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Chapter 10

Melena – Social Media Sucks

Itossed and turnedfor a long time before falling asleep. Jimmy’s text message had left me restless. Testing out his skills ranked high on my to-do list. Unfortunately, I had to get my heart under control first. And not just the rapid beating. He was too darn sweet. What had started as a simple quid pro quo was turning into something more. He was killing me with his kindness and understanding. I’d never want to let him go after a year at this point. I rubbed a hand over my misbehaving heart.

Sunday morning, my phone buzzed, and I rolled toward the side of my bed, fighting back the cobwebs of sleep. I grabbed for the phone. My mom. We usually talked on Sunday nights. A morning call meant something dire. Were my brothers okay? My dad?

“Mom, is everything okay?”

“Melly, why would we not be okay? Is there something my only daughter forgot to inform me of?”

Trick question. Where should I start? There were many things I’d failed to inform my mother about. It was kind of our thing. But recently? I gulped.

“Ah, I might have planned some news for our call tonight,” I hedged.

“Melly Nemitz, I think your marriage warrants more than a call after the fact! If that is even your name anymore? Am I addressing a stranger? Did you take his name?”

Oh. Crap.How did they find out? I’d wondered how to break it to them, but apparently that was no longer an issue. The question was who had told them?

“And who is this Jimmy Torres? He looks handsome in your wedding photos, but why have I not heard of him before?”

Her tone had a strident edge that served as a warning. She already had too many details. I’d have to confess and beg for mercy.

Darn social media. I didn’t think to warn Jimmy’s sister and friends against tagging me in their photos. Lisa knew the score, but I hadn’t thought to ask Chase and Andi to avoid posting. Crap. My mother wouldn’t be forgiving me anytime soon. I’d be lucky if my dad and brothers weren’t on their way to me now, shotguns in tow. Not to protect my virtue; more to make sure Jimmy treated me right and confirm it wasn’t a hostage situation.

“Mom, I was planning to share my happy news with you tonight. It all happened suddenly, and yesterday Jimmy and I were enjoying a little honeymoon.”

“Melly, why are we finding out after the wedding? Do you not love your family anymore? Are you ashamed of us? Why?”

I wanted to groan aloud, but I held it in with effort. It would only inflame my mother more. What’s worse, I didn’t have a great excuse, except it was a marriage made for convenience, not family. Jimmy invited his sister, but I’d been reluctant to inform my folks. I worried they’d try to talk me out of it, or worse, offer to bail me out instead. I loved them, but I didn’t want their help. They’d done enough, helping me move and with the first payment on my schooling, and it was time to stand on my own. Stubborn, stupid, my brothers would have a few choice nicknames if they found out. They were content to work in the family business, but I wanted something of my own. Free of family influence. They couldn’t afford the cash, and I couldn’t afford the interference.

“Mom, it all happened quickly. I know you’re disappointed we eloped, but I thought we could celebrate with you later. I know how busy you and Dad are this time of year with Nemitz Construction.”

“Melly, that’s no excuse. We would be there for you. We’re your family.”

They would. They would be there for me, but I couldn’t let them do it. They’d taken a second mortgage to float the family business through tough times in the last housing recession. They didn’t have a lot of cash reserves, and I was an adult, dammit. I couldn’t go running home at every bump in the road.

“Mom. I’m so sorry. I’ll talk with Jimmy, and we’ll do a family call soon.”

“Why not now? Or tonight?” she asked. “Or are you too busy to introduce your new husband to your family?”

I bit my tongue to hold back my groan. I didn’t want to admit Jimmy wasn’t with me. I should have expected her reaction. But between the fog of my newly discovered illness and planning an unexpected wedding, I wasn’t thinking clearly.

“Mom, let’s plan on tonight. We’ll call you later this evening, around my normal time. Love you, bye.”

With a thunk, I set my head down on my nightstand. I was terrible. I also needed to figure out how to spin this with Jimmy. We had to get our cover story straight. In a perfect world, I’d spend more time with Jimmy first. There was no way I was telling my parents I married for insurance. Love, sure. Companionship and family, maybe. Insurance? Heck, no.

I needed coffee, stat. Before I could move from my bed to brew some, my alarm went off. Time for my meds. I trudged into the bathroom and took a pill from the container. One small white pill, worth approximately twenty-seven dollars. That’s what it cost to regulate my heart.

Twenty-seven dollars.