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She shakes her head, keeping her eyes on her cup “It’s this town Everybody knows everything about everyone else It probably wouldn’t have been so bad if I hadn’t called all ht you proposed, but—”

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” I cut in “I did And I have to deal with the fallout”

“But you shouldn’t have to put up with people calling you a rat every tiether,” she says “That’s ridiculous”

“It’s not so bad” I shrug “And it can’t last forever Within a few months, we should run into everyone who hates ized to all of them and we can move on with our lives”

“I don’t know” She lifts a dubious brow “Between the three of us, the March sisters have a lot of friends”

I s You’re fun people Even Aria,” I add with a wink

Lark laughs softly “Poor Aria But she’s smart, you know? She’s refused to tell anyone what happened with her and Liam after theyto be talking about her behind her back”

“Of course they will If they can’t find any factual dirt, they’ll just ossips in this town don’t have anything better to do You know that”

She lifts one shoulder “Maybe, but at least she has her pride Everyone won’t be thinking she’s an idiot for going back to the irl in Cobb County”

I frown, a sour feeling flashing in

The waitress chooses that moment to return with our order, and soon the table is covered with hot, greasy, delicious diner food But when Lark begins to scoop out eggs and grits, I sit with my hands braced on either side of my empty plate

“What’s wrong?” she asks after a moment

“Nothing” I fiddle with my fork

“Doesn’t look like nothing You’ve got your curtains face on”

When I need to, I’and had to be careful not to ry But round Only Lark has ever noticed when the curtains are drawn