Page 57 of That Thing You Brew
She wouldn’t back out of marrying me, would she?
I honestly didn’t know. The bunny incident didn’t seem like a deal-breaker, but if she thought it could harm her reputation as a musician…
I had to fix this.
ASAP.
CHAPTER20
Penny
Luckily, Tasha wasn’t home yet when Gabby and I arrived. The last thing I wanted was to hear her harangue me about how all guys were awful and then proceed to list how her exes had done her wrong, coming full circle to all the ways Monty had annoyed her since childhood.
As annoying and rude as Monty was, he’d sat with and stuck by his Nana Booboo (so dubbed for fixing all his boo-boos as a rough-and-tumble toddler) and pushed her wheelchair out onto the dance floor, where he entertained her with his corny moves. When the bunny escaped, he’d quickly maneuvered her out of the crowd to safety. From what I could see, he was only ever rude to Tasha. Whatever was wrong between them ran deep, and I didn’t have any intention of getting in the middle of it.
After a long shower and combing out my tangles, Tashastillhadn’t arrived home. I hoped she was having a nice night. I picked up my phone to text her a good-night-stay-safe message and saw a whole bunch of texts from Xavier.
I sighed. I should have expected him to want to make sure I was okay, but I still wasn’t used to being one half of a loving relationship.
Loving.
I sure hadn’t acted like I loved him when everything fell apart tonight.
His carelessness had caused the chain reaction that ended my performance early and on a bad note. And then Howdidhedini lashed out at me—that wasn’t right, either, but his wife and son had been in a car accident. She’d broken her arm and was still at the hospital. I couldn’t blame him for being so upset. Luckily, their little boy remembered me and had let me comfort him. I’d offered to bunny-sit, but the boy was already so distraught, all he wanted was his Abby Cabunny.
I texted Tasha, then scanned my messages.
Gabby:I texted Jannell. She’s okay with me opening tomorrow if you want to take my afternoon shift. Let me know so I can set my alarm.I texted her back yes, and thanks.
Xavier:I’m so sorry about tonight. I ruined a perfect Valentine’s Day, and I wish I could make it up to you. I love you, Penny. Please tell me I can fix this.
I sank onto my bed. I’d almost told him tonight that I loved him. I wished I had when I had the chance. After tomorrow’s home game, the team was leaving for a road trip and wouldn’t be back until late on the nineteenth. We wouldn’t be alone again until our wedding night.
Our wedding night.
Six nights from right now. I looked around my room, and the reality hit me like the stone wall Mrs. Howdidhedini had skidded into.
My life was about to change drastically. I didn’t feel ready to leave Tasha. I was still in college. How was this going to work?
We’d made all the plans, but were we really ready to live as a married couple? Neither of us wanted to fake it, and with the way we’d grown to love each other, a business arrangement was out of the question.
But was I—werewe—ready for … well, thewedding night. And other things.
I wasn’t.
Suck it up, Penny. You committed. That ring you’re wearing on the wrong finger—remember that?
Oh, leave her alone. She’s confused. Give her time to process. It’ll all work out.
“Will it, though?” I asked my angel-devil voices. “How can you be sure?”
Silence.
I sighed and swiped at my phone to text Xavier back.
Nothing to fix. I’ll see you at the Coffee Loft tomorrow. Text me when you’re on your way.
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