Page 4 of Dirty Secret Love

I grimace, racking my foggy brain. “I . . . don’t know. I hung up on my mom mid-call and came straight here.”

Wren pats my shoulder. “Get some rest. We’ll figure this out in the morning.”

* * *

The big problemabout drinking to forget that my parents exist is the morning after. Today is no exception. I wake up with a raging hangover in Wren’s guest room with Jez already bathed and looking fresh.

“Rise and shine, sweetheart,” she says all chirpy. “Today is the day we get you a fake fiancé. The hottest in town, of course.”

“Shh,” I mumble, covering my head with the pillow. “You’re angering the little elves tap dancing in my head.”

“That’ll teach you to not drink that much when your parents upset you.”

“I love you, but sometimes you’re so annoying,” I groan. “Did you stay too?”

“Nope. I came to check on you. Wren and Drake have gone to work. I’m here to ensure that you take ibuprofen, and drink water. I might even prepare you breakfast so you have enough to energy to get to work.”

“Even though sometimes I hate you, you’re a good friend,” I mumble, not wanting to get out of bed.

“Of course I am. I’m so good that I even went to your place to feed poor Ms. Daisy,” she mentions my cat and I groan.

One of these days I’ll remember that drinking isn’t the answer to avoid my overbearing parents. If I move to Tanzania or some other place thousands of miles away from here, I might be able to fix my issue.

Knowing I have to face the reality and all my responsibilities, I leave the bed, grab my phone, and almost cry when I see there are several urgent texts from dear old Mom. She’s arriving in one week and expects me to have the house ready. I read them all out loud, and Jez just rolls her eyes.

“Why would she think I’m going to get her house ready?” I scrunch my nose.

Jez snatches my phone out of my hand, rapidly typing. “Sorry, I’ll be out of town with my fiancé. I’ll see you once you’re back. Kisses to Dad, Sutton.”

“Jez, stop playing,” I growl.

She waves the phone happily.

“Don’t send that message,” I insist.

“Oops, I wasn’t supposed to?” She smirks triumphantly.

Bitch,I mouth.

I read Mom’s answer saying that’s unacceptable. I groan, collapsing back against the pillows. “You’re dead to me.”

Jez just laughs. “Relax, we’ll get you out of this mess.”

Right on cue, my phone rings flashing ‘Mom.’ Jez answers brightly, “Sutton’s phone. How can I help you? She’s with a patron. May I take a message?”

I snatch the phone away from her, take a deep breath, and face the nightmare head on. “Hey, Mom, what’s up?”

“Who was that?” Mom asks.

“My assistant,” I say hesitantly.

“I thought you said you were out of town.” Her voice is filled with suspicion.

“No. I’m heading out of town,” I try to sound offended at the insinuation that I was lying. “Which is why I can’t be paying attention to you. But please, tell me what’s so important you need to speak to me, now?”

Mom huffs. “You hung up last night, and we need to talk about the move.”

I wince. “I don’t see what we have to discuss. Why are you coming back so suddenly anyway?”

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