Wedding bomb
1133 Words
Chapter Twelve
The persistent vibration of the phone indicated that she had a call.
Groaning, Amaya picked up the phone and slid the answer button.
"Where have you been?"
That voice wiped all the sleep from her eyes.
"Carter."
"Answer the damn question. Where have you been?"
"It's none of your business."
"It's my bloody business."
"Carter, we aren't together anymore."
"Who decided that?"
She sat up slowly, rubbing her tired eyes.
"Carter, it's early. This isn't the time—"
"Oh, now you can talk rudely to me because you think you're far from me?"
"Car—"
"You think you can just leave my life like that after everything I've done for you?"
Amaya's fingers tightened around the phone.
"I didn't leave your life. I left a relationship that wasn't good for me."
"You are just an ungrateful little tra—"
A knock on her door made her disconnect the call out of fear.
Her heart hammered against her chest.
She stared at the phone for several seconds, almost expecting it to ring again.
It didn't.
"Amaya, are you up?"
Ezekiel's voice sounded just outside the door.
She quickly placed the phone beside her and took a breath.
"I'm up."
There was a short pause.
"Are you down with a cold?"
"No. I just woke up. Why?"
"You don't sound well."
"I'm fine."
Another pause.
"Come down, please. I need to talk to you."
His footsteps faded, indicating that he was gone.
Amaya remained sitting on the edge of the bed.
She looked at the phone again.
Carter.
Why now?
She hadn't heard his voice in days, and somehow it had taken him less than two minutes to make her feel like she was back where she started.
"Oh God..."
She ran both hands through her hair.
"Why did this have to happen?"
She forced herself out of bed and headed to the bathroom.
After rinsing her face and brushing her teeth, she changed into something comfortable before walking downstairs.
Ezekiel was already seated at the dining table, scrolling through something on his phone.
"Good morning."
"Morning."
Amaya pulled out a chair.
"Aren't you going to the office today?"
"I'll be going later than usual."
"Oh."
She sat down, watching him for a moment.
There was something different about his expression.
Not angry.
Just... serious.
As usual.
She wondered what he wanted to talk about.
She reached for the glass of water in front of her.
Then—
"We'll be getting married next Saturday."
The glass nearly slipped from her hand.
She stared at him.
"What?"
Ezekiel finally looked up from his phone.
"We'll be getting mar—."
"I heard you."
" You looked confused."
"I am confused!"
She placed the glass down.
"You don't just dump that sort of news on a person first thing in the morning."
"Would you prefer I wrote it as a letter?"
Amaya stared at him.
"And now you're being sarcastic.Classical."
"Classic."
"Whatever."
She rolled her eyes at him.
Ezekiel returned his attention to his phone.
Amaya continued staring at him.
"Wait."
He looked up again.
"Why so soon?"
"The engagement will soon be announced."
"I know."
"So what's the problem?"
"The problem is that we're getting married in six days!"
He checked the screen on his phone.
"Five."
Amaya's mouth fell open.
"You've got to be kidding me."
"I'm not."
She leaned back in her chair.
"Do you even know how weddings work?"
"Yes."
"Flowers?"
"Handled."
"Venue?"
"Handled."
"Catering?"
"Handled."
"Guest list?"
"Handled."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You've been planning this without me?"
"It's my wedding too."
"That isn't the point."
"What is the point?"
Amaya opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
She didn't even know.
The truth was, the wedding had suddenly made everything feel real.
The contract.
The cameras.
The public appearances.
The lies they'd have to maintain.
And somehow, somewhere between all of that...
Carter had returned.
And she had zero idea on what he wanted from her.
Ezekiel watched her carefully.
"You're pale."
"I'm fine."
"You don't look it."
She looked away.
"I just have a lot on my mind."
He was quiet for a moment.
Then he asked,
"Is it about the wedding?"
Amaya hesitated.
"No."
His eyes remained on her.
She could tell he didn't believe her.
But surprisingly, he didn't push.
Instead, he simply said,
"Then we'll deal with whatever it is when you're ready. I need you at your best for this contract to work."
Amaya looked back at him.
For some reason, those words affected her more than they should have.
She nodded slowly.
"Okay."
Ezekiel stood.
"Where are you going?"
"The office."
"But you said you'd go late."
"I changed my mind."
He picked up his keys.
Amaya frowned.
"Why?"
He paused.
"Because apparently I have a wedding to prepare for."
Then he walked away.
Amaya stared after him.
The wedding was five days away.
And somewhere in the back of her mind, Carter's voice refused to disappear.
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