“I should certainly hope not,” June intones.
May slaps the back of my seat. “I’m serious! I don’t believe for one minute that August would up and propose to you out of the blue like this. Now you’re wearing what might be Nanna’s ring. And moving into a super expensive house. All I know is something funny is going on.”
The dark accusation in her gaze has my hackles rising. Being upset is one thing, but looking at me like I’m trying to put one over on them is another.
“Well, gee, Velma, are you and Daphne on the case now?”
“I’m not trying to accuse you of anything. It’s not like you’re some gold digger—”
“Oh, thanks for that.”
June cuts in, “—I... that is,we, want to understand.”
Gritting my teeth, I make the turn up to Brentwood. “I know it looks... odd.”
May snorts. I push on.
“We just... got caught up in the moment—” they both scoff loudly “—and forgot to call. I know it was bad of us to not say anything to family first. But I’m sorry, I can’t tell you the rest right now.”
“What?” they yell in unison.
Calm. Strive for calm.“I promised August that we’d talk about it with everyone together.”
“But it’sus.”
Yeah, and it’sme. Don’t I rate being given the benefit of the doubt?Hurt twists my heart, but I hold it close to me and focus on the road. “A promise is a promise.”
May huffs in annoyance and sits back in her seat. “Fine, but he better get his butt to the house because we’re not waiting forever.”
August
There are times I regret not falling to cliché and buying myself a badass supercar. Right now, for example, I’d love to have something that corners like it’s on rails. The Grouch can haul ass but it’s a rocking barge on the curves. I need high performance. I need to get to Pen. Right the fuck now.
I halt at a red light and curse, my fingers tapping in agitation on the steering wheel. I also don’t need to get pulled over for reckless driving—wouldn’t that just be the cherry on the fuckcake? A balance of speed and caution is needed. Speed is winning out, though.
I’ve left Pen alone with monsters. Okay, I love my sisters. They’re cool most of the time, but they absolutely can be little monsters when they so choose, and I know without doubt that they’re in Monster Mode right now. I break out in a cold sweat.
Shit. Why hadn’t we told them?Whatwill we tell them?
I don’t think any of my well-intentioned yet incredibly nosyfamily members are going to appreciate:You see, I begged Penelope to be my fake fiancée and she hesitantly agreed. Nor will they go for:Ah, well, we fell in love over a flight to LA and I just had to make her mine forever.
“Fucking, fuck.” How did I get here? I’m supposed to be the steady one. Sensible August. The voice of reason. Okay, that’s pushing it. But not by much. I’m not this impulsive, shenanigan-having... liar.
Yes, a liar. I’m lying too much to too many people I care about. But what to do? Once it’s in motion, a lie becomes a sticky ball of tape, rolling and twisting until you have no clue how to get out of it. Not without cutting in deep.
Earlier today, a group of boys had cheered me as I left the practice facility. I’d signed autographs and told them to follow their dreams. If they could see me now. I make a noise of self-disgust, as my phone rings.
Fearing it’s Pen, I punch on the speaker immediately. Unfortunately...
“Bro, areyouin trouble.”
March. Perfect.
“Did you rat me out?”
“Me?” he squawks in outrage. “I would never!”
“Yes, you fucking would.”
