“You were kissing Zane!” she screams as soon as I step inside, and everyone including the three customers look at us.
“He’s my husband.” I wave my hand toward the people staring at me. Thankfully, they all go back to minding their business. “Could you be any louder?” I throw an irritated glance at Ivy.
But inside my heart is thrashing. I was kissing Zane, and it’s a big effing deal.
We aren’t supposed to do all that we’ve done since last night.
Ivy grabs my hand and pulls me to the side. “You told me this was a fake wedding,” she says in a hushed, hurried voice, and she places the empty glass on the table. She rests her hands on her hips, and her eyes bore into me.
“It is.” I look away from her pinning gaze.
“How the heck?” Her voice once again goes off before I tug on her hand. Thankfully, she whispers next. “You had a fancy wedding yesterday with kisses and all. You danced with that man on one of the most romantic songs. And now you guys were kissing like a real lovesick couple. Except having sex, you have done everything. How is this a fake wedding?”
I don’t know what she sees on my face, because her eyes turn as big as saucers as she holds my face and mumbles, “You guys did it! You fucking slept with him!”
Her mouth opens and closes, and I don’t know why but I can’t stop smiling. I shake my head, breaking free of her tight grip. Her stunned expression is so comical that I have to bite my lip to stop from giggling.
But I know she’s not going to leave me alone until I give her some answers. So I whisper, “Last night.”
“But why? Is this no longer fake?”
My chest tightens at the glint of hope that glimmers in her eyes and at hearing that word fake, which is slowly becoming my least favorite word in the dictionary.
“No. Nothing’s changed.” My mood shifts from exuberant to cranky. “It wasn’t planned or anything. I had an episode. I couldn’t see…for several seconds. Everything was black—”
“Vi!” Ivy squeezes my hand, worry and sympathy clear on her face. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine now. But I was so scared.” My heart races remembering those literal dark moments.
She presses on my hands, and her touch is comforting. A few beats later, she asks carefully, “So he said I’ll kill your fear by fucking you?”
A laugh escapes me. “Do you really think Zane would ever say that?”
A familiar smile tugs on her lips, and she waggles her eyebrows. “So, you asked for it?”
I chuckle. “Something like that.”
“Holy shit, Vi. You’re like the dominatrix in your marriage.”
I laugh freely and lead her to the counter. “There’s nothing submissive about Zane in bed.” Except for a touch of hesitation, which is both reassuring and hot at the same time.
The next hour drags with the usual orders of lattes, pies, and sandwiches. I’m restocking our display with lunch take-out boxes when Joe clears his throat.
“What’s up, Joe?”
“I’ve got something for you.” When I turn around, he drops a white envelope into my hands. I grab it before it topples to the floor. “What is it?” I look at him, but he’s already turned away, fixing the coffee mugs on the counter.
Hmm, that’s weird. If I didn’t know Joe, I’d say he’s being shy.
Curiously, I glance inside and spot money. My cheeks flame with embarrassment.
Does Joe know about my money problems?
“Joe?” My mouth dries as humiliation starts to knock on my heart’s door.
He’s busy inspecting the cake cases. “This is your wedding gift.” He finally turns around. “I couldn’t be there yesterday, so…”
He leaves the sentence unfinished, hanging in the air, and I’m suddenly hit by emotions at his unexpected gesture.