—
We get back to Ryan’s place to get ready for this mystery date, and before we part in the hall, he says, “Wear whatever makes you feel most like a sexy woman.”
That phrase is majorly ick and doesn’t sound at all like something he’d say.
I have no idea what that means. It’s not very helpful and leaves me more confused than before he said it.
“I’m going to pretend you never said that horrific sentence. Should I dress up or dress casual?”
But Ryan doesn’t answer. He buttons his lips with a smirk and disappears into his room. Unfortunately he shuts the door; otherwise, I would absolutely watch him dress for no other reason than to get an idea of what to wear myself. NO OTHER REASON.
I open the top drawer of the dresser, where I unpacked my clothes, and my eye catches on the i ♥ nick socks my mom bought me. My heart twists. It’s time to tell her the truth. She deserves to know.
Without allowing any time to talk myself out of it, I grab my phone, flop myself back on the bed, and dial Mom. It rings three times before she answers. “Hi, sugar! I was just thinking about—”
“Mom. Ben cheated on me!” I blurt it out in one big rush, like a balloon that’s had its end cut off. “I found out just before the wedding. That’s why I called it off.”
There’s a stunned silence for a minute, and I shut my eyes, worried that she’s upset with me for keeping this from her for so long.
And then I hear the three words I was not expecting. “We know, darlin’.”
I peek my eyes open, my shoulders relaxing against the mattress. “You knew?”
This time, I hear the a cappella choir of my giant family. “Yep!”
I shoot up in bed. “Why am I hearing ten annoying voices?”
“Because we’re all together and I had you on speaker when you called,” says Mom.
“Hi, June!” That’s Jake, and he’s grinning ear to ear; I can hear it in his voice.
“Having fun in Chicago?” Evie adds.
“All right, y’all skedaddle. I don’t think June meant for everyone to hear that declaration.” Thank you, Mom.
“Okay, we’re going. But, June, we all already knew about Ben. So there’s nothing to feel weird about,” says Jake, his voice slipping farther away.
I sigh. Nothing to feel weird about? Nothing other than my family all knowing my giant secret for five years and pretending they didn’t know!
“Okay, baby, we’re alone now. I’m sorry you were on speaker, but I had no idea you were going to blurt your heart out like that.”
“It’s okay,” I say, feeling tired for some reason. Probably because I just dropped the heavy secret I’ve been carrying around for too long. “You all knew? For how long?”
“Since the day you called off the wedding.”
“What!”
“Well, thank you for that. Now I’m going to need a hearing aid prematurely.”
“Mom, how in the world did you know?”
She’s quiet for a second, and I imagine she’s scrunching her nose up in contemplation. “Are you sure you wanna know?”
“Yes.”
“When we saw how upset you were but unwilling to talk about it, Jake and your dad went to Ben’s house to find out the truth.” Those little prying sneaks!
“And Ben told them everything?” I would be shocked if Ben told them the truth.
“Well…not until Jake grabbed him by the collar and pinned him up against the wall. Then, he was happy to spill his beans. Poor guy, though. Jake still bloodied his nose.”
I let out a breath of air that’s somewhere between a laugh and an exhale. I wish I had been there to see my big brother punch the living daylights out of Ben. Maybe it would’ve helped me heal a little faster knowing that Ben wasn’t completely getting away with his shit. “Why didn’t you tell me you guys knew? Why let this go on for so long?”
“Darlin’, we all knew this was something you needed to feel on your own and sort through in your own time. I knew you’d tell me when you were ready. We’re here to support you and love you, not smother you.”
Great, now I’m crying again. “Thank you, Mom. I’m sorry it took me so long.”
“Oh, phooey. It took you just the right amount of time. Some of us need to live through the healing rather than talk through it.”
I smile, wishing I was near her to let her wrap me up in one of her hugs. “Have you ever thought about writing fortune cookies?”
“Are you getting smart with me?”
“Never. I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too, sugar. Now, tell me, is Ryan being good to you?”
My eyes drift toward the closed door as I think back over all the tenderness Ryan has shown me. “I’ve never felt so happy.”
