Page 59 of Pretend Girlfriend

I laughed nervously. I still didn’t remember much from last night after I took my heels off to dance.

Everyone who had stayed overnight was in the dining room eating breakfast. There were a few smiles as we walked inside, and Bradyn raised a hand in greeting toward his brother. The hostess showed us to our table, and I immediately grabbed a plate and went to the buffet. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage. Everything looked so good.

My plate was piled high with food when Marisa intercepted me on the way back to my table. “I just heard the good news! I’m so happy, Joanna! We’re going to spend the week getting to know each other.”

“We’re going to do what now?” I asked.

“Silly goose! You’re coming to the honeymoon with the entire family. When Bradyn’s mom told me, I almost dropped my orange juice.”

“The honeymoon…” Oh my God. What had Danicka done? “Marisa, I’m so sorry, but I can’t go on the honeymoon with all of you. I can’t take off work.”

“Oh.” Marisa searched my face as if I were joking. “Okay. I’ll let her know.”

I returned to my table and told Landon, “Your wonderful mother told everyone that I’m going on the honeymoon. That’s why she mentioned going home to pack a bag.”

Landon groaned. “She does this sometimes. Making a decision for someone without their input, and then challenging them to say no.”

“Jamaica actually sounds amazing, but I have work tomorrow. I have so much paperwork to process for this case we’re working on.” I glanced at my phone. “I actually have a bunch of voicemails from my boss. He probably wants me to go into the office today. Ugh. What if I agreed to it last night?”

“It’s fine. We’ll tell her you can’t go. She’ll understand.”

Before I could bite down on my first piece of bacon, Danicka appeared next to our table. “Joanna! What’s this I hear about you not going on the honeymoon after all?”

I gave her my best apologetic smile. “I’m so sorry, but I was a little inebriated last night. I may have made promises that sober Joanna can’t keep. As much as I would love to go, I can’t take off work.”

Danicka only laughed. “Oh, honey. You quit your job last night!”

“I think I would remember if I…” I trailed off and glanced at Landon. He was frowning.

Wait a minute. Did I…? I glanced at the unopened voicemails on my phone.

“It was the highlight of the wedding!” Danicka said. “Go talk to the guitar player about it. It was his idea.”

I sat up a little straighter in my chair. “It was whose idea?”

“Marisa’s friend. From Texas. I think his name is Austin.”

26

Joanna

Bits and pieces of last night were starting to come back to me. My stomach dropped.

“Where is Austin?” Landon asked.

“He was in the lobby,” Danicka replied with a giggle. “I’m surprised you didn’t see him. He’s tough to miss.”

“We just walked through the lobby,” I said. “He wasn’t…”

I shared another look with Landon.

“Will you excuse me?” I took one last forlorn look at my plate of food, then went out to the lobby.

The man was still passed out on the couch. When I turned him over, Austin’s groggy blue eyes blinked up at me.

“Morning, darlin’. I’ll take the steak and eggs.”

“Did I quit my job last night?”

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