Chapter 2

On the other end of the line, Zion went quiet for a few seconds.

Then he scoffed.

"Are you out of your mind? Your grandmother isn't even seventy."

"Wasn't she perfectly healthy a few months ago?"

"I know you've always had a thing about Ginny, but do you have to be this nasty? Using a reason like that to shut us out."

"And even if your grandmother really did pass, what's the harm in us staying at your place for a few days?"

Hearing how little Zion cared, tears slid past the corners of my eyes before I could stop them, and I forced my voice steady.

"Let's break up, Zion."

"Is it really that serious? Are you mad because I didn't go back to your hometown with you?"

There was an edge of irritation in his voice. "We're about to get married. Do you have to pick a fight right now?"

"Besides, I'm already on a road trip with Ginny. We just want to crash at your place for a few days. Does that really call for a breakup?"

"That's right!" Virginia's voice cut in from the side. "We're about to head out. Him not driving you back was just to toughen you up! Don't you worry. On this whole road trip, I promise, I promise I'll keep an eye on him for you!"

"No checking out pretty girls on the road, no chatting up other women! No fooling around!"

"And if he's got any needs down there, I can always cover for you."

Virginia's words turned my stomach.

Virginia was the loud, breezy type, and she'd always cast herself as one of Zion's guy friends.

She'd made plenty of crude jokes with him before, and I hated it. But Zion just told me to treat her like she was one of the guys.

The moment Virginia finished that line about covering for me, the two of them burst out laughing together.

When I didn't make a sound on my end, Virginia turned careful. "You're not upset, are you?"

"I was just joking. Relax, I wouldn't want a mangy dog like Zion!"

"After all these years, if anything was going to happen it would've happened already. You've got nothing to worry about!"

The same lines again.

Seven years with Zion, and Virginia had said this to me more than a hundred times.

If I pushed back, I was the petty, paranoid one.

"All right, why can't you take a joke?"

Hearing Zion's voice, I was shaking all over, and I couldn't stand it a second longer.

"Zion, I said we're through."

"My grandmother's funeral is going on, and I don't want to see the two of you, you disgusting pair!"

Standing not far off, Mom saw that something was wrong and came over to steady me.

I'd mentioned a little about Virginia to her before, so she'd probably guessed at some of it.

She took the phone straight out of my hand.

"Zion? You're planning to come over? It's not a good time for our family right now."

"Mattie's grandmother has passed, and Mattie's told you she wants to break up. It's better if you don't come make trouble."

At that, Zion let out a cold laugh. "Ma'am, so you're playing along with Matilda too?"

"What's wrong with you two? Talking about breaking up. This is playing hard to get, isn't it? I'm setting out right now. I'll be there tonight, and then I'll smooth things over with Matilda, all right?"

"Oh, and Ma'am, could you get a silk bedding set ready for Ginny? Her skin's on the sensitive side."

And with that, Zion hung up.