Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
I took one last look in the mirror and fussed with my hair before deciding it wasn’t going to get any better than this. Then I left the house and paused on the front porch.
My destination was directly across the street. It stood out, both because it was pink, and because it was the only Victorian on the block. There was a huge Pride flag above the porch, and the steps leading to the front door were lined with pots brimming with colorful flowers.
I hurried across the street and took a deep breath before knocking on my neighbors’ door. It was answered a few moments later by a tall, beautiful woman with a curvy figure and platinum blonde hair. “You must be Collie! Come on in,” she said, with a radiant smile. “I’m JoJo. The officiant called to say he’s running late, so we’re enjoying a few cocktails in the backyard.”
As I stepped inside, I said, “Nice to meet you,” and pushed my hair back with a hand that we both noticed was shaking. “I have no idea why I’m nervous. This isn’t even a real wedding. Miller told you that, right?”
“He told us everything. Let’s sit down for a minute before we join the party.” We both took a seat on the stairs at the back of the foyer, and she smoothed the skirt of her yellow sundress as she asked, “Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m totally fine.”
“My wife Yolanda is a nurse. I’m going to give you our number, and we want you to call us if you need anything at all in the days ahead. It doesn’t have to be medical stuff, either. I work from home, so I’m always around if you want some company.”
“You’re so nice, and I don’t even know what’s wrong with me right now. I feel like I’m on the verge of crying, or having a panic attack, or both.”
“You’ve had a rough couple of days,” she said. “All that stress is probably catching up to you.”
“I think you’re right. It’s been a lot, and it’s all happening so fast that I can barely process it. I can’t believe I’m about to marry someone I just met, and that I’m having major surgery in just a few days.”
“Just remember, we’re all here to help you—me, and Yolanda, and Miller. He’s a great guy, and definitely someone you can count on.”
“He’s amazing. And kind. And hot. He’s exactly who I hoped to meet when I moved here. But here we are, getting fake married, and he’s planning on spending the next several weeks as my nursemaid while I’m helpless and dependent and needy. What I want to know is, where do we go from here? Once I’m back on my own two feet, what am I supposed to do, ask him out? Like, ‘hey, I know I’m technically your husband, and I know you’ve seen me looking horrible and pitiful, but like, want to grab a coffee sometime?’ That sounds completely nuts.”
She grinned and said, “Maybe don’t phrase it like that. And don’t overthink it. You’ll know what to do when the time is right.”
“You’re right, and I don’t even know why I’m talking about this. It’s like, number six hundred and forty-two on my list of concerns.” I got up and arranged my ruffles to make sure the ugly heart monitor was out of sight. “I’m sorry I’m such a disaster. I don’t usually spill my guts to people I’ve just met. But apparently I do marry them.”
JoJo smiled at me and got up, too. “Let’s go have a drink—unless that’s not allowed with your heart condition?”
“Alcohol is on the very long list my doctor gave me of things to avoid. I’m also supposed to cut out caffeine until my glitch is repaired. That’s the true tragedy in all of this.”
“A mocktail it is, then.”
I followed her through the house, which was cozy and eclectic. It didn’t prepare me for the backyard. As we stepped through the door at the back of the kitchen, I murmured, “Oh wow, this is stunning.”
It was twice as big as I’d expected it to be, because they’d taken down the fence between their yard and the one belonging to a little white house directly behind it. A brick path meandered past small trees, pretty water features, and flower beds blooming in vibrant colors.
“Isn’t it great? Yolanda and I got married out here, too.”
“Which one of you has the green thumb?”
“Neither of us. Two of our former tenants did all of this.”
Just then, we both turned toward the sound of laughter. A bar had been set up at one end of the patio. Daria was mixing drinks, while Miller chatted with a petite brunette and a handsome South Asian guy, who had a little blue parakeet on his shoulder.