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“Hey, Dad...if there’s ever anything crazy happening, you’d tell me, right? You shouldn’t bottle it all up.”
He stops and looks at me.
“Everything’s fine, honey. It’s a marriage, after all. I knew what I was getting into when I said my vows, and I promised her we’d make this work. Our journey isourproblem—not yours—and it’s on me to sort this out. Thanks for your concern.”
He nods affably one more time, and then he’s gone.
* * *
Guess who’s gottickets to Vegas burning a hole in her pocket and no one to go with?I send to Marnie later, after I’ve pummeled my brain enough for the evening.
OMG. When???she sends back a moment later.
How does next week sound?I text, sighing and stretching out on my balcony.
My eyes keep glancing to the dark room next door. I hate that I’m so anxious to see any sign of light or movement, telling me Chris is home.
My phone pings again.
Marnie: UGH, you’re kidding. It’s my sister’s baby shower and I signed up to put it together. Mom is hella stressed. If it was any other time...
I’m still frowning down at my phone a minute later when the screen lights up with her call. I swipe the green icon.
“Holy shit, you have no idea how sorry I am,” she says, not even bothering with a hello. “But you know, I was thinking...you should definitely go alone, girl. Let me send you some dresses!”
“Dresses? Um, what?”
“I can still help you get dolled up to kill, duh. I know I’m probably an idiot for talking myself into buying you lunch every day next fall...but if you show up at the clubs looking single and sexy, and you keep your mind open, youwillget laid.”
My jaw drops.
With the craziness lately, that dumb bet—sorry, pact—has been the absolute last thing on my mind.
“It’s whatever,” I say, trying to brush it off like nothing. “I’m just going to clear my head and have some fun. If I run into any guy worth having a drink or two with, cool, but I’m not stressing.”
“Hold up. Cordie?” She pauses and clicks her tongue.
“Yeah?”
“What are younottelling me?”
I snort loudly into the phone as my heart skips a beat. “Marnie, I have no clue what you’re—”
“Oh, no, pants on fire. Iknowyou. Don’t tell me, you already have a guy in mind, don’t you?”
My mouth falls open and closes again. How the hell is she such a mind reader?”
“Marnie—”
“Wait, you have a guy, you’re into him, and I bet he digs you. But you’re both shy and dumb and he hasn’t made a move yet, has he?”
She’s killing me. “You’re crazy. And even if—ifthere was a smidge of truth in what you’re saying, it’s totally not that simple.”
“Cordelia Burr, pack your bags. You’re going and you’re going to tell me everything.”
I clear my throat, wilting in my seat. It’s incredible how good she is at making me squirm over the phone.
“Marnie,” I try again, but I hear her snapping her fingers.
