Page 73 of The Marriage Narrative
ZINNIA:I mean, I wasn’t personally invited to their giant puppy pile on the couch but I am near it because I’m with Jordan
GRACE:It’s all over the news! What happened?
GRACE:You were there, weren’t you?
ZINNIA:Yeah. I’m the unnamed friend
ZINNIA:“disarmed” is inaccurate. I *incapacitated* him
GRACE:Fiona is too upset to type but she says she loves you.
ZINNIA:I love her too. I promise I’m fine!
ZINNIA:Oh and Jordan had nothing to do with it. No need to threaten to kill him.
GRACE:Why would Jordan be involved?
ZINNIA:Because they’re really stretching this prank within an inch of its life. I can’t believe they’re letting the media run wild like this
GRACE:Prank?
ZINNIA:They even ordered pizza for *dinner.* As in someone else who is not Amber or an approved chef made it
GRACE:Zinnia.
GRACE:Please call me. As soon as you can. I don’t care if Jordan is there too. Please just call me tonight. It doesn’t matter what time. I’ll be up.
GRACE:I just need to see your face and hear your voice. Please.
Chapter 19
Jordan
“Is it okayif we skip tonight?” Zinnia placed her shoes in the entryway closet. “I’m really tired and Grace is freaking out. I need to call—Jordan.”
He hugged her again for what had to be the hundredth time that day. As tightly as he could, still unconvinced that she was real and safe and home. It felt like every time he blinked, he flashed back to that moment when she was gone and everyone else had forgotten about her.
She rubbed his back and asked, “What’s the matter? Talk to me, please.”
When he looked at her, she seemed seconds away from smiling. She’d worn that same bemused expression all night.
“I’m never letting you out of my sight again.”
She cackled. “You can stop now.”
What if he never heard that sound again? Or saw her smile? Or listened to one of her wildly exaggerated stories?
“Thank you, but that’s enough.” She gently untangled herself from him.
“Are you okay?” Shock could be delayed by hours, sometimesdays. He wasn’t in any kind of rush to see her break down but how was she so calm?
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” He shrugged, feeling out of his mind. “Maybe because of the massive security breach and attack.”
“Is there a reason why you’re keeping this prank going? We don’t do that in here, remember?”
“Prank?” He watched her walk toward the kitchen. “What are you talking about?”
