Page 77 of Perfectly Wedded

“Nothing’s bothering me,” she says, her smile tense.

I don’t buy it. “Is it all the wedding prep when we get back? Is itThe Star Report’s coverage of our big day?”

“Neither,” she says. Then she looks down the aisle at Brax and Jaz in the back of the plane. “Except for the part about the whole world seeing our pictures afterThe Star Reportpublishes it. I could do without that part.”

“Sloan, we can cancel the contract with them if it bothers you.”

“No!” she says. “If we don’t go through with it, you know the reporters will show up on our doorstep. This limits who gets in. It’s the better option.”

She bites a nail.

“What else are you nervous about?”

She lets out a sigh, glances over her shoulder again. “Dad texted Jaz when we were in Cancun. Apparently, he tried to stop by. Which means he could still be there.”

I narrow my eyes. “Why is that a problem?”

“I was hoping we’d have some time before everyone arrived for our wedding. Time to get used tous.I don’t need my dad getting in the way of our big day. Because wherever he goes, he brings the stress level up a thousand notches.”

“Hey,” I say, turning her face to mine. “That’s not going to happen. I will keep things under control. There will be plenty of time for us. And if you feel pressure, I’m here to help you. Just tell me what you need.”

She shakes her head. “It’s not just that. My dad and Jaz have never gotten along. He lied to us a long time ago, and she’s never forgiven him. It’s tense between them.”

“How does that involve you?”

“Because she hates lying.” Then she lowers her voice. “And I kept the truth from her. About us.”

“Do you want me to talk to her?” I say. “I’ll take the blame for it. I’m the one who suggested it.”

“I won’t let you,” she warns. “Even if we tried that, she’d see right through it. I need to do it. Before our wedding.”

I get the feeling this is some sisterly thing between Sloan and Jaz that I can’t fix for her. Sloan is notorious for feeling incredibly guilty for hiding anything. She’s got a terrible poker face, which is why pretending to be married to me was so hard for her. She’s one of those people who couldn’t lie to save her life.

“Sloan, if you tell her what happened and how we’re in love with each other now, how could she hold it against you?”

“Because I wasn’t honest with her when I should’ve been,” she says. “I could’ve told her in Vegas. I had the chance to. I was just afraid...”

“Of what?”

“Of her talking me out of it.” Sloan closes her eyes and rests her head on the back of her seat. “I was rash. Just like I always am. She would’ve told me that.”

“For what it’s worth, you actually said no to me at first. If anyone was rash, it was me. I was the one who pressured you.” I wait a beat. “There’s always another option, you know.”

She opens her eyes. “What’s that?”

“Not telling her. What she doesn’t know can’t hurt her.”

“That’s what I did in Vegas, and look where I am now.” She shakes her head. “Lying is the one thing she won’t tolerate. When she talks about our father, she gets this look of disgust on her face. And I feel so guilty because I know I’m no better than him.”

I take her hand in mine and squeeze it.

“You are better than him,” I remind her. “Because you’re choosing to stay.”

As soon as we walk in the front door, Leo and Tate crowd around us, their faces hiding something.

“Welcome home!” Tate says.

“Why are you blocking our way?” Brax asks, looking between them.

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