Wednesdays were slow nights, and I could get the books done. I hadn’t planned differently. But I was married now, for the next month at least. Gideon had been home alone all day.
He wasn’t a dog. He could care for himself. I hadn’t gathered the third-quarter numbers for the guys. If I waited much longer, Tenor would dig into my books, and when he did that, he rearranged things the way hepreferred them. He’d never admit he thought his way was better when my process worked just fine.
I chewed on my bottom lip.Yes, but I’ll be later than normal. Gideon’s picking me up after work.
I thought the next message was Summer’s reply, but it was Junie.WHAAAAT?
This couldn’t be the first time she had heard about my marriage.I texted you.
My phone started ringing. Summer’s message popped through before I answered.I’ll pick you up from work on my way to the bar.
I wanted to walk out the door and find Gideon waiting for me after school, but I had to answer Junie, or she’d relentlessly send messages. I put the phone to my ear. “Hi.”
“What the hell, girl!” She half sang her shout.
I winced at her volume. “It’s been five days.”
“I know! I’ve been avoiding my phone and social media.”
“Too many kissy-face pictures with your boyfriend?” A site had just reported that Junie had started dating another up-and-coming country star. He was considered a heartthrob if you were into the reformed-player type. The only problem was that, according to the media, he wasn’t reformed.
“They always get my bad angles.”
Junie had no bad angles.
“So. You’remarried!” she screeched. “I Googled him.”
I waited. “And?”
“Tall, dark, and brooding? He looks pissed all the time. I like it.”
I laughed. “Well, you’re the only one.”
“How’d Mama take it? Oh god, tell me everything.”
“I’m on break. I only have ten minutes.” I checked the time on the phone. “Eight minutes.”
“Talk fast.”
“I went on a girls’ trip, met him at the casino he works at, we got married, and now the guys are pissed at me. So are Summer and Wynter.” Mama saw right through the whole thing, but I didn’t mention that part. “Mama’s chill. You know how she is.”
Junie snorted. “That’s how I can tell we’re not blood-related. Okay. You married sex in a suit. Now what?”
“I... don’t know.” My time was ticking down, but Junie was excited for me. She was thrilled in a different way than my coworkers. I could probably tell her everything, and she wouldn’t bat an eye. She’d keep my secret. Summer and Wynter would too, but it was like I’d already lied. Fessing up would somehow make me feel worse. “I wanted to start a family right away, but I don’t know if that’s going to happen.”
“Autumn.” I rarely heard Junie so serious. “Having kids is your dream.”
“I don’t think it’s his though.”
“Oh. Wow. I mean... What are you going to do?”
“We’ll talk it out. It’s been less than a week.” We’d already talked it out. A month wouldn’t be enough to keep him from turning pale whenever babies were mentioned. I couldn’t keep telling half-truths. The guilt would gnaw right through my stomach. “I really hate to cut you off, but I have to go back in.”
“Autumn.”
“Yeah?”
“You sure you’re okay?”
