I chuckle. "Yep, I found the license and receipt to prove it. You should see the photos. We look outta our damn minds."
"When I said go experience Vegas, I didn't mean get hitched!"
"You said don't come backpregnant..." I teasingly remind her. "Which I'm not."
"So you'relegallymarried but haven't done the horizontal tango?"
"We fooled around, but neither of us had a condom. However—" I give her my bestdon't be mad at meface. "We'regoin' away this next week for a...honeymoon, of sorts? Up to his aunt and uncle's resort, so I need you to fill in for me at work."
"Please, no." Her face morphs into a frown. "I can't handle the Barbie twins anymore."
"I'll see if Lacey can take a couple of my shifts."
She hugs me. "Thank you! I don't mind workin' longer hours but I can't handle them."
"There's one more thing..."
Her shoulders drop. "Oh, God. What is it?"
"When I first realized what we'd done, I freaked out and told him we needed to get this annulled."
"Whew..." She releases a loud breath before I can finish. "So you did have a come to Jesus moment about how crazy this was?"
"Of course!" I throw the rest of my dirty laundry in the basket and then grab my other suitcase to unpack my toiletries. "He begged me to give him thirty days to prove we should stay married and wants me to move in with him during that time. Though, I told him I wasn't gonna become his maid or cook."
She snorts. "Good call."
"I'm nervous but after the talk I had with my mom, I think it's the right thing to do. If I don't give it a chance, I'll always wonderwhat-if. And I've lived with those long enough."
Mattie grabs my shoulder to stop me from pacing and meets my eyes. "I agree. You two deserve this shot and even though I'm sad as hell to be losin' you as a roommate, I want nothin' but happiness for you."
Tears well in the corner of my eyes and I pull her in for a hug. "Thank you. I love you."
"I love you, too." She pushes back slightly. "And I don't care that he's technically your husband, I still want details when y'all finally hook up."
I bellow out with laughter, shaking my head. "If you help me do laundry and re-pack, I'll tell you about his cock piercings."
"Oh hell yeah, deal!"
It feels weird being at work after five days off, but I'm happy to be back to a schedule, even if it's for a couple days. I let Lacey know I'll be leaving again and after some profuse begging and offering to work more over the holiday week, she gave me the time off.
Once I'm done with my shift, I'm going to Wilder's to "move in" for the next month. I'm still feeling weird about it, especially since I've never lived with a man besides my father, and Wilder's the last person I ever imagined as a roommate.
But I know I owe it to myself to try. Even though my instinct is to back out and go to my safe place hiding in my bed, I'm not letting myself.
I'm about to go on my lunch break when Jonah walks in, taking me by surprise.
"Hey!" I smile brightly. "What’re doin' here?"
He scrubs a hand through his hair. "On my break and wanted to see you since it's been a while. I also have that two grand I owe ya."
"Perfect timin'. I'm takin' mine now. Wanna go to the café?" I grab my bag from the backroom and let Amanda know I'm heading out.
"Thank you again for bailin' me out." He hands me an envelope of cash.
"Of course." I stuff it into my purse and then loop my arm through his. "I'm dyin' to hear how things are goin' at the ranch."
He opens the door for me and then we walk out into the chilly air.