Page 96 of The Wedding Crush

My throat constricts.

Fire swarms over my neck and ears, spreading to my cheeks. Briefly, I consider letting it go. Whatever it is, we can talk about it when she’s ready.

Then my head swims with worst-case scenarios of her ending this relationship before we’ve even gotten a chance to get started, and I know I won’t be able to concentrate, not knowing.

“Do you think we can talk about it now, then recap the party and guest list details last?”

She clears her throat.

My pulse sprints.

What is it?

Like she did once before, Avery stares at me like I’m a Rorschach inkblot, unsure what she’s looking at, and a familiar idea sparks.

Swallowing, I glance at my phone on the desk beside my laptop. “You know, someone brilliant once got to the bottom of our issues with an icebreaker. So, I’ve reserved ten minutes for us to work through whatever is on your mind.”

Avery cracks a smile.

“Great minds, right?” I tilt my head. “Ask anything on our hearts as fast and as honest as possible.”

“Right.”

Out of objections, and at my mercy, she sucks in a lungful of air, letting me take the lead.

On the screen, I tap over to the timer extension, and set it for ten minutes.

“The truth shall set you free,” I quip. “I’ll go first. Ready?”

She lifts her chin and nods.

Avery’s fiery brown eyes flutter wide open as we stare into each other’s digital boxes.

Then I start the timer, and fire off the first question. “What’s really bothering you?”

Avery’s mouth presses into a flat line. She straightens, posture ramrod straight. “Actually, I was thinking we should tell our friends and families about us.”

That’s what this is about?

She blinks up to meet my stare.

The tension in my chest loosens slightly. “Um, okay. How about after the wedding?” I suggest. “I really don’t want to overshadow their big day.”

“Do you really think they don’t already know?” she counters, her tone taking on an impatient lilt.

Instinctually, I know they do.

Dante and I have been talking in broad strokes and hypotheticals since the tux appointment. If he’s put two and two together, I’ve got to believe he’s talking about us with Morgan, who keeps nothing from the Sister Circle—including my sister as an honorary member. By the rules of the telephone game, Mother knows, therefore, so does her entire Gossip Set.

Only, Avery and I haven’t confirmed, which means it won’t be public yet.

No one wants false information tracked back to them.

“Of course, I believe they have suspicions.” I wait a beat. “Remember when you said you didn’t love the way I inserted myself, my opinions, and my personal baggage into Morgan and Dante’s relationship? This feels like the same thing, but with us.”

“It’s not the same.”

“Not exactly, but in the same vein. Do we really want to undermine what we’ve built so far by putting it out there to be judged before we let is grow stronger?” I query.

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