Chapter Five
Izzy felt Amelia's gaze lock on her the moment she stepped back inside. Before anyone else could notice, however, Amelia waddled her pregnant self over as quickly as she could and grabbed Izzy's arm to lead her into her father's office. "Um, problem?"
"Who was that?" Amelia asked.
"He's just a friend."
Amelia crossed her arms over her bountiful chest and glared at her.
"Try again."
Izzy tried to maintain her cool but, given her newly married state, lost it. "You can't say a word."
"Izzy—"
"I mean it. Not. A. Word. Not to anyone. Not even your husband," Izzy said, knowing Amelia didn't like to keep things from Lincoln. In this case, she would have to make an exception.
"Fine.”
“I mean it,” Izzy said again.
“I get it. I promise."
Izzy held up her hand and Amelia rolled her eyes.
"Seriously?"
"Pinky swear…on your babies," she added for good measure.
Amelia gasped and slowly linked their fingers.
"You're scaring me. I won't say anything. Now what is going on and who was that?"
"He's... Everett is apparently my husband."
A bark of laughter burst out of Amelia before she caught sight of Izzy's expression and apparently realized she wasn't joking.
"Husband?"
"Shhhh!" Izzy moved toward the open office door and shut it behind them, flipping the lock for good measure before she nodded at Amelia. "It was a prank on Michael," she said, explaining how she'd met Everett in Vegas, their celebration, bet, and the whole shebang.
"But the chapel was legit," Amelia repeated, wide-eyed.
"Yup," Izzy said, drawing out thePwith a pop.
"Oh my—Izzy.What are you going to do?"
Izzy shoved her hair off her face and once again considered cutting it all off. One of these days... "He's been calling and texting, presumably to let me know but…I wouldn't respond. I mean, it was a one-time thing, which you know I never, ever do, and I was embarrassed by how I just up and left with him in the shower."
"Thank God he could track you down though."
Izzy debated the thankful part, even though she got the gist of it. "I guess I didn't leave him a lot of choice. But Michael knows Everett and has worked with him. If Everett was a weirdo, I'm sure Michael wouldn't have told Everett to look me up at my show." She released the nail she hadn’t realized she nibbled and grimaced. “Right?”
"Yes. That's totally true," Amelia mused. "Michael wouldn’t tell someone untrustworthy to seek you out. So what happens now? Oh, of all times I can't skip work and come to that brunch. I'd love to be a fly on the wall."
"Me, too. I wish you could come for moral support if nothing else."
"Does that mean you're telling everyone tomorrow?"