Page 70 of Yours, Now and Always
Marin stifles a laugh. “Maybe add ‘urgent’ to that search because spoiler alert: Ingrid had one too and we might need an exorcism.”
The entire room halts.
“Gage’s mom ate a cookie?” Kristen asks. She’s now standing next to Colin, with Maddie and Olivia behind her.
Marin nods.
Colin closes his eyes like he’s communicating with a higher power.
“We need to check on her,” Maddie says, eyeing Tim with a grin she’s not even trying to conceal. “If she’s stoned, you’re cooked. Containing the wifeandthe mother of your potential haircare sponsor will be impossible.”
Tim staggers back like she just slapped him with a flat iron.
“Do not speak those words into the universe, Maddie. Gage can never know. If he finds out I drugged the two women he loves most in this world, he’ll cancel me. Like emotionally, socially, and possibly physically.”
His arms flail frantically. “I’ll lose my friendship privileges. My dinner party invites. My VIP haircare hookup. The only man who’s ever understood my need for $90 conditioner will erase me from his phone like I’m a dead ex.”
He pauses, then gasps. “Oh my god! What if I’m about to become an unsolved mystery? What if my body just disappears and the only clue is a note folded into a paper crane that saysI should have labeled the cookies better?”
“You should be more worried about Amelia,” Colin says. “Gage tolerates you for her. But if she tells him to disappear you, he’ll ask what time.”
Tim looks like he’s on the verge of a Broadway-level meltdown, but before he can monologue about it, Kristen steps in and says, “I’ll check on Ingrid.”
Olivia glances at her. “If she’s high, bring her here. Maybe we’ll be able to contain the situation if she stays with us.”
Tim fans himself as Kristen leaves. “I amso sorryfor trying to bring healing into this family.”
Marin ignores him. “Okay, we need someone running interference. If any of the brothers start drifting toward this room, we need a distraction ready to go.”
“I’ll take care of that,” Olivia offers. “If one of them approaches, I’ll bait him with a hot take about his football team being overrated. Nothing gets them going like that. It’ll give us enough time to hide the evidence.”
Marin nods. “Perfect.”
“What about Gage?” Maddie asks. “He’s the one we really need to keep out of here.”
Everyone pauses.
“Colin,” Marin says slowly. “You’re on Gage watch. If you even sense him heading this way, stall him.”
Colin exhales. “No promises. That man has perimeter-breaching energy.”
“I don’t care if you have to fake a fight with the photographer or set off the fire alarm—he can’t come in here.”
Marin turns back to me. “Okay. Now we manage the bride.”
I smile up at her. “Hiiiii.”
She shakes her head at me. “Yep. We’re definitely still in a situation.”
They’re spiraling. I’m vibing. And right as I’m about to confide that I think the plants are judging me, a deep male voice cuts through the room.
“What kind of situation?”
The room freezes.
Every head turns toward him in slow, synchronized horror.
No one speaks.
