Chapter 39
THIRTY-NINE
Twila
It’s late Sunday afternoon by the time I pull into my driveway, and in a surprise to no one, the girls are waiting for me on my front porch.
I blow out a long breath. I guess they didn’t trust me when I said I’d call them as soon as I got home so they could come over and administer the third degree.
About my husband.
Jesus. It sounds weird even when I just think the word.
They’re already rushing toward me as I pop open the door and climb out. With no words of censure or smart-assed comments, they wrap me in a group hug that has my eyes stinging with tears. God, why am I crying? And why is Joey petting my hair like I’m grieving for a lost loved one?
“Come on, let’s go inside,” Callie says gently, the first to disengage from the embrace. “We brought donuts, and the ice cream is melting.”
“Donuts and ice cream?” I ask with a teary laugh as the rest of us break apart.
“It’s not every day one of your besties goes to Vegas with her fake boyfriend, gets wasted, and ends up married to a man she barely knows. So, yes. Donuts and ice cream,” she says, and a laugh barks out of me.
“It really is ridiculous, isn’t it?” I ask as Raven pulls my suitcase from the backseat, and we head toward the house.
“Like something straight out of a romcom movie,” Joey says on a sigh, and I give her a sharp look.
“I don’t think this situation is going to end like one of your movies, Jo.”
She shrugs and shoots me a grin like she knows something I don’t.
I shake my head at her, then use my keys to unlock the door, leading the way inside.
Raven leaves my bag by the door with a grumble about refusing to lug it upstairs for me, and we all head into the kitchen.
Callie pops the ice cream into the freezer while Joey puts on a pot of coffee.
Raven opens the donuts, pulls out a chocolate-glazed, and takes a huge bite, humming in pleasure as she chews.
Once the coffee is done, we sit around my table with hot mugs and sweet treats while I tell them about my weekend from the beginning. Seeing Emerson for the first time. The two-room suite. Stuff I already texted them, but feel the need to retell so they can grab the context.
When I get to the part about our first kiss on that dancefloor, Joey sighs like it’s the most romantic thing she’s ever heard. When I retell the events that happened after, back in our room when Emerson said goodnight, and I went to bed, alone, she grunts in disappointment.
“So, wait,” Raven says, holding up a hand. “We like him, now? I mean, obviously we do, since you made out with him in what doesn’t feel like a show for your many adoring fans.”
“We like him,” I admit softly, and her eyebrows shoot up. Before anyone can start throwing a barrage of questions my way, I hold up a hand. “Just let me get it all out before you start the inquisition, okay?”
I shoot them each a pointed look as I take a sip of my coffee, which Joey assured me is, thankfully, decaf. I’m going to have a hard enough time sleeping tonight, as it is.
“So, the next morning,” I say slowly, “I was sure he regretted kissing me. He seemed…off. So after breakfast, he tells me we need to talk .”
“Uh-oh,” Callie whispers.
“Exactly,” I say, then can’t stop my lips from tugging upward. “I immediately apologized for coming onto him, and he looked…stricken. He begged me not to be sorry. That he wanted it. That he likes me. He wants me.”
“Oh, shit.” That soft exclamation whispers out of Raven.
“What did you do?” Joey asks.
“I attacked him,” I say with a laugh.
“That’s my girl,” Raven chuckles.
“Neither of us had any condoms, of course, so we did…other things. Anyway, it was good. Like, really good.”
I go on to tell them about the club, the tequila, the bachelorettes, and the VIP-section-bubbly.
“When I woke up this morning, I was hungover and didn’t remember anything. It wasn’t until I saw the ring on my finger that I realized something was off.”
“Just like the movies,” Joey swoons.
I roll my eyes. “I woke Emerson up, and he had a ring, too. Neither of us could remember how they got there. That’s when I went searching for my phone and saw the text messages from you guys. Emerson found the video on BingBang, and well, we were shocked, to say the least.”
“So, what are you going to do?” Callie asks, her voice gentle and supportive.
I blow out a long breath. “Better grab that ice cream.”
“Why?” Joey asks, her voice laced with suspicion.
“Because we decided to ‘make a go’ of it…for BingBang, of course. We’ll live together for a while and post some videos of us trying to make it as newlyweds, then we’ll admit it isn’t working and part amicably.”
“Seriously?” all three of them say in sync like they planned it.
I nod. “He’ll be here in the morning.”
Callie’s eyes go wide. “Is this all really necessary?”
“It is,” I say, my tone solemn. “Not for me. I’d survive. But Emerson? He needs this to keep working.”
“Why?” Joey asks.
“He’s helping to support his mom and sister,” I say. “His dad left them with nothing, so he’s doing all of this to make money to help with the bills. And to pay his sister’s college tuition.”
“Oh,” Joey says. “That’s…really nice.”
“He’s a nice guy,” I mumble.
“You like him,” Raven says, and I nod before she adds, “No. I mean, you really like him.”
I nod again. “There’s so much to like. You’ll see when you meet him. He’s kind of…irresistible.”
“Can I just say,” Raven says with a lift of her chin, “I totally called this.”
“What?” I ask.
“Remember, at your first pool party of the season? The night you first messaged Emerson. I told you it was your turn, and you were going to fall for your BingBang nemesis.”
“You did call it,” I say with a sad smile.
“Is this whole charade going to leave you heartbroken?” Joey asks, her voice so quiet I have to strain to hear the words.
“I don’t know,” I reply with a frown. “Probably.”