Rebel(53)

“Honestly? I thought you’d be mad. I mean, they weren’t ours to use.”

“Ours? Honey, who’re you there with?” There’s an edge in her voice, though I don’t know why. “I know it’s not Cassie, so don’t even try to lie.”

“I’m here with Gavin. He found out I was going and came along. His name is almost the same as Herb’s so they just figured we were you guys.” That’s the short version anyway.

Mom is quiet, but I can practically hear her thinking over the phone. “This is going to sound strange, honey, but did anything... odd happen? On the cruise I mean?”

Oh, no way. She knows?

I throw myself back on the bed, finding the missing paint spot on the ceiling while I decide how to answer. “You mean like, accidentally marrying my new stepbrother?”

She squeaks out a choking laugh. “Did—Did you guys go along with it?”

Oh God. My voice is tiny. “Yes.”

There’s a long silence, and I’m starting to panic. Then she sobs and my chin starts to quiver. Except it’s not a sob, it’s laughter. Like, can’t catch your breath, stomach aching laughter. It’s so loud it’s hurting my ears, and I hold the phone away, staring at it like it’s going to bite me. Now I know how Gavin felt the other day.

“Seriously, Mom?”

Then suddenly she stops, and I risk putting the phone close again. “I’m sorry!” She gasps for breath. “I know I should be mad, but I just wish I could’ve seen your faces when they... wait a minute. How far along with it did you go?”

My face gets so hot I can feel my phone stick against my cheek. “Well, here comes the bride, do you take this man, eating cake... dancing... You know, the works.” I can’t believe I told my mother I accidentally got married and she laughed at me!

“Mmhmm.” She hears the words I’m not saying too. The consummation. “Does this have anything to do with our other conversation? I can’t say I’m sorry to see Paul go, but rebounding with Gavin? Honey, I know he isn’t actually your brother, but that’s bound to get awkward.”

“Awkward?” Understatement of the year. “You could say that. Aren’t you more worried about the married part?”

“Did you sign anything?”

“No, at least I don’t think so. Unless Gavin did.” I try to remember, but I’m pretty sure we were whisked straight to the reception.

“If you didn’t, then there is no marriage. Even if you did, the license was in our names. You might give a lawyer somewhere a headache, but I think you’re in the clear,” she says gently. Just listening to her voice and getting it off my chest makes me feel so much better. Adult or not, sometimes I need my mom. “But back to you and Gavin. Is this serious?”

“Of course not!” But I wish it was, something I won’t admit even to her.

“I’m not surprised. He doesn’t worry me like that Paul character, but he looks like he’d charm the booties off the Thanksgiving turkey if you left them alone together. Handsome too.” She sighs. “Like father, like son. They apparently like us Wilson girls. Or did.”

“How do you know we argued?” Is it that obvious?

“Oh Honey, I didn’t. I was talking about Herb and me.” Suddenly all the humor is gone from her voice.

“Wait, what? What happened?” I can’t believe the same couple I saw the other night is already in trouble. No matter how I feel about how fast they’ve moved, I want it to work for Mom’s sake.

She sighs again, sounding exactly like I’ve been feeling the last couple hours. “Remember when I told you about the secret investor? Turns out it wasn’t Herb. I don’t know who it was, or why they did it, but now Herb thinks I used our relationship to talk someone in his company into giving me the money. But I have no idea who did it if it wasn’t him.”

“And now he thinks you’re just another gold digger.” They really are like father, like son. “Well, that’s about what Gavin thinks of me too, if it makes you feel any better.”

“The Caldwells are a pair of grade A bastards.”

My eyes go wide. She never swears. “Well, it’s their loss. Screw him. Screw them. Screw the whole Caldwell Enterprises and its paranoid owners.” Misery loves company, but company makes me feel better, too. We’ll get through this.

“Language, Angie.” Mom’s voice is stern.

“Seriously, Mom?”

She breaks into laughter. “Oh, God no. Fuck’em.”

“Mom!” Now I can count on two fingers the number of times I’ve heard her swear. I can’t believe she just said that.