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I couldn’t be happier. Our relationship is still in the honeymoon stage, for sure.

“That’s an accurate statement,” Slade says with a wink.

I return the favor by granting him a cheesy wink. Ever since I told him how I felt about winking, he does itmore.Yep, he’s a scoundrel. “By the way, you’re on speakerphone.” Maybe I should’ve mentioned that earlier.

“Oh, I’m so glad Slade heard me calling him a masterpiece. Please don’t tell Joaquin.”

“My lips are sealed,” Slade hollers into the phone.

“Yeah, sealed to Marin’s.”

“That too. Like you for always, Kira.” Slade shakes his head. Kira’s brand of humor throws him for a loop.

“There. I took you off speakerphone. Now we can talk some more about my masterpiece.” I’m not kidding.

“I’m happy for you, Marin. It’s nice to hear you sounding pleased with life. Wipe that Cheshire grin off your face. I can practically see it through the phone line.”

I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so happy while vacuuming and doing dishes. “I can’t. My face is stuck in that position from doing it too much. Our mothers were right all along when they told us to stop making funny faces or our expressions would stay that way forever. Who knew?”

“Your happiness makes me happy, girl. I hate to ruin this love fest, but can I speak with you privately? I mean, can you go someplace where you’re alone? There’s something I think you should know.”

“You’re off speakerphone,” I remind her.

“I know. We need a little more privacy.”

Worry creases my brows and my smile falls flat. I grab my jacket and tell Slade, “Kira needs to talk to me. I’m gonna step out onto the patio. Be right back.”

“Okay. Don’t be gone too long, or I’ll miss you.” He gives me a quick kiss.

Kira scoffs. “You guys are too much. I can’t handle all the lovey-dovey stuff. I never thought you’d bethatperson, Marin. Not in a million years.”

“Me neither. Believe me. But when it happens, it’s like lightning has struck, and it changes you forever. Now I’m the person people roll their eyes at. Even weirder, I don’t care.”

Kira laughs at my description of falling in love. “It’s long overdue, and it’s your turn.”

“Thanks, Kira. I love you, and I miss your face. Now what did you need to talk to me about? Is everything okay? Is Morgan okay?”

“We’re fine. No worries. It’s just that…look, I’m just gonna blurt this out. There’s no good way to break bad news. I feel you have a right to know. My family is in a bit of an uproar over the whole thing. Honestly, I am too. Everyone is discussing right and wrong as though they’re judge and jury combined. It’s driving me crazy, and I refuse to have anything to do with it. I’m done with Blu.”

Hearing his name does nothing to me. I’m over the entire debacle. “Blu? What did he do this time?”

“First off, he’s still in Cancun. He extended his vacation.” Kira’s voice oozes with contempt.

“The man changes his mind like most people change their underwear.” Case in point, our wedding day.

“That’s not the worst of it. He’s…met someone.” She sounds hesitant now, very unlike Kira.

“Well, so have I. We’re even. I guess we both moved on quickly. Further proof we weren’t right for each other.”

“There’s more. I don’t want to upset you, but I wanted you to hear it from me. They’re getting married. Some kind of beach wedding, and he invited the family to be there. Practically no one is going. Everyone thinks he’s going to back out again. It’s way too fast. He’s known her for like five minutes. I don’t see how it will work out…”

My hand drops to my side, my phone slapping my thigh. I can hear Kira talking, but I don’t know what she’s saying. My entire body feels paralyzed. Something comes over me in that moment.

Something dark.

Blu is getting married? He just barely left me at the altar four weeks ago because he has abandonment issues. He fed me a sob story about his life and how damaged he was by the institution of marriage. He said marriage was not for him.

Yet he’s getting married after knowing some girl for five minutes?

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