Page 76 of The Wedding Crush
“And then?”
“Andmaybeat the time I wouldn’t’ve known it was a glaring red flag.” Morgan winds her finger in circles, signaling for me to stay on track. “Maybehe might’ve said he didn’t want me to run before buttering me up with sweet talk, and I suggested we have fun until it isn’t anymore. Then we’d hook up against the wall in the alley before we went back inside, wishing there was time to do it again. So, we’d leave ten minutes early, and drive to my house to continue all night before Ace got home the next morning, and he saw no further reason to continue this charade.”
A gasp pushes past her lips.
“Yeah, so like I said…” I wince as I adjust my bra. The underwire has been killing my boobs today. “Theoretically, we’re different people who want different things. Particularly, not to be someone’s fun fallback plan, if you get my drift…”
Morgan nods, her brown eyes darting to my pained expression before they widen with consideration, and we start walking again.
She meticulously scans a pale purple flatware set, rattan placemats and napkin rings, and aubergine napkins.
I duck into the restroom.
When I get back, Morgan picks up right where we left off.
“So, when would be the last time y’all saw each other?” she tosses back.
He asked to meet last weekend, but I just couldn’t.
“This coming Saturday.”
Her stride falters. “You haven’t seen each other since—”
“Two Sundays ago.”In three days, it’ll be three Sundays, but who’s counting.I blink too many times to be natural, wishing we could skip the conversation altogether. “Now we’re meeting on Saturday at the winery to finalize the catering and wine menu.”
She presses her free hand to her mouth, ignoring everything I’ve just said.
“Not even for the ChatVideo meetings?” she asks.
“I’ve been slammed with other events.” I scan a stand mixer, knowing neither Morgan nor Dante can bake to save their lives. “Anyway, it’s fine. A month and a week left. August is going to fly by, the wedding will be here before we know it. Then we’ll see each other every now and then for you all.”
“And that’s it?”
“Yup.”
Forty-five minutes pass. We’ve scanned everything under the sun. From a Dyson to super-plush bathrobes to cookbooks, luggage, bookends, picture frames, and million-thread-count sheets, we’ve got a ridiculous list going. And I’ve made another bathroom stop. Even my bladder has been irritable today.Probably, stress from talking about a man who got what he needed and moved on.
Before long, we get sidetracked in the snack aisle.
Morgan’s arms are loaded with chocolate bars, chips, and pink Starburst.
“What?” she asks when she registers that I’m staring at her. “Aunt Flo is in town.”
“Oh.”Oh no…
And that’s when it hits me, why I’ve been putting off seeing him. Why I’ve been an empath on steroids, acting like “having fun” wasn’t my idea. Why I ate more cake than the bride and groom, and I’m contemplating a tub of ice cream with extra chocolate sauce.
I’m off track.
It’s been weeks since Aunt Flo visited me.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Stefano
Naturally, instead ofanswering any of my dozen or so calls or leaving a voicemail, Mother chooses an impromptu visit to the winery, half an hour before Avery’s scheduled to arrive. She’s dressed in a pale pink, made-to-measure skirt suit with burgundy suede pumps and simple diamond studs. Her hair is laid smoothly against her warm brown skin.
I’ve sat at her right for every quarterly meeting for the past seven years. I know when Victoria Fortemani is biding her time before she broaches business at hand.
