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“Good,” mumbles Aiden, covering his mouth as he swallows his bite.
“June wiggles her eyebrows as she looks between us. “Look at my little lovebirds flying the nest,” she beams. Aiden makes a choked noise and my face falls into a stony frown. Our reactions don’t deter her good mood, though. “What did you get up to yesterday, then? I want to know everything.”
My face turns even more sour. I know this is her job and that she has a weird but genuine interest in our relationship, but I really do not want to disclose personal issues to her right now, especially when they’ve left my head in such a mess.
I have no idea what I’m going to do. If this was as simple as forgiving Aiden and tolerating his presence as a friend again, then that would be easy. That’s already done. It’s the sex and marriage and mergers that’s leaving me spinning. Hell, if it was just sex, that would be simpler too. He’s good in bed. I don’t think I regret that, even if it wasn’t the most thought-through plan.
But marriage?
I keep asking myself if I love my company more than I can’t stand the idea of being married to him. The honest answer is, I don’t know. I’m being backed into a corner, and every decision looks like a risk. It’s time to do the only thing that makes any sense right now.
I pull out my phone and text Kelly.
Help! Aiden’s going to propose again, and I think it’s serious for him, but I don’t even know if I’ve forgiven him and I don’t know what to do…
While I send my SOS, Aiden replies to June with way more grace than I would have. “We went for a walk,” he says. “And we went shopping, and we got a pizza downtown.”
“Oh, at Oasis Tomatoes? Their stuff is awesome.”
“It was pretty good,” he agrees.
My text is becoming an essay, and Aiden and June both look at me like it’s my turn to say something. “Yeah,” I mumble. “Good.”
“Sooo,” says June, drawing out the syllable like she’s about to say something exciting. My stomach drops in anticipation. “How do we feel about coming back to play the cards this evening? It’s your last night here and I always like to do a special something for people to show them how much can change in two days.”
Somehow, it’s almost impossible to say no to her when she smiles like that, so warmly that you might as well be looking into the sun. It’s something about the smile and her bright green eyes that makes her trustworthy and likable, even though I’m trying my best not to admit it.
“Okay,” says Aiden. I shoot him a look to express my disapproval and he throws one back that seems to be an apology and a plea. I purse my lips tightly, trying to think of something nice to say.
“Fine,” I agree begrudgingly.
“You might find it cheers you up,” says June, her smile somehow widening even further.
I think that in any other circumstance, she’d be a fantastic friend — kind but truthful. I guess it’s why she’s so good at her job.
After we finish dinner, we let June shepherd us out of the restaurant, and as we walk, my phone pings. Kelly.
Stay calm!! Good job not killing him! U gotta think abt priorities — Metties or marriage? Which would be worse, losing Metties or being legally bound to him? Gotta remember it doesn’t have to be a WEDDING but if u can tolerate being married on paper and being in the same room, is it worth it?
I’m still tormented by the weight of decisions as we enter the conference room. It’s lighter and less stinky than I remember. The circle of cushions is still on the floor, but it feels less like being brought into a mystic cave to get indoctrinated into a cult than it did on the first day.
“Come, sit,” gestures June, drifting over to her pillow and sitting down as elegantly as someone whose necklaces clank together like a faulty engine can. “Join me.”
We do, glancing at each other in uncertainty before taking up the same seats as we had the last time. June smiles between both of us. “I’m so glad that I can already feel the positive energy brimming out of the two of you. I have a couple of options for tonight, and I’m going to let you choose. I can read your cards, we can do a quick-fire round of intimacy questions, or we can play This or That again.”
There’s another moment of hesitation before both of us say, at the same time, “This or That.”
June beams and brings forth her deck of cards. “Okay,” she says, pulling the first card. “Ready?” We both nod. She clears her throat and reads, “Winter or summer?”
“Winter,” we say in sync.
“Morning or evening?”
“Evening.”
“Beach or mountains?”
“Beach.” This time, when we answer, we lock eyes, and I can’t help but giggle. It’s kind of weird the way we’re both saying the same thing at the same time, but I guess it’s proving June’s point.
