Page 31 of Our Big White Lie
I groaned as I shrugged off my jacket. “I left early. My aunt was being… well, my aunt.”
Ava made a face. “Oh God. What did she have her panties in a wad about this time?”
Draping my jacket over the back of a chair, I said on a sigh, “Our wedding.”
“Ooh. Yeah. That sounds like her. So she threw a fit about it?”
I nodded, my whole body exhausted as if I’d run a marathon instead of going toe-to-toe with my aunt. “First she tried to make it all about how having Marco as an officiant was the worst thing ever, and then she went off about how two women shouldn’t…” I waved a hand as that fatigue pushed down hard on my shoulders.
“Ugh.” Ava rolled her eyes. “What a twat.”
“I know, right?” I grimaced. “I’m surprised my mom hasn’t blown up my phone yet.”
“Why would she?” But as soon as the question was out, Ava stiffened. “Oh my God. You said something, didn’t you?” Her expression was a mix of giddy excitement and dawning horror, as if she were amused by me pushing back but also aware of how that could’ve blown up in my face.
“I did, yeah.” I managed a tired laugh. “I asked who she was to talk about ‘making others celebrate sin’ when two of her three weddings were to men we knew she’d cheated on her husbands with.”
Ava clapped a hand over her mouth. “You didn’t.”
I cracked a grin. “I did. And she wasn’t happy about it.”
“Did your family get mad?”
“Not really. I mean, I’m sure they don’t like that I made a scene, but I didn’t say anything they weren’t thinking.”
She lowered her hand and finally let herself giggle. “I almost wish I could’ve gone just so I could see the look on her face. It must’ve been priceless.”
“It was,” I admitted. “And it felt good to say something instead of just nodding along.” My own amusement fell. “But it also sucked, you know? So I just decided I didn’t want to stick around.”
“I don’t blame you,” she said, sobering as well. “I’m surprised you went at all.”
“Well, I do like the rest of the family. Just not her. Or Grandma.”
Ava winced. “What does Grandma think about the wedding?”
“She’s not happy about our gay Satanic priest.”
The laughter that burst out of Ava mended everything my aunt had ripped apart today. God, she was beautiful.
How can anyone look at you and wonder why I want to marry you?
As I joined her on the couch, she wrinkled her nose. “God, can you imagine how awful it would be to hear all of that if you were getting married for real?”
My stomach flipped. Getting married for…
Right. Right, weweren’tgetting married for real.
I cleared my throat. “I mean, as far astheyknow, wearegetting married for real.” I paused. “But yeah, it does take the sting out.”
Liar, liar…
“It sucks either way.” She touched my arm. “I’m sorry your family is…” She rolled her eyes and waved her other hand.
I laughed halfheartedly. “I mean, most of them are great? But those two…” I groaned. “I guess I should be thankful Grandma didn’t get a word in edgewise.”
Ava laughed wickedly. “Good. Hopefully she was stewing the whole time like ‘shut up, Elizabeth, so I can speak!’”
“She probably was. Anyway, I should…” I thought fast, then waved a hand at my clothes. “I’m going to go change into something comfy.” I gestured at the kitchen. “Have you eaten yet?”
