Page 97 of Not A Whisper

“But you said you weren’t Grant’s fiancée!” His voice comes out as a squeak.

I shrug. “Yeah, well, I was angry with him. But, um, I got over it enough to have a small ceremony—it was practically an elopement.”

Jonathan lets out a low whistle, leaning back in his seat. Heturns his head and stares off into space. What’s he thinking? Is he mad that I kind of lied to him? I guess this is good practice for when I do tell Pianna.

“And what about Trip? And this Jason guy?”

Oh boy. “They’re still in the picture.”

Jonathan scoffs. The sound sits somewhere firmly between disbelief and amusement.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me! I didn’t know things were so serious. Honestly, I’m a little pissed that I wasn't invited to the ceremony, small or not, but I’ll get over it. Brenda is going to flip when I tell her—” He sits straight up with a loud gasp. His head whips around, his brows coming together in concern. “Wait a minute. Does this swift engagement have anything to do with Garry Gipson? You were seriously upset after his offer to donate to the library, and that’s after he tried accosting you outside the library to talk to you about his son… Then there's sudden tension between you and Grant, yet you get married?”

Woah. Jonathan’s sharper than I give him credit for. He’s connected pieces I didn’t even think were all that obvious. Would anyone else catch on this quickly? Probably Pianna since she already has at least a little bit more insight into my life.

With a deep breath, I roll closer toward him. He bends his head as I lower my voice.

“You can’t breathe a word of this to anyone.” I hold his gaze.

For once, Jonathan is serious as he watches me. “You got it.”

I swallow before I admit, even softer, “You were right, Jonathan. Garry is someone I need to watch out for. While that situation and our marriage aren’t related—” notdirectlyat least “—it will help keep me relatively safe from him. He’s not my biggest fan.”

Jonathan reaches up and wipes his hand down his facewith a sigh. When it drops away, he shakes his head. “Shit, Bri, what are you involved with?”

“Nothing.” A lot actually. But the less Jonathan knows, the better. “But Garry…”

“He’s definitely involved in a whole lot of something,” Jonathan agrees with a nod. He pauses, a frown dragging his mouth downward. “You’re… you’re going to be ok, right?”

I nod. “I will be now.”

He gives me a slight smile. “Good thing you love his son enough to marry him. That’s a big step.”

I smile back, hoping that it looks genuine.

Love Grant? My heart flutters but there’s a tiredness to it. As if my anger yesterday had worn the small organ out. Maybe I do love Grant. But if that’s the case, I don’t even want to explore it. Not until he truly earns it.

“Well, congratulations!” He winks. “There are worse things in the world than being married to a rich guy.”

Yeah, like dealing with his rich, sadistic father.

Twenty-Four

The others did not have the same response as Grant did to their surprise.

Jason: I love my tattoo!

Jason: You should’ve put it over my heart.

Jason: My butt kinda hurts.

Grant: At least it wasn’t your dick.

Jason: ROFL

Jason: Pic or it didn’t happen.

Trip: Sucks for you, G.

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