Page 15 of Perfect Guy
“You haven’t read?” She tilts her head.
“Read what?” I practically screech, and annoyance laces my question.
“Hold on.” The barista walks around the counter and to the board where the coffee shop hangs papers and town news.
“Here.” She walks up to me, handing me a printed paper.
The first thing I see is the logo for The MC Scoop at the top, and my stomach bottoms out. Oh no. I skim, reading the different headings until I land on one that catches my attention.
Giddying up for a secret romance?
Late-night meetings up in the sky. Spotted on the water tower standing intimately were two of Mason Creek’s locals.
Our cowgirl seems to have roped herself a love interest, but instead of a rope, she’s using a hose. One of our eligible bachelors and town firefighters seems to be charmed by the coming-home cowgirl.
Rumor has it they’re also working together. Are those sparks flying? It’d make family reunions easier since they’re already in-laws, in a sense. I have my eye on those two and their blossoming romance.
You’ve got to be kidding me. I can’t even curse out who wrote this because Tate left the blog, and we have an anonymous person writing now.
How am I supposed to explain this? It’s an exaggeration. Canaan and I are just friends…I think. If I don’t even know what’s going on, how can this stranger?
I hold in my scream, place the damn paper on the counter as if it were on fire, and grab my mug. I sit back down, now understanding the smiles and curious stares. Bringing out my phone, I make sure I have no messages or missed calls. It’s only a matter of time before Joy contacts me. And Hallie. And my brothers. Great.
I type out a quick message, attach a screenshot of the blog post when I find it online, and send it to Canaan. He’ll get questioned, and I don’t want him to be blindsided. I would appreciate the same gesture if the tables were turned.
Then I send it to Alana with a million eye-roll emojis and some angry ones.
Alana: Say whattttt?! *wide-eyed emoji*
Alana: One thing I don’t miss about Mason Creek is being mentioned on The MC Scoop
Madelyn: Tell me about it. What in the actual fuck? It’s a matter of time before I get questioned
Alana: Has anything else happened?
Madelyn: I climbed the water tower on Saturday and he was there. I mean, we danced at Pony Up but it was totally platonic. For the most part. Nothing to cause a scandal.
Alana: First we’re going to need a girls’ night ASAP to discuss this but apparently something caused curiosity
Madelyn: Honestly, I don’t know
I’m frustrated and confused.
Alana: I say you go for it if there is something there. Canaan is H-O-T hot and he’s nice. He volunteers in his free time, has a stable job, a good family. HELLO it’s the grand prize of sexy guys. I mean, Levi’s hot, too, but he’s your brother.
Madelyn: EEEWWWWW *puking emoji*
Alana sends a ton of laughing emojis and one evil one. She has loved messing with me ever since we were younger. I knew she didn’t like Levi in that way back then, and she doesn’t now. She’s happily living with Holden. It’s just her way of driving me crazy.
Canaan replies, and I open the message with shaky fingers. What is he thinking? I didn’t expect him to answer so soon since he’s working.
Canaan: Sorry about that
Madelyn: Why are you sorry?
Canaan: If I would’ve stayed on my side of the tower, this wouldn’t have happened.
Madelyn: It’s not your fault. It’s ridiculous, just assumptions but your sister might ask about it