Page 109 of Chasing Olivia (Trace + Olivia 2)

“You know it,” she said. “As your maid of honor, it’s also my duty to give you a kick ass bachelorette party. We need male strippers and—”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” I stopped her. “No way. No party. And definitely no strippers. After all, I’m already married.”

“God, do you have to be such a fun sucker!”

“Someone has to keep your crazy ideas reigned in,” I commented.

“They’re not crazy,” she whined.

“Don’t even think about it,” I warned.

“We’ll see,” she sing-songed and hung up.

I looked down at the phone screen and shook my head. Avery was a out of her mind if she thought I was going to let her drag me to a bachelorette party—a lonely one at that, seeing as how she was my only friend—then she was going to see a side of me she hadn’t seen before.

I brought up my contacts and pressed the button to call my mom. I felt nauseous at the thought of telling her.

“Hello?” She answered.

“Hey mom,” I stood, pacing the walkway. A light breeze ruffled my hair.

“What happened the other day? It was really weird. And why are you calling me from a different number?”

“Um, well, you see,” I bent down and picked a dandelion out of the yard and twirled the stem between my finger, “I kinda dropped my phone in a glass of water.”

“Honestly, Olivia,” she laughed, “I don’t know how this stuff happens to you.”

“Me either,” I mumbled. Deciding that stalling wouldn’t help me, I said, “I have so much to tell you.”

“Really? What have you guys been up to?”

Oh crap. This was it. I had to tell her. I thought I might be sick.

“We got married,” the words tumbled from my mouth and I slapped a hand over my lips.

Silence.

Then…? Was she laughing?

“Mom?”

“Oh my God, that’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard! Married?! I know you’d never get married without me there—”

“Well, we did.”

“You’re being serious?” She quickly sobered.

“As serious as the marriage certificate in Trace’s duffel bag,” I mumbled.

She started crying and I toed the ground uncomfortably. I didn’t know what to say to make this better.

“Mom—”

“I can’t believe you guys would do this to me! To his mom! His grandparents! It’s selfish, Olivia!”

“It’s what we wanted. We’ve already decided to have a ceremony when we get back. We haven’t exchanged rings yet. It will still be a wedding, mom,” I hastened to explain, hoping to make her feel better.

“It’s not the same,” she sniffled.

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