Page 49 of Wild Ever After
“It isn’t really mine, but sure. We can hang in my room and flip through magazines like we’re teenagers again. My bed is big enough for the both of us, plus a few friends.”
A mischievous grin lifts the corners of her mouth. “Or you and one big, hunky hockey player.”
* * *
The office ofI Domagazine is buzzing with excitement. I can feel it the second I step off the elevator. The usual quiet, low murmuring of voices and tired eyes first thing on a Monday morning is replaced with enthusiastic chatter and wide smiles as people hold copies of the latest issue. My fingers itch to grab one and see exactly what Melody wrote.
As I walk to my desk, I get more than the usual hellos and good morning greetings. I have a few coworkers I talk with in the break room, or go to an occasional lunch or happy hour, but this is different. It’s almost like I’m being seen by people who have never given me a second glance before now. It doesn’t make any sense to me. My articles were already one of the most popular on the site, so why the sudden friendliness, just because my wedding landed in a feature story? They all knew this was happening. We’ve been planning the issue for months. Ever since BuzzFeed picked up one of my articles.
A copy of the magazine rests on my desk, a large Post-it stuck to the front with my name scrawled in Melody’s handwriting. Before I can reach for it, the woman herself appears in front of me, wearing her sunglasses and carrying her purse.
“Let’s go for a little walk,” she says, like that’s something we do on the regular.
“Umm…” I glance back at the magazine.
“Come on then. It won’t take long.”
“All right.” I fall into step behind her. Now all eyes really are on me. I muster a smile and pretend like all is well.
Melody says nothing as we get into the elevator and she hits the button for the lobby. Is she firing me? A cool sweat breaks out at the nape of my neck. I swallow around the lump forming in my throat, while my mind spins with reasons she might be angry. Is she upset about how the wedding went? I didn’t think so, but maybe she changed her mind.
Is she angry that I didn’t work more while on my honeymoon? I did the few things I’d promised, but ultimately decided to actually enjoy the time off, since I wasn’t getting paid, and I was on a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Sheisall work, so maybe that’s it?
Her heels click on the lobby floor in a quick rhythm. She still doesn’t speak.
“I’m sorry that I haven’t been available the past week, but I did take a lot of notes and I started an article on the honeymoon, focusing on different options based on a couple’s vacation preferences. The best places to go and things to do for adventurous couples versus couples who want to relax and unwind.”
She holds the door open for me and we step outside. The office building sets on a busy downtown street, so she heads for the crosswalk and we go across. A coffee shop and a bagel place are just a couple of the nearby shops. Is she buying me a farewell latte?
Instead of stopping at either of those stores, she goes to a small convenience store and again holds the door open for me to go first.
“What are we doing here?” I finally ask.
She removes her sunglasses and holds them in one hand in front of her. “We made some changes to this month’s issue of the magazine while you were gone.”
“Oh.” My mouth forms the word, but it’s barely audible. It all clicks into place. “You decided not to feature the wedding.”
It doesn’t come out as a question. It’s a statement. Of course, that’s what she decided. It was a sham wedding. Can I really blame her? I put on a white dress and said vows to a man I barely know. Somehow her firing me feels like the universe giving me the finger for trying to fake happily ever after.
Her lips purse and then she waves a hand to a display near the register. “We decided to do a double feature and put you on the cover.”
I can’t make sense of the words, but I let my gaze slide to where she’s motioning. I inhale sharply, letting out a little gasp. On the cover ofI Dois me and Declan, looking like the quintessential bride and groom.
19
YOU’RE THE UGLIER HALF OF AMERICA’S NEW FAVORITE COUPLE
DECLAN
I’m tossingthe last bits of trash from the bathroom demo into the dumpster, when a familiar voice calls, “Hey, stranger.”
I turn to see Everly crossing the street to me. Tyler’s little sister just graduated high school and spent the past month travelling with some friends. France, London, Amsterdam, and a few other stops.
Tyler’s been worried sick. Not that he said that out loud, but I heard from Ash that Ty was texting Everly twice a day and scoping out international news on the hour.
“Hey, Little Sharpie.”
“I leave for a month and you get married?!” Her eyes widen in surprise and, I think, excitement before Everly lifts up onto her toes to hug me around the neck. She pulls back and searches my face. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have come back for something like a wedding.”
