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Hunter had a slew of messages to sift through, and a lot of them were from family who wanted to know more about this mysteryVioletwoman. The one from his mother saidNot Ramsey’s ex-Violet.
My other texts and voicemails were more happy sounding than Luna’s. Various versions ofCongratulations. Lyn’s made my stomach churn all over again.You should have asked for more time off. It’s not a big deal. Take a honeymoon. Enjoy each other.
No, no, no. I already hated walking away from work with short notice yesterday and today.
We don’t want to make a big deal out of things. It’s why we kept things secret.As I typed, I shared the message with Hunter and Ramsey. Hunter was doing the same so we knew that we weren’t giving anyone conflicting information. This was one reason lying sucked so much.
Lyn replied.It’s okay. Take the days. At least the rest of the week.
I couldn’t. That would devour me.Please don’t make me do that. I’ll be there tomorrow, like I’m supposed to.
Lyn’sFine. I can’t force you to not come inwasn’t as fatal sounding as Luna’s, but it still made me frown.
Ramsey didn’t have many messages, especially considering the news went out on his accounts. One was from Kingston, asking if Ramsey was okay with Hunter and me, and one was a voicemail from Ravyn. Ramsey played the short snippet for us.
“Really?” Ravyn’s tone was flat.
She wasn’t buying it. Smart woman.
As we packed, rode to the airport, and got on the plane, the conversation was allnext steps.Tension tightened in my neck and throbbed in my skull with each new thing I had to do or remember. Any peace I’d achieved over the last day was gone, and I just wanted to curl up in a leather plane seat and sleep for a billion years.
We’d tell people a story that was mostly-true, but still had to open with a lie. Hunter and I had been together for a while, and that was why Ramsey and I clashed. Partly because of my past with Ramsey but largely because he’d hated keeping my relationship with Hunter a secret.
When my barking laugh slipped out at the last bit, Ramsey shot me a withering glare. I shrugged. “At least own it with those of us who know better.”
“So, Violet should keep her apartment.” Hunter interrupted before Ramsey could counter. “But she’ll need to move in with me. We can take our time, but anything you need, I’ll have brought in,” he looked at me.
“And when people askwhy now?” I couldn’t imagine anyone would buy this story.
“Vegas, especially the party, made the two of you see how tired you were of hiding the truth and keeping your distance, so you let impulse take over.” Ramsey’s immediate answer wasn’t a surprise, but at least his flat tone said he didn’t like this arrangement either. “You meant to tell your families and friends first, but someone leaked the news.
Ramsey raked his fingers through his hair. “Fame is fleeting if you’re not pursuing it. If your relationship isn’t constantly on display, people will forget.”
“Our friends and family won’t forget. And not many will understand if it looks like I went from you to Hunter and back to you.”
The longer we lived this lie, the harder the break-up would be on everyone around us. The harder it would be to find my way back to Ramsey without questions. Yeah, I went years without seeing him, but twenty-four hours ago I was excited to be giving us another try.
“This gets shittier the longer I think about it.” Hunter couldn’t have echoed my thoughts more perfectly.
“We’ll find a solution fast,” Ramsey said. “We’ll keep our explanations brief. Stay low-key.”
I didn’t believe it. “You’re not capable of low-key.”
“I am for the two of you.” Ramsey’s sincerity would have meant more if this entire conversation were about anything else.
We landed in Salt Lake far too soon for my liking.
Hunter would take me to Luna’s, and then back to my place to pack enough to stay at his.
When we reached the house where Luna rented the basement, I asked Hunter to drop me off. “I need to have this conversation alone.”
“I get that. I’ll be at the coffee shop a few blocks down. Call me when you’re ready to go.”
I nodded. Before I could climb from the car, he grabbed my hand and tugged me back.
He pressed his lips to my forehead. “I know this is a universally bad idea, but there’s no one I’d rather be accidentally married to. We’ll figure this out fast.”
“Okay.” I couldn’t think of anything better to say.
