Page 165 of Never Not Friends

My mom’s eyes flick over Vinny’s wrinkled shirt, and I can only imagine what she’s thinking happened last night.

And suddenly, I am acutely aware that it is not even eight o’clock on a Saturday morning, and Vinny has just walked out of my apartment with both of us wearing the exact same clothes from yesterday.

It looks bad.

Especially to the people whose daughter was supposed to marry him two weeks ago.

“Morning,” Vinny finally says.

And I can practically feel the explanation clawing its way up my throat.

Nothing happened!

Except, something happened. We cuddled all night long.

He came to help me clean a chinchilla cage!

Which sounds like a lie.

We fell asleep watching documentaries. I swear!

But before I work out in my head the best way to diffuse the situation, Vinny glances at me. “Ready?”

I nod, keeping my head down as I quickly walk to my car and unlock the door. Vinny gets in the passenger seat, and we’re halfway down the street before I finally breathe again.

“I can never look the Montgomerys in the eyes again. That was horrible!”

“It wasn’t ideal.” He presses his lips together.

“Are you smiling?”

He shakes his head, firmly keeping his lips closed, as if one small movement will crack his whole facade.

“I can’t believe you’re smiling. Do you not know how bad that looked? Or what they’re probably thinking we did last night?”

“I’m fully aware of what they’re probably thinking about us and last night.” That’s when his laughter breaks loose. “I shouldn’t be laughing.” He cups his hand over his mouth, but it’s no use, as if his laughter is some loopy tension release.

“Vinny!” I struggle to keep myself from giggling too. “This is serious. How are you not mortified?”

“Because I think the bigger scandal happened two weeks ago during the ceremony. It doesn’t get much worse than that, don’t you think?”

“Your almost in-laws just watched you walk out of my apartment at eight in the morning. I think that’s worse.”

The amusement disappears from his face. “They’re not my almost in-laws anymore, Emma. Juliet and I are over. My life can’t tiptoe around them forever. Besides, I’ve visited them a few times since the wedding, and we’ve had some good conversations. We came to an understanding.”

“It’s good that you came to an understanding, but doesn’t it worry you that Juliet’s going to hear about this and⁠—”

“And what?” He looks at me. “Be mad? Hate me? We’re already there. And I hate that it’s my fault that she’s hurting, but I can’t base every choice on what will hurt her the least.”

“I thought that too, but maybe us being friends, at least right now, isn’t going to work.”

“I don’t want to be just friends,” he mutters under his breath.

“What?” I ask, even though I think I already heard him.

“Nothing.”

I stare at him before forcing my eyes back to the road, well aware that my heart is beating significantly faster than it was thirty seconds ago.