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The thought almost made her head explode. What would that even be like? Ally couldn’t comprehend it and didn’t allow her mind enoughslack in the rope to explore the scenario. “Yeah. I would likely agree with that statement.”

“So this is my early in the game semiprofessional opinion: maybe your sexuality is a little more fluid than you’d ever planned on.”

“Bisexuality.”

“That’s not an awful thing.”

“No, but lusting after someone else is when I’m months away from marriage.”

“Well, yeah. Can’t deny that part.” She tapped her pen against her chin. “You honestly have two options. Explore whatever this is with Megan, or shut it the hell down and carry on with your life. The only drawback of option two is you’ll always wonder.”

“Yeah.” Honestly, though, it might be the smartest route to sidestep this roadblock. She could hire another wedding planner. Make up an excuse. “I think that’s what I should do. Shut it the hell down.”

Lacey raised her eyebrows and nodded. “Why not? Thatalwaysworks.”

“I’m supposed to get married, Lacey. Everything in my life is tied to that happening. My house is going on the market soon. My parents are going into business with his family, and my brain is already prepped for this new life. I can’t just upend all of it because of a wayward crush.”

“You do seem really set on the marriage happening.”

Allison nodded. “I am. And thank you for helping me sort through all this. I think I know what I have to do.” It wasn’t going to be easy, but she had to get in front of this thing in a drastic manner before she found herself aboard a runaway train that would eventually derail her entire life as it smashed into a devastating brick wall of disaster.

“Ally?”

She turned from where she stood in the doorway, her empty lunch bag clutched at her side, motivated. “Yeah?”

Lacey’s brown eyes carried kindness. “Make sure this is whatyouwant. Your happiness matters just as much as everyone else’s.”

She heard the words but shoved them to the side. “Thank you, Lacey. Keep your fingers crossed for me. You’ve been a great sounding-board-fairy-godmother-consultant thing.”

“Anytime. I mean it.”

She didn’t make it to the Soiree offices that day until close tofive. A parent-teacher conference and ridiculous traffic on I-35 held her back. By the time she arrived, her heart thudded rapidly, and her palms were clammy and cold. She let herself into the office suite and was promptly greeted by Kelsey, who paused upon seeing her.

“Hey, Ally.” She glanced behind her. “Did you have an appointment? I don’t think that Megan realized you were—”

“No, actually. I’m here unannounced but was hoping I could steal a moment of Megan’s time. Should be quick.”

Kelsey frowned. “She’s actually gone for the day. She has a killer weekend ahead, so she snagged a free hour.”

“Oh. She’s gone home?”

“Most likely home. Do you want me to call her to see if she can—”

“No, no. You’ve been more than helpful.” She smiled, bit the inside of her cheek, and stared down at her shoes, plotting her next course of action. Her fingertips were numb, and wasn’t that strange?

“Ally, you okay?” Kelsey quirked her head to the side. “You seem, I don’t know, off.”

“No, I’m fine. Long day.” She forced a smile followed by an exaggerated exhausted look.

“I feel you on that one. Let me know if there’s anything we can ever do for you. Doesn’t have to be Megan, either. Any of us can help.”

Kelsey was a nice person. “Thank you. I appreciate it. But I’m really good.” She nodded a couple of times like a fool and gestured to the door behind her. “I’ll, uh, catch up with Megan later. Thank you.”

“Anytime,” Kelsey said, with a curious stare, which of course was fully earned.

Allison could have gone home, left it all alone, but that would have also left her in exactly the same spot. She had to subtract herself from this situation, and in this moment she had the courage to do it. Who knew about tomorrow?

She made the short drive to Megan’s building, parked on the street, and said hi to Chip, who luckily remembered her and was kind enough to let her up. Standing in front of Megan’s door, she shook her hands out a few times to gear up before knocking.