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“It’s not a pain in the butt at all, and you should have the wedding you want. Besides, I don’t mind doing it. It’s all good.”
“I think the timing is great,” Sarah says as she steps off a ladder. “And speaking of timing, June, have you taken the time to talk to Apollo?”
I scowl at her. “We don’t want to talk about that.”
“Yeah, I think we do,” Luna adds. “But I take it that you haven’t talked to him.”
“I haven’t seen him in more than a week,” I confess and immediately feel guilt take up residence in the back of my throat. “If I see him, I’ll feel uncomfortable and weird, and it’s better if I avoid that altogether.”
“Juniper Snow, I’ve never known you to be a coward.” Sarah crosses her arms over her chest, and to my surprise, they both look mad at me.
Like,reallymad.
“What’s this all about?”
“We love you,” Luna says. “But we love Apollo, too. You need to tell him. If you don’t, I will, and I won’t apologize for it. Stop being a chicken shit and justdo it.”
I want to yell at them and tell them that they don’t understand and that, at the end of the day, it’s none of their goddamn business.
I want that, but it would be wrong because everything they’re saying is true.
Iambeing a coward.
“Okay.”
They blink at me, look at each other, and then my way once more.
“Okay?” Sarah echoes.
“Yeah, okay. You’re right. I hate that you are, but facts are facts. I’ll go over to his place tonight and tell him. I don’t know how, and I’m super stressed about it, but I know that I need to. So, I’ll do it. I’ve had my time to freak out and think and freak out some more.”
“Have you decided what you want to do about the baby?” Luna asks.
“There was always only the option for me, but I had to warm up to it.” I pat my stomach, not in the sweet way that most soon-to-be moms do, but in kind of an awkward way that I figure I’ll get used to after some time passes. “Whether or not Apollo wants to be included in our lives is really up to him.”
“I don’t see him running,” Sarah says thoughtfully. “I’ll be interested to hear how it all goes.”
“I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, I have to go to the chapel. The city’s coming by to pick up the bodies tomorrow, and I have to go down in the body closet to make sure everything is ready for them. Oh, and Grandma asked me to look for another person. I swear, she should just come over and take inventory herself.”
“Did you just call it…the body closet?” Luna asks with a laugh.
“It’s so much easier than mausoleum.” I shrug and turn to head out. “If you decide you need more decorations, call me. Although, I don’t think there’s an inch in this place that isn’t already covered with bows and lights.”
“Good luck tonight,” Sarah calls out as I make it to the front door.
Honestly, I doubt there is enough luck—good or bad—that will get me through the next couple of hours. On top of getting queasy and light-headed every time I consider telling Apollo I’m knocked up, which has nothing to do with the morning sickness that’s been kicking my ass, I have to actually do this favor for my grandmother.
I can’t believe that I agreed to go back down to that body closet. When I’m not at the chapel, it doesn’t seem like a big deal, but as soon as I get down there, I hyperventilate and break out in hives.
It absolutely terrifies me, and I can’t get rid of it soon enough.
“Just get in and get out,” I mutter to myself as I park in front of the chapel and walk inside.
When I step through my front door, I forget to be terrified for a moment because it’s soprettyin here now. Thanks to the hard work of my crew and friends and family in Huckleberry Bay, this space has turned into something new. I can’t believe how much progress everyone has made in just over a week’s time. The floor is in, the walls are painted the perfect shade of white, which reflects the light from the windows so well. The plumbing and electrical are completely done, and I’ve spent a little more time than necessary in the bathroom, watching the water run in the faucet. The only things left to finish are countertops and a couple pieces of trim here and there, and I can move in. If Ireallywanted to, I could move in now, but I’m stubborn, and I want it to be completely finished, in every way, before I move in my stuff.
“It’s on schedule,” I murmur in amazement. Christmas is just a few days away, and my gifts to myself—some new living room and bedroom furniture—are waiting at the store, ready to be delivered.
I do a little dance before crossing the big space, past my gorgeous kitchen, complete with new appliances and sage-green cabinets, and open the door to the mudroom.
