Page 88 of The Marriage Mistake

“I’m sorry I haven’t been answering the phone,” I say. “It’s been a crazy day.”

He cocks his head at me, gesturing for us to sit.

“You could have at least sent a text,” he chides. “I’ve been worried.”

Now that I’m here, I have no idea how to proceed. Confessing seemed difficult in my head. In person, I can hardly make my mouth work.

Come on, Sammi. Don’t bitch out now.

“I know,” I say, finding my tongue again. “I had to figure some things out...”

Then I look at him.

Like, Ireallylook at him.

“What happened to your nose?” I ask.

Not because I’m trying to stall, but because Eggs’ nose is the size and color of an eggplant. It’s bandaged up well enough that he’s either decided to indulge in a little Thai plastic surgery, or he’s recently seen the inside of an emergency room.

A strange look crosses his face, so quickly I’m not sure it was ever there.

“Tripped coming off the plane.” He looks away, and I feel double bad.

He’s probably embarrassed…and I just called attention to it.

Best to just get on with it, then.

“Sorry. I hope you, uh, feel better soon. Until then…this isn’t going to help, I know. There are some things I need to tell you,” I say, “some things I did. It might not be easy to hear, but—”

“It’s fine,” he cuts in.

He has no idea how far that is from true.

“No, Eggs, really. I need to tell you something.”

“Whatever it is, Sammi-poo, I don’t need to know. We both make mistakes—and I know you’ve been out with your party girl friends all night. Mistakes with those women are inevitable.”

I bite my tongue on a retort. I don’t like hearing my BFFs referred to asthose women. And something about the way he saysSammi-poohas my hands balling up into fists. I’m not sure why, but it grates on me.

Even more than normal.

“Eggs…”

“Really, Sammi,” he says, forceful like a declaration. “I don’t want to hear it. Whatever it is, it’s not important.”

“But—”

“Whatisimportant is the wedding. In just a few short hours, you’ll be my bride. Once we’re married, nothing else will matter. Right?”

“No, Eggs.” I manage to choke out before I’m interrupted again.

This time, by his phone.

He holds up a finger to silence me.

God, I hate it when he does that.

Usually I’d complain, but today, I don’t think I really have the right.

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