Page 16 of Just Between Us

Tammy’s running her mouth, claiming you were making out with the Stewart boy last night. Call me.

THEA

Based on Bunny barging into my shop this morning, I’m guessing you said yes?

The kisson my doorstep had worked better than either of us could have imagined, which would have been great news if that kiss hadn’t rattled me as much as the rest of the town.

After shakily making my way into my apartment, I’d had Becca’s number keyed into my phone before I could stop myself. I couldn’t exactly call my best friend and gush about what an amazing date I’d just been on because I hadn’t been on a date. I’d been on a business dinner.

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks when I woke up to a wall of texts not-so-subtly asking for confirmation of what Tammy had witnessed. The questions left me sick to my stomach. I turned off my phone without reading them all. Somehow, in the daze of a well-put-together business plan and a dinner with a man who made my nerves flutter and my heart skip a beat, I’d lost sight of that fact.

I didn’t dare turn my phone back on, and since I lived on Main Street, just stepping outside might expose me to someone I knew. Someone who had already heard the rumors. Someone who had a million questions I wasn’t prepared to answer.

I donned an oversized hoodie and a pair of jeans, exiting my apartment on the opposite side of Main Street, into a parking lot facing a small row of businesses. The limited foot traffic on this side of the building gave me a fighting chance at going unnoticed. I slipped past Lexi and Cornbread chatting on the porch of the tattoo shop and into the back entrance of Thea’s shop, where the excess knick-knacks and newest rolls of fabric lived until they’d been inventoried and stored.

I skittered along the shop's outside wall, staying out of sight of Mrs. Evans and anyone else browsing inside. Quietly, I made my way to the door of Thea’s workshop and knocked softly.

“Yes?” Thea called as I pushed the door open. Her mouth split into a wide smile, eyes sparkling as I entered. “Nora, what are you doing here? Don’t you have a wedding to plan?”

I groaned, entering the room and lying on the red velvet couch beside a three-sided mirror, dramatically throwing a hand over my eyes. “What did I just do?”

Thea stood from her desk, her black kitten heels clicking dully across the thin white carpet. She sat beside me, rubbing my leg. “I’m guessing the dinner went well? Tammy has been telling anyone who’ll listen about you and Andy getting hot and heavy at your door.”

I groaned again.

“Hey, don’t get too upset. She also said he left not long after your make-out sesh.”

I pulled my arm off my face and frowned at Thea. “He had a business proposal.”

Her grin didn’t waver, and her eyebrow quirked up. “Romantic.”

“It wasn’tnotromantic.” I shoved my hand into the pocket at my stomach and pulled out the stack of folded papers out, handing it off.

Thea unfolded them and stood, walking to her desk to grab her glasses. She set the papers on the desk, tilting her head as she flipped through them.

“He did all this?” she asked as she reached the last page.

I nodded. “He even spoke to an admissions counselor.”

I pushed myself off the couch and rounded the desk to stand next to Thea, looking over her shoulder at the calendar he’d prepared. Thea ran her hand over the highlighted portion.

“New York, Las Vegas, is that Paris? You’re going to be a world traveler, Nor.”

“I only have to join him for the trips highlighted in yellow,” I said. “Since I might be in school next semester.”

“Why would you opt out of these? It’s not like Andy is traveling in coach and staying at shitty motels. You’re going to be flying in style. Business class, at least.”

After the deluge of texts that morning, Thea’s enthusiasm didn’t rub off on me like it had before. The only dates I focused on were each Sunday Andy wouldn’t be traveling, and we’d be obligated to go to Len’s cabin on the mountain for family dinner.

“I can’t do this,” I admitted, sucking in a breath. “I need to call him and back out.”

I fumbled for my phone, pulling it out with shaky fingers. I winced as it restarted, all the texts and missed calls cluttering my screen. Thea plucked it from my hand.

“Calm down,” she said. She took my elbow and walked me back to the couch. She sat me down as my vision narrowed and the edges went black. “You’re panicking.”

Her words sounded hollow and far away. Of course I was panicking. How could I not? I’d told a virtual stranger I’d marry him and, if I went through with it, I’d have to lie to my family for years.

Years.

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