Page 21 of Dirty Little Secrets
“I’ll have Nancy make me an appointment for this week. But I really do need to get going.”
“Yeah. Me too. Don’t want to keep our friends waiting.”
We dress in what I’m sure he considers a companionable silence, though it scrapes along my already frayed nerves. By the time we kiss goodbye at the front door, I feel like I’m ready to explode.
And yet, when another text from Junie comes through, letting me know she is also on her way, I don’t tell her I changed my mind. I simply plug my phone into the in-dash entertainment center, program in the address—and drive.
Juniper
Oh, god, oh, god, oh, god.
This was a huge mistake.
Pacing outside the gates of the zoo, I check my phone for the millionth time to see if one or both of my “friends” have cancelled on me. Finding nothing but the twin messagesassuring me they are on their way and will be here on time, as scheduled, I let out a quiet groan.
Ash was right. I’ve lost my fucking mind.
When I first put together this plan, I was convinced theymustknow about each other. The Val and Sebastian I know from the clubs are both very strict about communication and honesty. A week ago, I couldn’t wrap my mind around the idea that one or both of them could or would have kept me a secret under any circumstances.
But as our zoo date drew closer, that certainty began to wane. What if they don’t know? What if I’m about to toss a grenade into a perfectly healthy marriage?
How healthy is it if they’re both cheating?
Okay, so that voice in my head has a point. But is it my place to expose them?
No. Maybe. Probably not.
Ugh.
I should call this off. Tell them both I’m sick. Which isn’tentirelya lie considering I feel like I’m about to lose my breakfast right here on the sidewalk.
“Hello, June-bug.”
Whipping around, I launch myself into Mommy’s open arms with a sob. “You came!”
“Of course I came, baby. I mean…” She clears her throat, and when I glance up, her expression is one of pure discomfort.
God, I’m such a jerk.
Looking around, I shift nervously from foot to foot. “Um, Mo—Val,” I correct myself quickly, my cheeks heating at my near slip-up. “I have to tell you something.”
Worry draws her brows together. “What is it, honey? Are you okay? You look a little green around the gills.”
“Yeah. Well, not really. Um, the thing is, I did something kind of awful.”
Mommy’s mouth dips down into a frown. “What do you mean?”
It feels manipulative, but I can’t stop the tears from welling in my eyes. “Please don’t hate me,” I whisper, my voice choking with emotion.
Before she can ask any further questions, a voice freezes us both in our tracks.
“Val?”
Closing my eyes, I let out a loud groan.
“Bash? What are you doing here?” Mommy’s voice rises to an octave I’ve never heard from her before, pure panic echoing in her tone.
“I was going to ask you the same thing. I thought you had a shopping date with Celia and the gang.”
