Page 155 of Dirty Like Zane
I just had to do this anyway. For Zane, and forme.
Forus.
“Zane and I just… uh… wanted to let you all know that…well…” My voice kinda faded out on a littlesqueak.
Fuck.
How was I supposed to dothis?
Just rip the bandage off, Maggie. You can doit.
Well, shit.Why can’t you be here for this,Mom?
I looked down the table at all the familiar faces, everyone waiting for me to speak, but I couldn’t quite see theireyes.
Tell them already. Give them a chance to be happy foryou.
But what if they’re not,Mom?
They willbe.
But how do you knowthat?
Because they love you like Ido.
My vision was getting a little wobbly. Dark spots… And all I could see clearly was Brody’s face at the end of the table. He gave me a nod, and Iblinked.
“We’re together,” I blurted out, my voice filling the silence. “We’ve been together, sort of, for a while now, and we’ve had some ups and downs, but we just want it to be clear that we’re togethernow.”
Silence.
“I mean, we’re a couple.” Wasn’t sure why I felt the need to clarify that, but there itwas.
No one said anything. A few of the guys looked at Zane, like they were waiting for him to saysomething.
Then Jesse raised his hand, slowly, like he wanted to speak, until Katie noticed and snatched it back, shoved it in her lap—and sealed her hand over hismouth.
“We’re married,” I went on, my voice cracking a little, kinda like it did at the altar when I saidI do. Jesus, there were so many eyes on me… “Husband and wife. And that’s how it’s going tobe.”
Oh my God, I’mdying.
I could feel the heat creeping up into my face as I turned that special shade of red that a girl with my skin tone should never turn. They all just kept staring at me, and even though the dark spots were dancing over my vision and I couldn’t seem to focus on anyone in particular, I could feel the raised eyebrows and thesmirks.
I cleared mythroat.
“That’s all. Thankyou.”
I smoothed my dress to sit down, feeling so stiff I wasn’t sure I could hinge enough at the waist to get my ass into my seat. I threw a desperate glance at Zane, who kinda snorted with suppressed laughter, then grabbed me before I could sitdown.
He laid a kiss on me so hard it almost knocked me over—would have, if he wasn’t already cradling me in his arms, dipping me way-low while he mauled mymouth.
In front ofeveryone.
People started applauding and making rude noises. I heard some girly cheering and someone shouted “Get a room!” but it was kinda fuzzy and far away, like I was underwater or something… as I kissed Zane right back. And everyone else in the room just kindadisappeared.
The spots cleared, replaced with a different kind of blurred vision as the heat cranked up between us, and Zane held me tight against his hard body. Then he pulled his mouth away from mine with a grin and I gasped for air, as discreetly as Icould.
He stood me back up, holding me tight againsthim.
