Page 22 of Marriage (Red, White &) Blues

Blake sighed. “Give me your email. I’ll send the ticket right out. This is good, Glory. I promise.”

After rattling off my email, I let him go so I could start packing. The whole thing left me in a daze. Given we were getting close again, I knew I had to tell Pen and Sierra, but they were both on dates and I didn’t know if I should interrupt them or not. In the end, I decided to send a group text to explain.

Me:Whelp… Blake called tonight and guess what? It turns out we got married in Africa. He’s sending me a plane ticket. I’ll give more details when you have time.

Not five minutes later, my phone buzzed with a group FaceTime call from Sierra and Pen.

“Hello?”

“Married?” Sierra asked. Well, it sounded more like she demanded an explanation with that one word.

“There was this ceremony with the tribe. I told you about that.”

“But you didn’t say it was a marriage ceremony, Gloria,” Pen said, exasperated.

“I didn’t know it was.”

“Are you sure he’s not trying to set you up for something?” Si asked.

“Set me up for what? He’s the one with all the money. Trafficking? We spent loads of time alone. If that was going to happen, it already would have.”

“Why the radio silence?” Pen asked and that was a very good question and harder to answer.

“He really was dealing with his family.”

“And he couldn’t pick up a damn phone?” Sierra asked or demanded to know again.

“He said being away from me gave perspective—that he didn’t want his family’s ugly to ever touch me. He said he knew if he made the call, he’d never let me go again.”

“You don’thaveto go,” Pen said. “I’m worried.”

“What if this had been Ant? What would you do?”

“I’d go out to Vermont,” she admitted.

“You really are in love with this guy. Not falling. You fell, didn’t you?” Sierra asked, and this time, it wasn’t a demand to know. More like a softly spoken question that she already held the answer to.

“I fell,” I admitted. “I didn’t mean to. It just sort of happened.”

“Then go get your man,” Pen stated boldly. “I’ll be here if you need me. Ant and I can catch a plane day or night if you need us. Not many people want to square off against the Von Duttons or McCains.”

“I appreciate that. But I promise it’ll be good.”

“Do you need a ride to the airport?” Sierra asked.

“Aren’t you on a date?” I asked.

“Like I care about that. One of my best friends is leaving to meet her husband. My date can kick rocks—he certainly has the personality of one,” she added that last under her breath.

“Do you have a ticket yet?” Pen wanted to know.

“He sent it to my email just a few minutes ago. It’s a red eye.”

“Ant and I will be there. Finish packing and we’ll come grab you.”

“Pen—”

That was as much as I got out before Sierra said, “Not before you grab me. We’re both taking Gloria to the airport. I’m not doing that again. You left without a goodbye for Europe. I’m getting my hugs, dammit.”

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