I let out a long breath. Then I waggled my brows. “So, do you wanna do the hippity dippity right now? Because we don’t have to catch our flight for another four hours.”
“The hippity dippity?” Her adorable nose scrunched. “What the heck is that?”
I grinned. “It’s the Dupree term for love-making. Believe it or not, my granny made it up.”
She cackled, head falling to the side, her torso shaking with honest-to-goodness laughter. “The hippity dippity.” She slapped me on the chest, gasping for air.
I laughed beneath her, the worry slipping away with each exhale.
After about twenty seconds, she breathed, “Ahhh. That felt good.” She took a large cleansing breath. “And yes, I’d love to do the hippity dippity. I’d like that very much.”
Chapter Eleven
JULIETTE
I’d come this close to telling Griffin everything back at the hotel. But when he’d said we were going on a cruise he’d booked in the middle of the night without a second thought, I knew it wasn’t the time. But the longer I put it off, the more betrayed he would feel when he found out. So I gave myself a deadline:tell him as soon as we get back.
Because you can’t go on a cruise to Mexico without the proper attire, an hour later, we were in Target.
I held up a pale blue bikini. “What do you think?”
“Absolutely yes. You should get the green one too.” He winked. “And the yellow one with the ruffles.” Another wink. “Or let’s save the money and forget the bikinis altogether.”
I tried to hide my blush with a dramatic scoff.
He grinned, so pleased with himself. “Hold on.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and went slightly still. “It’s a FaceTime from my mom. I’m nervous about telling her.”
Uh… My body locked up. Had he missed the part where I said the longer we kept this quiet, the better?
He hit accept. “Hey, Mama.”
I squatted, pretending to check out a floral one-piece. Really, I was trying not to hyperventilate.
“There’s my Griffin guy,” she said warmly. “Why are you back in Vegas… and what are you doing in Target? I thought you were heading home after the hike.”
Again with the location stalking. I smiled. What I would’ve given to have a mom who stalked my location.
“Uh…that was the plan.” He scratched his forehead. “But I left… my shoes at the convention and had to come back to get them.” A flush crept up his neck.
“Why are you in the women’s swimsuit section?” his mom asked.
“You know Griff,” a younger woman called in the background. “Trying on bikinis again.”
I glanced up from my crouched position.
He held the phone away and mouthed,That’s Sophie.
His sister. Who was very active on social media. And who loved DayGlow and would likely post about me the second she found out. My heart went soft when I realized she wasmysister now.
Griffin gestured for me to stand, then pointed at the phone, motioning that he wanted to introduce me.
The blood drained from my face. I held up a finger, needing a second.
He tilted his head, likecome on. He was so excited to tell them. So proud of who I was. But that was the problem. He didn’t know who I actually was. If he did, he’d be the opposite of proud. He’d want to annul our marriage and never see me again. And he’d have every right.
How could I look his mom in the eye and let her believe I was something I wasn’t?
“Griff, who are you talking to?” his mom asked.
