“Make sure you don’t,” Zora said, more seriously than the rest of the conversation. Audrey had forgotten how genuinely Zora worried when she came back here—well, not generally to Michigan. She’d been back here for work conferences, but back with her family? That was different.
She smiled sadly. “I promise I’ll be okay.”
“Good.” She paused to emphasize how serious she was. “And, we can have a mission. Figure out if your cousin’s actually smashing the woman she’s bringing, or if they’re lying liars.”
“I really don’t think River would do that.”
“Because you have a better opinion of her than I do.” She laughed. “I’d do it if I were River, so I’m not counting her out.”
Audrey paused, looking pointedly away when she spotted the queer couple sharing an adorable kiss and dancing to the Michael Bublé song that was playing. “You’d fake a girlfriend?”
“Oh, for sure. You gotta do what you gotta do, and your family’s a nightmare. Not all of us are strong enough to fend off their comments year in, year out like you are. I don’t actually think you realize how impressive you are.”
“Zora,” she said softly.
“But, if you want me to fly out there and kidnap you back here, I’m there.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Audrey insisted, still touched.
“Okay, but only because I want to know if River’s pulling a fast one. Imagine! The drama, the romance, the chaos…”
“Romance?”
“For sure. You know how these things go. Fake date to real dating. It's hard to pretend to be that close with someone and not fall for them.”
Audrey laughed, but the sound got stuck in her throat when she felt the phone vibrate and saw a text from her brother. “Yeah, well, I’ll… keep you posted.”
Zora sighed heavily. “Your ride just appeared, huh?”
“Yup.”
“Well, I hope it goes well. Call me whenever you need me.”
“Will do. Have fun at the wedding.Do notask if they talk about how good you are in bed.”
Zora cackled again. “Babe, of course I’m going to! It’s like you don’t know me at all.”
“I do, and that’s what worries me.”
“Don’t. Just… take a leaf out of my book, and if your fucking family gives you a hard time, punch them in the mouth.”
“Not doing that.”
“I gave you permission.”
“To lose my job for assault?”
“Worth it in this case.”
“Not if you don’t want me moving into your place it isn’t.”
“You’re saying that as if I don’t want you there,” Zora said as Audrey gathered up her things and headed out to the pick-up point.
She supposed she did know Zora wouldn’t mind that. She’d said time and time again that Audrey should move in with her so that Audrey had someone to look after her, and to save her from returning from grizzly days at work to an empty apartment, but, as much as Audrey loved and appreciated Zora, she liked having her own place. She needed control over it and the things in it. It was just… how she was.
Cal’s car was waiting outside. His wife Delaney was in the passenger seat.
“I’ve got to go,” Audrey told Zora.
