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“It’s a disaster,” she said.
“Still tastes the same.”
She chuckled and took a bite. The smooth, creamy center melted in her mouth. “Oh my gosh. That’s so good.”
Gus smiled proudly.
“What made you decide to make truffles today?” she asked as she took another bite.
“We can’t go home to my parents’ without bringing a gift.”
Her jaw dropped, and she quickly snapped it closed since she had a mouthful of chocolate. “Your parents?” she mumbled.
“Oh, did I forget to mention we’re going to Michigan this weekend?”
“This is the first I’m hearing about it.”
He shrugged. “Sorry.”
“And if I refuse to go?”
“You can’t. It’s in the contract that you travel with me to make my family believe this is real.”
“But you can’t just spring this on me with three days’ notice.”
“I just did.”
“Is this how it’s going to be, Augustus?”
He quirked his eyebrow at her. “I like it when you call me by my full name. It’s sexy.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m not flirting. I’m furious.”
“Well, get un-furious.”
“Gah, just when I think you might actually be a decent guy, you pull this. I have a job and commitments. What if I already have plans?”
“Cancel them.”
“I don’t know how I’m going to get through a year of being married to you.” She groaned as she turned on her heel, grabbed her bag from where she’d left it by the door, and marched through the house to her room. Slamming the door felt good. So did letting out a frustrated cry.
Gus rapped on her door. “Everything okay in there?”
“Go away!” She waited for him to reply, but there was only silence and then the sound of his departing footsteps.
A few minutes later, her phone rang, and she rolled her eyes at Gus’s name on the screen. She tapped the button to decline the call.
It rang again, and she did the same.
But she couldn’t ignore his text.
Gus: I’m sorry. Will you go to Michigan with me this weekend?
She stared at the message and waited to reply. He deserved to sweat over this.
Gus: I’ll be better at communicating the schedule from now on. I promise.
Merritt: Fine. I’ll go.