“I’ve gotta get back to work,” I said quickly, already pulling the phone away. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
I hung up before they could say anything else. For a moment, I just stood there.
I had no idea what just happened. One second I was saying no, then the next, I was going to the wedding.
A breath left me, something halfway between a sigh and a laugh, except there was nothing remotely funny about it.
Before I could think too hard about anything else, especially the fact I’d just lied my way into a corner, I shoved the phone in my pocket and pushed off the brick wall.
The back door swung open harder than it needed to when I went back inside and slammed sharply behind me. It wasn’t much, but it helped.
For good measure, I turned my phone off before throwing it back onto the shelf behind the counter.
“So,” Janine said as I stepped back into place beside her, “I’m guessing that went well?”
I grabbed the next few order tickets, scanning them as I lined cups along the counter.
“No,” I said flatly. Then, after a beat, “But if you happen to know anyone who’s interested in pretending to be my boyfriend for a wedding, then yeah. It went great.”
Janine winced. “Yikes. That bad, huh?”
“You have no idea.” I tipped espresso beans into the grinder a little more forcefully than necessary. “I swear, I can never say no to that family.”
“Youcould,” Janine said, ringing up another order. “You just don’t.”
I paused for half a second, then let out a quiet breath. “Yeah. Well.”
She wasn’t wrong.
“Look, just call them back,” she said, leaning a hip against the counter, “Say you’re not going. People back out of weddings all the time.”
“Yeah. I know.” I nodded, but it came out a little automatic.
I grabbed a cup and set it under the machine.
“Part of me just wants to get it over with,” I admitted.
The words landed heavier than I expected once they were out.
“And Gabby—my ex’s mom—she’s…” I hesitated, then shrugged like it didn’t matter as much as it did. “She’s really nice. She used to take care of me. She still does, I guess.”
My gaze dropped to the counter, suddenly very interested in nothing in particular.
I added, “And she’s getting older and I haven’t seen her in a while, so…”
Janine’s expression softened, but she didn’t push on that part. She just looked at me for a moment like she was deciding on something.
“Is it really just about that?” she asked quietly.
"Yeah. I guess. Maybe." I let out a short, humorless breath.
“Sure,” she said, like she didn’t buy it, but didn’t feel like arguing either.
“New plan,” she said after a beat. “You tell them you’re going to my wedding instead.”
“What wedding?”
“The one I’m apparently having,” she said, completely serious. “Same day. Very exclusive. You’re required to be there. ‘Sorry, I need to leave early. I have another wedding to get to.’”
