Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Of course he doesn’t,” Harper interjected.
That was a big mistake because now my mother’s undivided attention was on Harper. “And why are you here with Declan instead of Sean?”
“I take it Sean hasn’t spoken to you this evening?” Harper asked.
“No. I haven’t seen him since those two got into a fight earlier—and now I know why.”
Harper held up her hands. “No, Maddie, you have it all wrong. Sean was supposed to end this charade by telling you the truth.”
Pinching her brows in confusion, she asked, “The truth about what?”
Harper looked at me, and I nodded. It was time to end this bullshit since it was clear my brother was too chicken to do it himself.
“Maddie, can we talk outside for a moment?” Harper asked.
Despite looking unhappy, Mom nodded. “I suppose that would be fine since the games haven’t started yet.”
I motioned for my mother to go first. She walked out onto the terrace and toward an area with a few empty tables. At least our talk would be relatively private since almost everyone was inside for trivia night.
Turning abruptly on her heel, Mom glared at us. “So? What’s the meaning of this? Are you cheating on Sean with his brother?!”
“What?” Harper exclaimed, as I quickly stepped between them. The last thing any of us needed was a scene.
“Mom, cool your jets for a second, will you.”
Her glare turned to me. “Cool my jets?”
Before I could say anything, Harper ripped the Band-Aid off.
“Sean’s been lying to you. We’re not dating. He asked me to pretend to date him again so you’d get off his back about dating Crystal, who’s more like a sister to him than anything. He likes Caroline, which is why he broke up with me in the first place. Because he’s in love with her. But she’s dating someone, so that’s another reason he wanted to fake-date me. He was hoping to make her jealous.”
My mother stood there, slowly blinking, as she stared at Harper, who’d word-vomited everything so fast, I’d be surprised if my mother understood half of what was said.
“What do you mean, so I’d get off his back?”
Harper’s brows shot up, and I sighed.
“Mom, don’t pretend you haven’t been pushing Sean to be with Crystal literally for years. It’s all you and Viola ever talked about. How cute it would be if they dated, married, and had kids. They’re just friends—and that’s all they’ll ever be.”
Clearing her throat, she said, “I don’t know about pushing him.”
“Maddie, you did it even when we were actually dating. I thought it was because you hated me, but Sean assured me it was simply because you’ve always wanted to see him with Crystal.”
My mother looked away, but even in the dim lighting out here, I could still see the blush on her face. “I have always liked you, Harper. I’m sorry if I made you feel like I didn’t. But I guess I can admit that I might’ve been a bit…picky, when it came to Sean and who he dated.”
“Picky?” Harper repeated with a laugh.
I subtly shook my head, and she instantly closed her mouth and looked away.
“Mom, you’ve been overbearing. And it doesn’t help that Sean cannot, for whatever reason, stand up to you and tell you no. To the point that he resorted to talking Harper into fake-dating him.”
“When did this happen?” she asked, pointing between me and Harper.
“I’ve always liked Harper, but she was too young for me in high school, and I knew I was leaving for the military. I didn’t want her to wait around or change her life to accommodate my career choices. Then when Sean asked her out, I figured maybe we weren’t meant to be.” I glanced at Harper. “But when I came home, the attraction was still there. Stronger than ever.”
“And you feel nothing for Sean?” Mom asked Harper.
“Nothing. I only agreed to his plan because he said he’d buy me season tickets to the Giants when I told him that would be the only way I’d ever date him again, pretend or otherwise. To be honest, I never dreamed he’d actually do it, but I guess he really wanted you off…um…he wanted…well… You know.”
Mom’s eyes went wide and her mouth fell open. Then she snapped it shut and slowly shook her head as she grabbed the nearest chair and sat down. Other people were starting to make their way out onto the rooftop, sitting at nearby tables and sofas.
“Well,” my mother said quietly, as she ran a hand along her hair, then smoothed down her shirt. “I guess tomorrow I’ll need to have a heart-to-heart with Sean. Meanwhile, I hope the two of you have a fun evening.”
Before I could say anything, she stood and headed back inside.
I looked at Harper. “I didn’t see all of that coming.”
Her hand flew up to her mouth to stifle a laugh. When she had it under control, she said, “Man, your mother was the last person I thought would be here.”