Anna and I stand outside Linked, the restaurant my parents chose. She looks up at me and I down at her. She doesn’t appear nervous, but still I check in.
“Nervous?” I hold my hand out. “Not regretting it are you?”
She slips her hand in mine, and when I squeeze it, she squeezes back. “No. Not nervous. Like you said, this, us, feels easy. I don’t know how to make sense of it either, but I’m okay. Are you nervous?”
“No.”Yes, but only because this could go sideways in seconds. Mom will be cordial; Dad, I don’t know. I drum my fingers in my pocket, desperately craving a cigarette since I don’t have gum right now. “Thanks for letting me drag you into the bullshit mess I call my family. On the positive side, my sister is nice.”
She chuckles. “Great, I can take your parents despising me, but I don’t know if I’d be okay with mysister-in-lawhating me.”
My lips twitch, and the noose of anxiety wrapped around my neck loosens. Leave it to her sarcasm to make me feel at ease. “Let’s go inside. They’re already here, waiting for us.”
As I usher her inside and the hostess leads us to the table, I think to myself how crazy this all is. Is this really necessary so my parents can stop pushing for Florence and me to happen? One look at Anna and I immediately thinkyes.
I kind of hate that I dragged her into this, but…I also don’t. I’ll keep that to myself because how do I explain that I’m really enjoying this?
Who would’ve thought I’d be okay holding hands with a girl?
When my parents come into view, Anna straightens. I squeeze her hand, and she squeezes back.
Here goes nothing.
18
ANNA
Sunday, December 15
I may have overestimatedmy ability to remain calm.
I am, in fact, freaking out.
Outside, I was fine, and having Sylas at my side made me feel mellow. But now, my nerves are coiled tight.
I’ve dealt with the rich for years, so it should be straightforward, but this is different to working for them. This is sharing a meal and getting judged, because I just know his parents will.
This is pretend, I remind myself. It’s not like I’ll have to put up with them forever. I just need to smile and sell the hell out of our fake relationship.
Happy, obsessed, and in love, I chant in my head. No, wait, maybein loveis pushing it, but we’re in a relationship, so we’re supposed to come off that way, right?
This is pretend. Happy, obsessed, and in love.
“Anna, we’re so glad you were able to join us.” His mom stands, and the overzealous energy she radiates throws me off,but I’m astonished when she tugs me in for a hug and gives me a faux kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you for inviting me, Mrs. Lenoir.” I smile at her when she draws back. She kept her maiden name, Alves, but I wasn’t sure whether to add that too or not.
“Oh please, call me Clara.”
“If you insist.”
“I do.” She beams, her pearly white teeth glowing.
Sylas studies her with apprehension before welcoming her hug with a kiss on the cheek. Then his father stands and extends his hand for me to take.
“Anna.” He doesn’t smile but he doesn’t stare at me the way he did at the auction.
“Mr. Lenoir.” My smile lifts higher. I know his name—Dean—but I’m not sure if I should call him by it, and I have my answer when he doesn’t correct me.
“Hey, I’m Thea,” his sister says from her chair, offering me a nod. Everything about her expression feels forced. Even the way she’s sitting looks stiff.
