“Don’t panic,” I said when I heard the front door close and lock before heels clicked down the hall in my direction.
“Jesus, Layna!” my cousin gasped.
Willa had medium-brown hair that she had highlighted nearly to blonde, tan skin, and brilliant blue eyes. She was dressed as she always was in tapered slacks, a silk blouse, blazer, and heels.
“You should be used to me letting myself in by now.”
“I should be. And yet…” she said, giving me a look. “Why didn’t I get a notification on my security system app?”
“I downloaded the app last time I was here, remember? I disabled it so it didn’t bother you.”
“Why would—” she started. But she trailed off when her gaze dropped to my hand, her blue eyes widening. “Why do you have a wedding ring?”
“Yeah. About that…”
“You got married? When? To whom?”
“Last night, apparently.”
“Apparent—oh,” Willa said, wincing. “Vegas.”
“Yeah, Vegas. Used to be my favorite place. I never thought I could hate it this much. Though not as much as I hate tequila.”
“Oh, God. Tequila? You know how tequila hits you.”
“Yeah, I think it’s safe to say I’m never touching that stuff again.”
“Were you in Vegas with someone? I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”
“I wasn’t. I’m not.”
Willa watched me for a long moment, then turned away and started to make us each a latte.
If there was anyone else in my extended family who reached for caffeine for comfort, it was Willa.
Only when we each had a sweet mocha latte steaming in front of us did she give me a nod and say, “Okay. So. You married a stranger.”
“Sort of. I mean, we played one game of poker together and, well…”
“Oh,well,” she repeated. “Were you sober for that part, at least?”
“Completely.”
“And?”
“It’s probably the only part of the whole night I don’t regret.”
“Okay. So, you hook up with a hot stranger. I’m assuming he’s hot?”
“Incredibly.”
“And then you…”
“I remember having a drink. The rest is just flashes. Though Harrison insists that I didn’t get wasted untilafterthe ceremony. I hate to admit that the footage from the chapel does seem to back that up. But I just can’t for the life of me figure out what would make me decide that marrying someone I just met was a good idea.”
“Oh, don’t be jaded. Maybe you really did catch feelings. It’s not like you haven’t seen it dozens of times with our family.”
She wasn’t wrong.
