Page 92 of Not A Whisper

Thankfully, I don’t have time to divulge any information. An influx of students makes their way up to the second floor, and we’re swamped until the end of our shift. By the time I get to my car, I’ve avoided any more conversations about Vegas.

I don’t leave right away. In the silence and stillness of the car, I take a minute to breathe.

Beneath my general weariness of the busy day, there’s a shimmering of excitement. If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to pull off my revenge against the guys tonight. I reach for the anger that’s spurred this on. To my surprise, I can hardly feel it.

But why?

Annoyed now at myself, I pull out my phone and text the group chat.

Me: Dinner at 7. Don’t be late.

With that, I head home. When I arrive, I find the package I’ve been waiting for sitting there on my doorstep. My grin fades, however, when I stop and grab the mail from the boxes clustered by the stairwell.

I pull the large manilla envelope from my box; the sender indicates it’s from the City of Groveton. My heart twists at the sight of the recipient’s name.

Briella Wilson-Gipson

If there was any doubt about my new relationship status, it’s wiped away. My anger returns, giving me the strength I need to stomp back over to my door, unlock it, and prepare for retaliation.

The guys may have gone through all this effort to protect me from Garry, but if they thought I’d just lay over and accept their manipulation without a fight, they’re about to be sorely mistaken.

Twenty-Three

I’m sitting at the table with dinner set at each plate by the time the guys get home.

Grant and Jason come home first, walking in together, talking with one another. As they kick off their shoes, I sip my wine and wait. Both guys make their way into the kitchen. I can feel their eyes on me. Looking up at them over my glass, I use my other hand to wave at the plates.

“Well, come on.”

Grant takes the seat to the right of me, stiff but willing to entertain me. His suspicion is written all over his face. Is he braced for trouble? Too bad. He won’t see what’s coming until it’s too late. As for Jason, well, I’m unsure if Jason is unfazed by everything or simply doesn’t let it show because he comes around and boldly plants a kiss on my cheek.

“You look like the world’s most perfect wife.” He shoots me a one-dimpled smile as he slides into the seat on the other side of me. “How was work?”

His smile falters when I don’t answer right away, just stare at him over my glass.

“It was awkward.” I tell him when he starts to squirm. “Jonathan asked why I looked so tan and I had to tell him that I went to Vegas. Can you guess what the next question was that he asked me?” Before Jason can answer, I continue. “He immediately wanted to know if I’d gotten hitched. He was joking, but still… I told him no.”

Jason frowns. “Why would you do that? You can tell people we’re married now. We planned to announce?—”

“There’s no we!” I cut him off sharply. “Youaren’t married Jason. I am. Grant is. You don’t have to field the typical questions I’ll have to face! Questions that are askedall the timeto newlyweds.”

I shoot a glare at Grant whose jaw clenches and pupils narrow. He’s smart enough to keep quiet. Jason on the other hand…

“What type of questions?”

“Oh you know,” I wave my free hand in the air. “Like ‘how did your husband propose’ or ‘where did you get married’, or ‘can I see pictures of?—”

The front door bangs open as Trip stomps in.

“Sorry, traffic was shit,” he mutters, kicking off his boots after slamming the door shut behind him.

“Don’t worry, we were just getting started,” I answer with an overly sweet smile. To the others, I nudge my head. “Eat up. I’m the dutiful wife, making sure myhusbandand…” I falter as I search for a title. “boyfriends?Whateveryou are, have eaten after a long day of school and work.”

Unable to tamp down the sneer in my voice completely, I take a swig of my wine in order to collect myself. Jason stares at me with uncertainty then glances at Grant, then to Trip when Grant doesn’t give him any clue as to what to do.

My free hand slaps the table, causing him to jump in surprise. “Eat.”

Jason picks up his fork and knife immediately.

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