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We would, but it was going to take some doing.
So far, my ducks weren’t lining up in any kind of row.
I texted Barrett after we finished our late lunch.
Hi, my Viking.
Hey, curly.
What’s your evening looking like?
Rhys needs me until eight at least. I’m just going to grab a burger for dinner.
Okay. Everything okay?
It’s all good, Angel.
Angel, hm?
Gotta go, curly. I love you.
I put my cell down. The first tiny niggling worm of doubt wiggled in. Something seemed slightly off but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I wondered if he was picking up on a vibe from me. It was probably better this way. Junie and I had a lot of work to get done, and we were making good progress. It was looking like we might even get it done by Friday like she wanted to. Junie was on fire, ideas coming fast and furious in a way I’d never seen from her before.
At six we decided to call it a night.
“Are you bummed about tonight?” Junie asked.
“Yeah, I really wanted to tell him. I don’t like keeping secrets from him.”
“Ah, yes, but this is a good secret. Instead of rushing it, why don’t you plan to tell him, say, Sunday morning?”
“Sunday morning? Why Sunday morning? That seems weirdly specific.”
“Think about it,” Junie’s enthusiasm was gaining traction. “If you make a big to-do about a romantic dinner and all that, he’s going to know something is up. If you tell him Sunday morning, he won’t be expecting it and you’ll already be in position to celebrate!”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. Junie looked smugly pleased with herself.
“I’ll think about it. I should have just told him in Port Stanley. But I needed to sit with the newness on my own for a bit. I thought if I could just get my ducks in a row, I’d be in a great position to tell him, no matter what his reaction might be.”
“Ah, babe. You know he’s going to be happy. He’ll get all uber-protective and Viking-ish. You should take advantage of the next few days of freedom.”
I smiled. Junie never failed to make me smile.
“Let’s go to your place and have a little party of our own,” she suggested.
I was about to say no when I remembered Junie was going through her own drama with Lenny. She could certainly use a fun night.
“Mint? You want to come over tonight to my place?” I asked.
“I’d love to. You girls head out. I’ll lock up and be there in forty-five minutes with dinner.”
“You don’t have to do that, Minty!”
“It will be my pleasure. I’ll get Greek. Why don’t you guys head next door before Shop the Parthenon closes and pick up some appetizers?”
This was going to be a fun night after all. I didn’t realize just how disappointed I was to have my plans to tell Barrett fall through.
The night ended up far better than I expected. Rhys and Barrett finished up by eight, but Barrett decided to hang out at his place until later so I could have space with Junie and Minty. Bex called shortly after I hung up with Barrett, invited herself over, and said she’d pick up Mara on the way, which is how our night turned into a karaoke night.
