never mind, sis. I’ll call you for coffee next time I’m in Missoula.” She’d been headed to the small Montana city, but Scotty was only going as far west as Jewel Lake. It shouldn’t be hard to thumb another ride the rest of the way, but for what, when Jodie didn’t want her?
Surely Adam would