“Terrible,” I groan.
She grabs a glass and hands it to me. “You need this.”
“That was the most awkward ten minutes of my life.” Hooking my arm through hers, I drag her to a quieter corner. “I’d rather do my taxes than go back to him.”
She eyes me with concern. “Was it that bad?”
“He’s like a wall. I can’t tell if he hates me or if he was born like that.”
Denise laughs and clinks her glass against mine. “Welcome to marriage, hon.”
I sink into a chair, cursing myself for this idiotic revenge plan. I was so focused on punishing my parents and Mike that I neglected to consider I might come out of this worse off than them.
“He’s handsome,” Denise says, sitting next to me.
I cross my arms. “That’s not the point of this marriage.”
“Still, you should give him a chance.”
I stare at her like she said something so inane it doesn’t deserve a verbalized answer.
“Here’s a test you can give him,” she persists, looking far too amused for my liking. “Tell him you designed a necklace you think is really cool. If he asks to see it, that’s a good sign. It means he’s worth a try.”
I raise an eyebrow. “And what would be a bad sign?”
“If he reacts by bringing up an achievement of his own, and then keeps talking about it.” She raises her forefinger. “That would mean he’s a self-centered jerk.”
I narrow my eyes. “You’re referring to Mike, aren’t you?”
“Not specifically.”
“Denise,” I press, “be honest.”
“Fine. Fine. Maybe I had Mike in mind—among other men.”
I huff and look away, pretending to study the guests on the dance floor.
She touches my arm. “I’m sorry, hon. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“Mike isn’t like that,” I say, perhaps a little too defensive. “OK, maybe sometimes, but not always.”
Denise faces me fully. “Are you still in love with him?”
I don’t answer that.
“This whole blind marriage thing,” she says, “was it just to make him regret the break and come crawling back to you?”
“No,” I say quickly.
“Are you certain?”
I hesitate.
She tilts her head, waiting for more.
The truth spills out before I can stop it. “Most of all, it was to get my parents off my back. And maybe, deep down, I wanted Mike to see the light and grovel.”
“So basically, this was your way of yelling, ‘Look at me now, Mike!’”
