One Tiny Lie – Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,5

a row.”

Beverly scooted back her chair and stood. Luna did the same. Her thoughts went to the upcoming lunch with Juliette Davenport. Luna had seen Hudson’s mom a few times in passing, and they’d exchanged pleasantries. From what Luna could tell, Juliette Davenport was the quintessential pampered woman who was regal to the core. Luna dreaded trying to make conversation while being put under a microscope. This is one of those times when Luna regretted her decision to switch places with Ava. She felt like a fish out of water. Were Beverly and Juliette ganging up on her? They were both chomping at the bit for Hudson to propose. This would be so much easier if Hudson would just tell his parents what he told Luna that first day she met him—that he had no intention of saddling himself with a woman who didn’t care to be married to him.

Maybe Luna should call Hudson and get his advice on how to navigate lunch with his mother and Beverly. After all, she couldn’t keep dancing around the topic of the engagement forever, especially when Beverly had her heart set on the marriage.

Yes, that was the answer. She’d call Hudson. He would know what to do. She’d contact him right after breakfast. Just thinking of talking to Hudson over the phone caused Luna’s pulse to ratchet up several notches. How was that for irony? Luna was being pressured to marry the man of her dreams, but surprise, surprise, he no longer wanted her because he thought she didn’t want him. There had been so many times over the past several weeks where Luna wanted to just throw caution to the wind and tell Hudson that she wanted a relationship. But then, her practical side had taken over. Luna wasn’t Ava. The two would eventually switch back, and then where would Luna be? She didn’t want to hurt Hudson by giving him false hope for a relationship that would never be. That’s why she’d held back.

Now, however, the situation was different. Ava would end up with Cash Romeo. She was on the fast track to becoming a country music superstar. It was doubtful that she’d ever come back here to live. Cash and Ava had been able to navigate their way through the twin switch thing. They seemed to be doing great. Could Luna do the same? What if Hudson learned the truth? Was it possible that he could love Luna, for her? A new hope pushed through her veins. Could she earn Hudson’s love? Did she dare try? Maybe she should be more like Ava—more willing to live in the moment and not fret so much about the consequences. Grandma Peach always accused Luna of getting too deep in her own head and psyching herself out.

Luna was tired of living in constant fear of the what if. She wanted to live a little, to earn the love of a great guy whose very touch lit her insides on fire. She wanted to have Hudson look at her the way Cash had looked at Ava, like she was a rare jewel that he’d scoured the earth to find.

She wanted to break out of her shell and become the person she could have been had circumstances been different. Now was her time to shine. She only hoped she could gather the courage to do it … before her time ran out and everyone learned the truth.

2

“Hello, darling, you look positively radiant,” Juliette chirped as she air-kissed Luna on both cheeks.

“Thank you,” Luna murmured with an appreciative smile as she took her seat. Her stomach was tied in knots. She really shouldn’t be so nervous, but Juliette Davenport was just so dang intimidating. Model thin with angular features, Juliette’s expertly highlighted, honey blonde hair rounded on her shoulders. She wore a deep purple sundress with a strand of pearls and no earrings. She exuded old money and class with her every movement. Luna glanced at Beverly, whose smile seemed a bit strained. It dawned on her that even Beverly, as beautiful and socially adept as she was, also felt a bit inferior to Juliette Davenport.

Juliette looked past Luna. “There he is,” she cooed, her voice dripping with affection.

“This is a nice surprise,” Beverly gushed, but her expression spoke otherwise.

Luna turned, her heart skipping a beat, when she caught sight of Hudson striding towards them with a smooth, confident gait. She’d tried calling him earlier, but his phone went straight to voicemail. She hadn’t left a