Page 4 of Margo

“Rotten, wormy apples!” Margo exclaimed. “I can’t believe they just ganged up on me like that and forced my hand. What I said was I wasn’t ready, so Knox complains to Baze and Baze decides to go on a honeymoon and not give me a choice? Of all the underhanded, skeezy, entitled—”

“Now hold on just a minute.” It was Jade who spoke up, often acting as the voice of reason in situations like these. “I don’t think that’s what happened. I’m pretty sure Baze didn’t just all of a sudden decide to take Luna on a honeymoon just so he could leave Knox in charge. It usually takes more than five minutes of planning. And like, I know money talks and Baze has lots of it, but I feel like he deserves the benefit of the doubt here.”

“Okay, fine,” Margo conceded. “I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt where the honeymoon planning is involved. Even the leaving Knox in charge part is understandable if it wasn’t just a spur of the moment decision. But why did he have to single me out like that? Consent is important for everyone but Margo? That’s basically what he said! It’s so unfair!”

Her friends all gawked at her, their mouths hanging open.

It was Mariah who finally spoke up. “You’re kidding, right?”

“What? No! I’m not kidding. That was totally unfair and uncalled for!”

“Except for the fact that you love to challenge authority, spankings are your love language, and as of an hour ago, Knox was supposed to be your Daddy. Baze knew that just as well as the rest of us,” Mariah pointed out, ticking her points off on her fingers as she made them. “Just because you got scared and chickened out doesn’t change the facts.”

Margo flushed, anger heating her cheeks. “Just… shut up!” she cried. They were supposed to be her friends, on her side!

Mariah got mad at being told to shut up and took a menacing step forward. Jilly stepped between the two of them.

“That’s enough. Margo, Mariah’s not wrong and you know it. And neither was Baze. You are still in control of the situation. If you don’t want Knox to punish you, you just need to behave.”

“Easier said than done,” Tessa scoffed in the background.

Jilly shot her a glare. “You’re not helping.”

Turning back to Margo, she wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “What’s done is done. We can’t change anything. We’ve submitted to Baze’s care and authority and we trust him to do what’s best for us, even in times like this where we don’t understand it. All we can do now is not let it ruin the rest of our evening. Our friend got married tonight. We should be celebrating. Come on, let’s go dance.”

Without giving Margo a chance to protest, Jilly led her onto the dance floor. A slow song was playing, and Jilly wrapped her arms around Margo’s waist. Margo rested her head on Jilly’s shoulder, thankful for the comforting contact.

They moved in time to the music, neither of them speaking. Margo closed her eyes and drowned out the busyness around them.

It worked until she felt a tap on her shoulder and looked up to find Knox standing there.

“May I cut in?”

Margo lifted her head off Jilly’s shoulder and looked her in the eyes. Jilly shrugged, her eyes wide.

Letting go of her waist, Margo nodded and took a step backward. Jilly backed away and Knox took her place. Taking one of Margo’s hands in his, he placed his other hand on the curve of her waist. She didn’t lean into him the way she had with Jilly, dancing awkwardly, without speaking.

“Did you know?” she finally asked.

“I knew that Baze was going to take Luna on a honeymoon and leave me in charge if that’s what you’re asking. Given the circumstances, or what he thought the circumstances were, I’m sure he didn’t think it was a big deal or see the need to tell anyone. It’s my understanding that he surprised Luna with the honeymoon news shortly before the wedding. So that’s probably why he didn’t mention it.”

“I get that,” Margo conceded. “But it’s kinda BS the way he threw me under the bus and singled me out. Consent applies to everyone but me?”

“You’d already given consent, Margo. You know it and I know it.”

Margo pursed her lips and pouted. “It’s still not fair. And it doesn’t mean you’re my Daddy. That’s still on hold.”

Knox nodded, his expression serious. “I understand.”

“I guess it will be good. Like a practice run. You’ll be able to see that I wasn’t kidding when I said I’ll just do what I do and ruin everything.”

“And you’ll be able to see that I wasn’t kidding when I said that I’m ready and I don’t scare easily,” he countered.

Margo let out a soft sigh of relief and laid her head on his shoulder. He’d given the exact perfect response, and her stress about him being left in charge was fading away. A practice run wouldn’t be so bad, would it?

The song ended and the DJ announced that it was time for the bride and groom to cut the cake and have their first dance. Knox guided her off the dance floor with his hand on the small of her back and returned her to her friends, taking a seat a few tables away.

Margo could feel him watching her but was thankful he was giving her space.