Page 60 of Absinthe Minded

“You have your hands full. Want me to get them while I’m out?”

“Thanks. I’ll let Jessie know you’re stopping by.” He turned his attention to the breakfast plates. “Have a good one.”

“Yep. See you tonight.” Even elbow-deep in dishwater, the man made my pulse race.He lied to me and all I want to do it jump his bones? I need a therapist.

I’d speed-walked three blocks to the ferry terminal when my phone rang. Figuring it was Gabe, I answered without checking the screen. Big Mistake. “Hello?”

“Good morning, Maggie.”

My mouth went dry. I hadn’t spoken to Justin since meeting his wife. “Why are you calling me?”

“To congratulate you on your engagement. I didn’t realize the guy at the bar was Gabe Marchionni.”

“What?” I pressed a hand to my chest and stepped off the curb.

Justin replied, but screeching tires and a blaring horn drowned out his words.

Unable to make sense of what had just happened, I stared at the cursing driver several heartbeats before crossing the street.

“…they’re loaded. I had to go to the hospital for my jaw…medical bills… pain… payment… he owes me—”

I disconnected the call and hurried to board the ferry. I had enough on my plate without worrying about Justin Trudeau.

* * *

Shanna wavedas I approached the café. Not that I needed any help spotting my best friend. Her hair was bright purple and cut in short layers that stuck out in all directions. I envied her. Shanna had something I desperately wished I had—self-confidence.

“Hey, love the new look.” I embraced her a little too tight.

“Thanks. I wanted something different. It’ll be great for Fat Tuesday.” She pulled away and gave me a quick once over. “Everything good?”

“Everything’s great.” I groaned to myself. My least favorite thing about living in New Orleans had to be Mardi Gras. “But I’ll be working in a bar during that craziness.”

“Are you still doing that? What happened to the magazine?”

“It’s field research.” I raised the menu to hide my expression.

Shanna pulled it down. “I hate to ruin your morning, but did you see the announcement in the paper?”

Little did she know my morning already sucked. “What announcement?”

She lowered her voice. “Your engagement announcement.”

My heart fell into my shoes. “It’s in the paper?”

Shanna handed me her phone.

For the second time that day, my world tilted on its axis. I stared at a photo of me and Gabe with our names, along with the wordengaged, printed in bold beneath it. The picture had been taken years before when we were dating—the perfect image of a happy, betrothed couple. “Oh God.”

Shanna set the cell on the table between us. “What’s going on? You said the engagement was a misunderstanding.”

“Yes and no, but I didn’t leak it to the paper.” Is this how Chantal found out about us? Had she gotten my number from someone other than Gabe? Had Justin seen it? Was that why he’d called?

“Yes and no? Either you are or you aren’t.” She sat back and folded her arms.

“It’s complicated.”

“Everything’s complicated with that family.” Shanna rolled her eyes.

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