“I can handle it,” I said as I forced my body into a sitting position so I could more fully digest what she was saying.
She paused. “Really?”
I nodded. “Really.” Then I clicked my tongue. “You just tell me when and where…or who.”
“I sent you an email last night.” She paused, and I could hear disappointment in her silence. “Did you not get it?”
I pulled my phone from my cheek, switched it over to speakerphone, and then found my email app. Sure enough, right at the top was an email from Gloria.
“No, I got it and opened it,” I said as I clicked on the email and started to read. “Sorry, I was just half asleep when you called. I’m totally ready to cover the wedding of…” My voice drifted off as I whispered, “Asher Wolfe and Coralie Parks.” My stomach sank like a rock.
Asher’s engagement hadn’t been a dream. He was getting married in a week, andIwas going to have to cover the entire thing for the newspaper.
“Coralie Parks is the daughter of the mayor of New York. I hope you realize what this could do for Harmony Island Gazette.” She paused. “I need you to cover this like you haven’t covered anything else in your life. I want you there in the planning. I want the most minute of details. The residents of Harmony and, really, the US want to know everything, Ella. It will all be about thedetails.”
My heart was pounding as I continued to stare at Asher’s name next to Coralie’s. He was getting married. Asher was really getting married.
“Ella?”
I blinked, pulling myself from my thoughts. I switched my phone off of speakerphone and brought it to my cheek. I needed to stop staring at his name or I was going to spiral. “Yes, Gloria. I’ll get all thedetails,” I said, matching her tone.
“Good.” She blew out her breath. “This paper needs redemption, and I’m hoping this is the path to get it.”
“I won’t let you down.” I started to pick at my comforter. I was ready for this conversation to be over with. I needed a hot shower, some ibuprofen, and some food. Then I would feel more human and be ready to face my best friend and his wedding plans.
“I have faith you won’t.” Gloria said her goodbyes, and I quickly hung up.
I tossed my phone onto my bed in front of me before I closed my eyes, covered my face with my hands, and sighed. This was not how I wanted to be woken up this morning. This was not the article I ever wanted to write. But I knew if I failed, it wouldn’t be just Gloria who was disappointed in me, but Asher as well. I’d already failed him with the Proctor article; I couldn’t let him down again.
If Gloria wanted an amazing wedding feature, then she was going to get one. I was going to do the best dang documentation of this wedding that I could. I owed it to this town. I owed it to Asher.
I picked up my phone and swiped it on. I found my text chain with Asher and selected it.
Me:Guess I’m your own personal Barbara Walters. I’ll be hanging out with you for your wedding planning, so you might as well ask me to be your best man.
I sent it off, hating that my stomach was in knots over this.
When he didn’t respond right away, I set my phone down on the nightstand and then pulled my comforter off my lap and slipped out of bed.
Time to start my day.
9
ASHER
Coralie groanedas she flipped from her left side to her right. Her eyes were closed, and it took her a moment before she opened them and glanced up at me. “Who’s messaging you this early on a Saturday?” Her eyes slowly drifted closed as she snuggled deeper into her pillow.
I was currently sitting up, with my head resting on the headboard and a pillow shoved under my back, as I stared at Ella’s text.
Guess I’m your own personal Barbara Walters. I’ll be hanging out with you for your wedding planning, so you might as well ask me to be your best man.
I hadn’t meant to wake up Coralie. In fact, I was being completely still with the hopes that she’d fall back asleep. I wasn’t sure how to process Ella’s text, and having Coralie looking over my shoulder while I tried was going to make it even harder.
She didn’t know about my past feelings for Ella, and I really had no intention of telling her. I knew the consequences of saying those words and the path of destruction they created every time they were spoken. It was best for me to bury them six feet under and forget they even existed.
“Go back to sleep,” I whispered as I pulled the covers off my body and moved to stand.
Coralie murmured a soft, “Okay.”
