Stay With Me by Cross Cassie

Author:Cross, Cassie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-23T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

“Which one do you think I should pick?” Miranda asks as she holds up two similar pink polishes. “I don’t want to be too matchy-matchy, just…complementary.”

I hold out my hand and take the bottles for closer inspection. I shake them both just to make sure they’re fully mixed, then look at the names.

Miranda goes back to searching for the perfect color.

“Miranda, did you do this on purpose?”

She looks at me, confused. “Do what on purpose?”

“This one is Getting Nadi on My Honeymoon, and this one is It’s a Girl. Do you like the colors or are you doing some kind of future life event reveal?”

With a nervous smile, she takes It’s a Girl and places it back on the rack. “Don’t wanna tempt fate. Yet.”

Audrey and Ayanna aren’t as indecisive as we are, so they’re already in the next room soaking their feet. I turn to the rack of purples that have been calling to me since we walked in.

“Are you nervous?”

“Yeah. Only because, you know, my mom is really picky. If she had her way we wouldn’t be having the party at the B&B. She had this country club in DC picked out, but Mateo and I wanted something smaller and less pretentious. We liked that we could help Ayanna with a dry run before opening.”

I nod, even though the party wasn’t what I was asking about. “I was wondering more about the wedding. About getting married.”

Understanding dawns on her face. “Oh. No, not really. I actually said yes before Mateo even finished asking.”

I laugh. That sounds like Miranda.

“I’ve loved him for a long time and that’s never changed.” She takes the remaining bottle from my hand. “Why?” You planning on getting married soon?” she teases.

“Oh no. No, no, no.”

“It’d be okay if you were, you know. You and Jackson were always heading in that direction.”

I breathe through the ache that works its way into the pit of my stomach.

“I’m sorry, I’ve gotten ahead of myself. I know you guys just got back together, so…no pressure.”

“We didn’t get back together,” I reply kind of defensively. I take a quick look over at Audrey and Ayanna to make sure they didn’t hear me. The last thing I need is for Audrey to catch wind of what I just said.

“You didn’t?” Miranda looks confused. “Mateo and I were on Sam duty last night. I figured it was because you and Jackson were busy working things out.”

I let out a surprised, involuntary laugh. I guess that’s one way to put it. “I actually don’t know what we’re doing. We haven’t talked about it. Maybe we’re together. Or maybe this is just a long, drawn-out goodbye.”

“I know you and Jackson have been through a lot and that the prospect of putting yourself out there again is a little scary, but—”

“A lot scary,” I sigh.

“It’s scary, but you’ll know if it’s right. Go with your gut. Listen to what your heart is telling you. And get a killer manicure while you’re at it.”

“Yeah, you’re right.

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