Page 71 of Rebound
Quick and fast, Jules mouths.
I take a deep breath and do it just like that. “I got married in Vegas.”
They all blink at me and Jules gives me a thumbs up. Mom reaches up and grabs Dad’s arm and they exchange a look which is clearly meant to say, “what’s happening?” Aunt Constance is the only one who sits back with a small, knowing smile on her face.
“I’m open to questions,” I say.
“Well, good, because we have many,” Gran says, her brown eyes as sharp as ever. “Who did you marry? How did it happen? Are you getting it annulled?”
I rub my hands on my leggings and tug at my hoodie. “All good questions! I married Roman, and no, we’re not getting it annulled.”
Everyone, except Jules, gasps. Aunt Constance claps once. “Oh, Vinny, this is the best news!”
I smile gratefully at Aunt Constance because at least one person is on my side.
“Roman Maddox?” Dad says. “Roman Maddox!?”
I flinch at the anger in his voice. I’ve never heard it directed at me before, which is another benefit of being a good girl. “Daddy, please take a moment.”
Dad’s face is turning red in anger. “That boy is not good enough for you, Lavinia.”
“You said the same thing about Josh,” I remind him.
Dad drops his arm from around my shoulders and turns away. “Look how well that ended.”
“At least this one walked down the aisle and put a ring on it.” I raise my left hand, and they all look at it, their eyebrows raised. I follow their eyes and realize that I’m not actually wearing a ring because it’s sitting on my dresser. “Metaphorically speaking.”
Mom shakes her head, putting two fingers to her temple as if pushing back a headache. “How did this happen? You’ve never talked about Roman other than recent events.”
I’m prepared for this question because the answer isn’t a lie. “Actually, when I disappeared at my almost-wedding, it was Roman who helped me escape. We’ve been texting since then.”
“Texting doesn’t lead to marriage,” Grandma Liz says.
“Attraction does,” I say with a shrug.
“And let’s not forget he showed up at her date,” Aunt Constance adds. All eyes shift to Dad, remembering that he’d done the same thing with Mom.
“And carried her home because her feet were hurting,” Jules adds gleefully.
Aunt Constance gasps, a hand coming up to rest over her heart. “Oh, how romantic. I knew he was a good one when I spoke to him. He reminds me of my Sal. Do you remember Sal, Lizzie?”
Grandma pats her sister’s hand in reassurance. “He was a good one.”
I’ve only seen photos of Aunt Constance’s first three husbands. The last two were in my lifetime and they used to dote on her, always buying her flowers or little trinkets, anything to make her laugh. She doesn’t talk about any of them, but I know my great-aunt and I knew she loved them. I also know I’ve never seen this look in her eyes before. Whoever Sal was, he was the love of my great-aunt’s life.
“This is certainly going to take some getting used to,” Mom says, drawing everyone’s attention. “But at least we know Roman. He’s a good boy.”
Dad gives her a look of betrayal and she squeezes his arm, a placating look on her face. He’s not buying it.
“A good boy, Melanie?” The words burst out of him. “That good boy stole alcohol from our liquor cabinet, spent his whole childhood getting in one trouble after another, habitually starts fighting on the ice for no good reason. Not to mention he’s Asher Maddox’s son.”
That last one takes me aback. I had no idea my dad had a problem with Roman’s dad. I actually don’t remember much of Mr. Maddox. Roman mostly came over with his mom unless my parents were having the whole team over.
“He’s always been a good friend to Lavinia,” Mom says, gently. “Remember, they were inseparable. We can’t hold his father’s mistakes against Roman.”
What mistakes? Why didn’t I know about any mistakes? I need to know all the good gossip!
“It’s not about mistakes, Melanie,” Dad says. “It’s about how much of his father’s personality has rubbed off on Roman and the fact that he’s now married to our daughter.”
