“You have an expressive face,” I say at the same time.
We both laugh.
“But youdo. I can always read your mind. So. Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
She sighs. “Cid’s cat sitter has a family emergency, and she’s got to fly home. The boys said they’ll take care of him for me, but I’m not sure I’d trust them with a Chia Pet, let alone my baby.”
I’m guessing that bythe boys, she means Priest’s brothers. One hot, arrogant jerk included. They’re all six foot plus, dark, and lethal, and the furthest I can imagine from boys. But I keep that to myself.
“I don’t know, Scorpion seems like the type who might be able to manage a Chia Pet,” I tease, trying to lighten her mood. “Or at the very least, a Bonsai tree.”
She flashes me a wry smile. “Maybe an artificial Bonsai tree.”
I wince. “That bad?”
“I love them, but they’re not exactly the nurturing type. Cid needs love. And a cuddle buddy. And love.”
I’ve yet to meet Luna’s rescue kitty, but I regularly coo over the pics she sends of him. He’s a gray-and-white tuxedo with big green eyes that stare directly into your soul, daring you not to love him.
Luna shakes her head. “I think Priest and I may have to cut the honeymoon short. We can always do this again some other time.”
“No.” My response is instant and adamant. “You are not canceling your honeymoon. As your maid of honor, I refuse to allow it.”
“It’s not a big deal. Priest has to come back to check on the hotel periodically anyway. Maybe in a few months, we can make it work.”
“I’ll watch Cid for you,” I blurt.
Because it’s the obvious answer to her problems. She trusts me. I’m not a gun-toting, testosterone-oozing mobster. I’m a nerdy girl with comfy pj’s, a stash of books, a love of tea, and a definite need to cuddle with a soft, purring cat. Not to mention, I’m currently unemployed and drifting as aimlessly as an unmoored boat in the ocean. I literally have nothing better to do.
Luna shakes her head. “As much as I’d love to take you up on that, you have your own life to worry about. We wouldn’t be back before spring break is over, and you have classes to teach. This is just a honeymoon, and it can easily be rescheduled.”
“Just a honeymoon? Nice try, woman. There is no such thing asjust a honeymoon. This isyourhoneymoon, and you’re not missing it.” I take a deep breath and prepare to reveal the embarrassing other part of the story that I neglected to tell her before. “Besides, I don’t have classes to get back to when spring break is over.”
She frowns. “What do you mean, you don’t have classes to get back to?”
“I quit.”
“Is!” Luna shouts.
I wince. My girl’s got a set of pipes on her.
“Why didn’t you tell me this before now?” she demands when I don’t say anything quickly enough.
“Because I didn’t want to unload all my baggage right before your wedding day.”
“You should have. We are best friends. Is, you can come to me with anything. Please know that.”
She puts a hand on my arm.
I pat it, feeling the awkward sting of tears. “I know. But you only have one wedding day.”
“Technically, I had two.”
“The mulligan is the only one that counts.”
She laughs. “Seriously, though. Please don’t keep secrets from me.”
Guilt burns through me. There’s a much bigger secret I’m keeping from her. A six-foot-two-muscled-mobster-maniac secret. But that’s for her own good. Plus, I’ve been threatened. I don’t need to test the waters and find out what Alessio meant when he said he’d make sure I couldn’t cause any trouble for him ever again.
